Tell the Next Generation

Submitted by: Gordon Gooderham

Psalm 78:1-7.

How good it is to be back in the house of the Lord. The song of the Hebrew worshippers comes to mind each week, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go up to the house of the LORD.’” (Psalm 122:1). For many of those pilgrims, it was a journey of several days and nights, and many miles of walking. They sang as they travelled, and this raised their sense of the greatness of God, their creator, redeemer, provider. It united all who joined the caravan, building them as one company in faith, hope and love. It strengthened their commitment to the journey, and confidence in God’s presence and care in the challenges of the trek. It brought them to the mountain-top of Zion, singing “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.” (Psalm 134:2)

One of the great pleasures I experience as the Church gathers each Sunday, is seeing families coming together. Mom and dad and their children taking their place to worship God and celebrate with the greater Christian family. I am particularly blessed by the presence of young children who require the care of waking, feeding, washing, dressing to be ready to travel. I commend you as parents for fulfilling this responsibility in the nurture of your family. And I offer a “high five” to each teenager who chooses to attend and give service to the Lord as we worship. Thank you.

The second longest of the Psalms, 78, emphasizes the importance of the spiritual care of our children (vv1-7). “O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but keep his commands.”

This weekly responsibility achieves a double purpose. It leads your children to a personal faith and walk with our Lord, and it ensures the future life of the Church body and witness. Don’t grow weary in well doing, mom and dad. Your kids need to be here, and we ‘olde folks’ need them here. See you next Sunday!

“By the Grace of God…”

Submitted by: Gordon Gooderham

1 Corinthians 15:10.

If you Google the name Peter Frumusa you will find reports of his arrest, conviction and life sentence for a double murder in 1988. At his girlfriend’s request Peter went to her mother’s house, because she wasn’t answering the daughter’s phone calls. Peter could not get a response at the door, had the police called, and they discovered the savage murders. Peter was shortly after arrested and charged.

Now the fact that he was a cocaine user and dealer, about which he lied, did not help his case. Nor that a jailhouse informant, street name ‘Snake’, testified falsely that Peter confessed the killings to him. But there was no physical evidence to implicate him, yet he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

After a second police informant told the truth, the case was reopened and in 1996 the charges were dropped and the judge apologized to Peter for the terrible injustice he had experienced.

Most of that you can read online. What you won’t read are the gracious workings of God in Peter’s life. A Fort Erie lady of great faith and hope visited the Thorold Detention Centre weekly, to speak about Jesus to the prisoners. She was “a mother in Israel” to many of those men. Through her love and witness Peter came to faith in Jesus Christ, and went to Kingston Penitentiary trusting in the Lord.

At the time of his release his daughter was part of the youth group I was pastoring. Peter began attending our church, struggling socially, emotionally and
financially. Society isn’t kind to ex-prisoners, but experiencing God’s love and grace he began to renew his life.

But in 2005 his house was torched, destroying it. Peter was thrown by the explosion into a neighbour’s yard, severely burned, near death. When I was permitted to visit him in ICU, I nervously entered the room. His arms and head were totally wrapped in bandages, with openings for his mouth and nostrils.
I could not tell if he was conscious, but quietly spoke his name. To my surprise and delight, recognizing my voice, he huskily replied, “Pastor”. We enjoyed a few minutes of Scripture and prayer.

From the threshold of death, Peter recovered without a burn scar, but a strengthened testimony of God’s Grace.
“How great the Father’s love for us …”

i am
a
Created being
submitted by Marlene Swan

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 119:73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

The Bible clearly tells me I am created. The Webster dictionary says created means to bring into existence.

Some thoughts:
I am created means I am not SELF made and I am dependent – humbling.

I am created means there must be a creator and a purpose for being created.

Answer to who is the creator is easy – God!

Answer to purpose for being created – I think the simplest answer is:
Go back to the beginning in Genesis where we see God walking in the garden with His creation -Adam and Eve. This points me to a relationship. Yes there is more such as worship, being a body and blessing each other etc. I think these come out of the relationship.

My favorite purpose is: Revelation 4:11 KJV Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

I have difficulty understanding “for thy pleasure they are and were created “ but it sure feels good.

Just as in Genesis we see relationship we see it also in Revelations.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
In between Genesis and Revelation we read about a “with us God” who pursues his creation.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Psalm 117:1-2 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD.

“A bruised reed…a dim wick”

Submitted by: Gordon Gooderham

Isaiah 42:2,3.

Jesus did not come to earth, God in human flesh, to put down the poor, the slave, the sick, or the stigmatized. Such people are metaphorically portrayed by the prophet Isaiah as “a bruised reed and a dim wick”. The promised Messiah would not “break or snuff out” these desperate and destitute victims. Matthew applies these words and actions to Jesus and affirms that He fulfils them. (Matt. 12:15-21).

What is generally viewed as damaged goods of little value, unredeemable, Jesus saw with favour, healing and restoring them. His words to the underbelly of society were “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Matt. 11:29). Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control, a sense of humility that overcomes injustice and discrimination with compassion and confidence, not by violent overthrow or arrogant malice.

The divine strength inherent in the gentle approach of Jesus not only restored the fallen and oppressed, but it brought judgment to the oppressors. At the same time that Jesus urged those who sought His help to “learn of Him and find rest to their souls”, He pronounced “Woes” of judgment on the proud cities of Israel. The powerful and merciless rulers of mankind will also learn of Jesus, but their end will be worse than that of Sodom.

To learn of Jesus brings one to the way of the Cross. Fulfilling another OT prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), Jesus entered Jerusalem as Israel’s King, “Lowly (meek) and sitting on a donkey.” Jesus did not redeem human ‘waste’ by violent means, rather He experienced the violence in His own body at His trial and crucifixion. “By His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53)

To all who come to Jesus, learning of Him, experiencing His mercy and rest, there is great blessing to be received. He taught the crowds who flocked around Him:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.”