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A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean September 23rd - Overcoming Fatigue
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
We have been hearing a lot in the news recently about people gathering in large numbers whether it be at outdoor BBQs and parties or at indoor events. Many of the people attending these events are not wearing masks or maintaining proper social distancing and as a result the number of cases of COVID-19 is on the rise in Ontario. The reason being given for why people are choosing to participate in these gatherings is they are fatigued and tired from the restrictions put upon them by the province.
When we think in terms of fatigue, our focus tends to go first toward the physical. While we may not have been as active as we normally were due to COVID-19, the fatigue it is causing so many people to experience is emotional. This pandemic has been hard on us emotionally because of: - Being isolated from others in the beginning, - Staying in a social circles of just 10, - Missing out on gathering with family and friends at school, work, church, coffee shops, and in other ways.
People want this pandemic to be over. They want their lives to feel the same again. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean September 16th - Look and Consider
Look at the birds, they do not plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And are not you far more valuable to Him than they are? -Matthew 6: 26
The number of cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Ontario. A few weeks ago, we had days where the number of cases were under 100. As of September 15, 2020, the number of cases has risen to 315. The Premier of Ontario is worried about the rising numbers. The hospitals are not being overrun with the rise in new cases. The majority of these cases are in people 39 years of age and younger. A lot of these cases among this age group are a result of them attending large gatherings and not social distancing. If this rise in case numbers continues, the Premier of Ontario is worried it will be the start of the second wave of the virus that has occurred in other countries. The first wave of this pandemic brought enough concerns for all of us. The possibility of a second wave occurring keeps these concerns lingering.
It has been hard living with these on-going worries. Jesus knew worries would be a part of our lives. While He did not address the worries associated with a pandemic, His advice during His teaching in the Sermon on The Mount are very helpful as we continue through this season of worries in our lives. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean September 9th - The Need to Learn
Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, listen carefully, Israel, hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today so you may learn from them and obey them! (Deuteronomy 5:1)
My daughter Coral starts high school this week. She is attending BCI just like both of her parents did. Even though it was 42 years ago (yes, that number is correct) I still remember my first day of high school. My first class was typing, and I asked my home room teacher where to find it. Nerves and butterflies must have been interfering with my listening abilities because instead of going up one flight of stairs to the typing room I went all the way across the school and ended up in and art class with Doug Hughes (I did not see any typewriters there). Thankfully, Doug took pity on this Grade 9 student, who would one day be his minister, and gave me the right directions to eventually find my first class.
So much has changed in the 42 years since I started Grade 9 at BCI: Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean September 2nd - Trust the One Who Does Know
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29: 11)
September 2, 1988. Thirty-two years ago, to the day that you might be reading this message. Thirty-two years ago, the lights were on at our church. The reason why I know this is because Nadine and I were there to say our vows and to enter our life of marriage with each other. There were some things I did know as I stood at the front of the church waiting for Nadine to come down the aisle:
- I knew we were running late, - I knew I was in love, - I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Nadine, - I knew I was blessed and fortunate she wanted to marry a guy like me, - I knew the next day we would be leaving for a short honeymoon.
But there was so much more that I did not know at that time: Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean August 26th - Because Nothing is too Hard
I see their faces everyday as I turn to the editorial section of my newspaper. The faces I see are of the two MICHAELS - MICHAEL SPAVOR AND MICHAEL KOVRIG. These two Canadians have been held captive in China since December 10, 2018. As of August 25, 2020, they have spent 625 days in captivity. The conditions these two Michaels have endured have not been easy:
- In the beginning they were given very little food to eat. - It was only when COVID-19 started, that they were fed larger portions. - They are forced to sleep with the lights on instead of in the dark. - They have gone long periods of time not being able to talk with family or with representatives from the Canadian Consulate. Their situation reminds me of something I heard a former POW (prisoner of war) during the Vietnam War say about his experience: Being a POW is the loneliest experience you can ever have. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean August 20th - Spending Time Pulling Weeds
The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear the word of God, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced (Mark 4:18-19).
I have spent a lot of time on my knees since May. I wish I could tell you that all this time on my knees has been spent praying. Unfortunately, most of the time spent has been pulling weeds out of the grass in my backyard.
