It’s Our Turn

Posted on by Shannon

There’s a pile of old bulletins in my desk drawer and I read a few of them recently. The oldest go back to 2005 and they are much like a snapshot of what the Barrie church was like 15 years ago. The church had three elders and three deacons; some of their names are different than today. The preacher was Shawn Redding, just beginning his work. It was a busy time for the church: there are pictures of ladies’ events with many present, men’s breakfasts, renovations being done in the building, and lots of kids. General attendance on Sundays was roughly 60 to 80 people, about the same as we were before Covid-19 hit us hard 9 months ago. And guess what: the church was raising funds to install a new sign on the front lawn; the goal was $6,500 (not unlike today as we save up for the sign’s replacement – at almost 4X the price!).

We look back with fondness at the church the way it was and people we once knew. Some congregations have had great people among them years ago and can’t seem to get out from under their shadow, as if they’re living in the past or hanging on to other people’s accomplishments. But the church was never designed to stagnate and be frozen by its past. We must focus on today and aim toward what we can be in the future. It’s our turn to plan, serve, worship, and grow. People of the past can’t do that for us.

When Moses died, they wept for him in the plains of Moab for 30 days, “Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end” (Deut.34:8). It was time for Joshua to take over. It was his turn and he led them into the new land. A new chapter of history need to be written. Even John the Baptist, as great and influential as he was, knew it was time for Jesus to be front and centre before the people. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

With a New Year around the corner, how will you fit into the church’s life? What plans will you lay to grow and serve? What can we do to bring new people into the fold? These are big questions that are not easy to answer, but they deserve pondering.

It’s our turn. Let’s do a great job for our Lord.

– Tim Johnson

A Risky Life

Posted on by Shannon

Just behind Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains is a beautiful waterfall that freezes solid in winter. It’s a magnet for people who like to climb such slippery slopes and make it to the top. I had a friend who enjoyed this dangerous sport and he said it was a thrill; everything looked beautiful from up there. You must admire his willingness to take risks. As somebody said, “If you want the view, make the climb.”

In an earlier article by David Johnson, he said, “The life that God has given us is a glorious experience. We only have one chance at it as we live here in this world. Each of us is a history and no history is the same. One child can become a saint and the other a demon. Doesn’t that say something about the specialness of each one of us? Life is full of choices and many of them have risks attached. When we take full responsibility for our lives, it may not be easy. Upon hearing Jesus say, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men,’ they ‘immediately left the nets and followed Him.’ (Matt.4:19-20). They risked it all.

“To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out to others is to risk becoming involved. To show our feelings is to risk exposing our humanity. To take a stand for what is right is to risk losing a friend. To try to share the gospel risks rejection. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. But loss of hope has a dreary end.

“To live life to the full, risks must be taken because one of the great hazards of life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing. That person may avoid some suffering and sorrow but cannot experience the complete depth of living.

“It is far better to choose the way of love, the way of caring, the way of hope, the way of belief in tomorrow, the way of trusting, and the way of goodness – in spite of risks. Kermit the frog said, ‘It is a whole lot more satisfying to reach for the stars, even if you end up landing on the moon.’”

Climbing a frozen waterfall may seem risky, but what a view!

– Tim Johnson

Echoes of the Mountains

Posted on by Shannon

Out in the Rocky Mountains, just outside the town of Jasper, Alberta, Pyramid Mountain looms. Named because of its shape, it is a beautiful place to visit. For over a hundred years, it has been a popular place to go camping around the lake directly in front of it. A boardwalk was constructed out to a small island where you can get close to the mountain. From this spot you can yell “Hello!” and your voice will echo back several times. People often shout silly things and silly things come back. I heard someone yell, “I love you!” Well, that’s one way to hear love in return.

You get back what you give. Isn’t that one of the fundamental laws of living? Eventually, you receive the same kind of treatment from people that you give to them. If you treat people kindly, they will be kind to you. If you ignore people, they will ignore you. Even a smile is met with a smile. It all comes back to you. Sometimes a little more than you expected.

Quoting Psalm 34:12-15, Peter solemnly said, “Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let Him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12) If we pursue godly ways and decent behaviour, God will bless you and life will go much better. You will experience things that are not unlike the good things you have done for others.