After 10 years of neglect, weeds had taken over my backyard. Every year I tackled dandelions in my yard but left all the other weeds alone. Besides dandelions, I began to see lots of weeds that sprouted purple flowers on them, and lots of other weeds that would display yellow buds and white ones at times. Since late May I have been outside at least an hour a day, usually six days a week weather permitting pulling weeds with my trusty little tool in hand. Some seeds would have long deep roots. Others just had short roots. Some weeds seemed to spread across quite a large area.
When you have a 300-foot-deep lot it takes quite a while to pull weeds out of your grass. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean August 13th - Do Not Leave Home Without It
Your Word Is A Lamp to Guide My Feet and A Light for My Path (Psalm 119: 105)
Remember never to leave home with out it! When we were children, and experiencing old Canadian-style winters, our parents would remind us never to leave home without wearing our hats and mitts. Then once we learned how to drive, we needed to remember not to leave home without a purse or wallet or sunglasses when getting into the car. Then with smartphones and cellphones we had to remember not to leave the house without them. I often remember to take the cell phone when I leave but I do not always think to turn it on so Nadine can call me. Several times the waitress at my local coffee shop would come to say, your wife called; will you turn on your phone! Once we got our dog Daisy, we had to start to remember to have a certain bag in our hands before we left the house to take her for a walk. Now with COVID-19 we have one more thing to remember never to leave home without: a FACE MASK.
It is certainly a new thing for all of us to have to remember to grab our face mask as we leave the house. I forgot to do so two weeks ago when I stopped to get gas in the car. Instead of paying at the pumps I went inside and immediately realized I had forgotten my mask at home. I apologized to the clerk and pulled my shirt up to cover my mouth while I paid. Taking a mask with us whenever we go out is certainly a new reality for us. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean August 5th - A Retro Moment
On Sunday afternoon and evening Coral spent time going through our closets in search of some of our outfits and items from the 1990s. Apparently, RETRO has come back into style recently amongst teenagers. Coral has the right parents when it comes to RETRO since both Nadine and I are in our fifties. Yes, our closet still has outfits from the 1990s and late 1980s.
At first Coral focused her attention solely on Nadine. It was interesting seeing Coral put on some of her dress jackets from the 1990s. After she put on one of her red jackets Coral looked in the mirror and said, I look like Hillary Clinton in this jacket. If Coral was wearing dress pants at the time, she would have looked like Hillary.
After we got back from visiting the Rev. Mother Sunday night, Coral went back upstairs in search of more RETRO clothes. I was downstairs watching the Leafs lose to Columbus, but I could hear a bit of laughing and giggling going on as Coral was looking through our clothes. Later that night I heard Coral yell, Wow Dad, I did not know you had this sweater. I looked and there was Coral wearing a University of Michigan sweater that I had not worn in years. It looked good on her. Next thing I heard her telling me was, It is mine now Dad, thanks. My loss was her gain but if it saves me buying her a new sweater for school in the fall then it is my gain as well. Read more
Music by Chris Vandertuin
More: Mid-Week Messages More: Musical Moments |
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Sermon: Walking in Faith Amalgamation Sunday May 31, 2020 |
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Knox and Mt. Pleasant Churches |
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Sermon: Being in Prison June 7, 2020 |
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Sermon: Jesus Broke Down Walls of Prejudice June 14, 2020 |
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Sermon: What Makes It Great! June 28, 2020 |
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Sermon: He Is Still There July 5, 2020 |
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Sermon: It Was By Faith July 12, 2020 |
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Sermon: Keep Moving Forward July 19, 2020 |
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Sermon: Science is not Perfect, But God Is July 26, 2020 |
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Sermon: When We Think of One Another August 2, 2020 |
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Sermon: Lowering Our Risk August 9, 2020 |
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Sermon: Coming Out of This More Humble August 16, 2020 |
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Sermon: Do Not Let This Relationship Change August 23, 2020 |
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Sermon: Being in the Presence of Our Enemy August 30, 2020 |
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Sermon: When Change Does Not Happen... September 6, 2020 |
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Sermon: Changing the Way We Are Speaking September 13, 2020 |
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The church will reopen on Thanksgiving. See the announcements for more information. |
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Sermon: Events That Have Changed Our World September 20, 2020 |