Jesus taught, “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.” He went on to explain, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give and it will be given to you…For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:31-38) Jesus knew about echoes because he grew up in the hills around Nazareth.

Do you want friends? Be a friend. Want some mail? Write some letters! Do you want people to care about you? Care for them. Do you want a better marriage? Invest time, love, consideration, kindness, and a sense of humour, and you will discover some of the same great things coming back to you from your mate. The good things you invest turn around and head right back to you. Do you want a kinder, more forgiving and understanding congregation? You know what to do.

It’s like a mountain echo. You’ll be delighted with what you hear.

– Tim Johnson

Swimming

Posted on by Shannon

I leaned how to swim when I was in elementary school. Buses would pull up and load several classes and off we’d go to a hotel swimming pool for the morning. A loud instructor would teach us how to keep afloat by kicking our feet and using our arms. Eventually we got the hang of it and swam across the pool. We learned not to be afraid of water. Swimming skills have stuck with me throughout life. With water all around us in Canada, it’s good to know how to swim. I tried to pass these skills along to my sons, all of whom can swim, and they seem to be acquainting my grandchildren with water safety too.

As we go through life it’s not unlike swimming. Sometimes the water is smooth and it’s easy to move through it. But other times it gets rough and dangerous. God warns us in the scriptures that sin and temptation lurks everywhere, trying to pull us down. We must learn how to deal with it, how to keep from drowning. Mary Baker’s 1974 hymn says it well, “Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep o’er my sinking soul! And I perish, I perish, dear Master; O hasten and take control.” Sink or swim?

The Hebrew writer recommended fellowship, encouragement and attention given to the word of God as a defense. “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today, lest anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb.4:13) Learning the habit of regular fellowship at meeting times is much like learning to swim – it can save your life if you keep it up. We must learn to look forward to the classes and assemblies provided for us and treat them with respect and reverence. They train us for the rough times that inevitably come into our lives.

Like teaching our children to swim, we need to teach them the skills of spiritual survival too. Learning the habits of fellowship and teaching is something we instil in them. When you keep it up yourself, you also show them how to do it. It can stay with them for life. They won’t be afraid when things get rocky. They will have learned how to depend on God.

How are your swimming skills? Are you passing them on?

– Tim Johnson

The Horns of the Altar

Posted on by Shannon

The Old Testament tabernacle was plain compared to Solomon’s temple centuries later, but it was still a magnificent structure. The items inside were overlaid with pure gold, as were the wooden planks that comprised the walls. The curtain that separated its two rooms were made of linen and decorated with purple and scarlet fabrics. Every item was portable, carried by poles inserted in rings made of gold. But one of the most curious pieces was the bronze altar that stood in the courtyard.

 The altar was made for burning sacrifices every day, all day, so it was made of bronze. Square in shape, it was made for heavy work. Each of the four top corners featured a bronze horn. Archaeologists have discovered a similar Canaanite altar near the town of Megiddo, decorated with four horns. Why was the Israelite altar decorated this way? Horns were symbols of strength. The horns of animals were the strongest part of their bodies. Ram’s horns were fashioned into trumpets and treated with respect. On the altar they symbolized the strength and stability of God, that He could be depended upon to deal with their sins through the sacrifices offered there.

 They also offered refuge when someone was accused of a crime. In 1 Kings 1:50-53, David’s son Adonijah fled to the temple and took hold of the horns of the alter. His bid to become the king had failed and he was afraid Solomon would execute him. Here he found temporary safety in hopes his case would be examined more closely. Solomon granted him mercy. But in the next chapter, Joab, the former commander of David’s army, found no mercy when he grabbed the same horns of the altar. He was guilty of throwing his weight behind Adonijah’s grab for power, and he was also a murderer. His case was reviewed, but he was found guilty and executed on the spot. It seemed that Adonijah repented, but Joab did not.

In Hebrews 4:16 we’re told we have “fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.” While the statement may refer to the Jewish cities of refuge, the way the author phrased it makes us think of the horns of the altar. When we come to Jesus, guilty of our sins, we appeal to His grace and forgiveness. We’re much like the Jews who fled into the tabernacle and laid hold of its horns. We must repent and rely on the strength and grace of God to forgive us. And He will. The sacrifice of Jesus is better than any animal sacrifice ever was. Remember that when you approach Him for grace and help.

– Tim Johnson