The Messenger
Volume 52 No. 2 February 2014
Returning to the Practice
of Confession
page 6
INSIDE:
Can I give you a hug? page 8
The Gospel according to Moses page 10
$2.00
Editorials
The challenging figure of Jesus
H
istory’s most challenging figure is Jesus
Christ.
“All things have been committed to
me by my Father,” Jesus said. “No one knows the
Son except the Father, and no one knows the
Father except the Son and
those to whom the Son
chooses to reveal him”
(Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).
“What a majestic light
it throws on Jesus’ estimate of His own person!”
says Dr. A. M. Hunter.
“He claims not only that
He is the organ of God’s self-revelation, but that
He alone knows God truly as Father and for
that supreme knowledge all men must become
debtors to him.” Hunter goes on: Jesus forgave sins—not only
declared it, but did it (Mark 2:5). And he lists
other challenging statements by Jesus. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before men, I will
disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matt.
10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9).
Jesus said, “Anyone who loves his father or
mother more than me is not
worthy of me; anyone who loves
his son or daughter more than
me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross
and follow me is not worthy of
me” (Matt. 10:37-38; Luke 14:2627). “I came to cast fire on the
earth” (Luke 12:49). “I came not
to send peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34).
Hunter says, “These are amazing statements,
to whose wonder only familiarity has dulled
our ears; some of them remind us of detonating
bombs.” He asks, “Who then is this who knows
himself so sent, so authorised by God?” (The
Work and Words of Jesus, SCM).
– Terry M. Smith
A.M. Hunter: “These are
amazing statements, to whose
wonder only familiarity has
dulled our ears.”
••
Children, parents, and Jesus
W
hen children are dropped off at
Sunday School, a parent, realizing
it or not, is asking them to become
familiar with the pivotal figure of human history:
Jesus.
Parents sometimes send their children to
Sunday School to learn morals, including from
the Sermon on the Mount. Yet, ironically, the
Sermon contains an adult-sized challenge:
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against
you because of me” (Matt. 5:12).
Jesus blessed children. He also upset religious
and political leaders to where they killed him.
Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, forgave
sins, made unique claims, died horribly, and was
raised from death.
In the Sermon, Jesus also said, “Not everyone
2 The Messenger • February 2014
Jesus is equally concerned about
parents and children.
who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will
of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to
me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, when did we might
prophesy in your name, and in your name drive
out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then
I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!’” (Matt. 7:21-22).
Jesus is delighted when children come to
learn, but he is equally concerned about the parent who drops off a child and watches till they
disappear behind the church door.
– Terry M. Smith
Table of Contents
Features
Columns
6
4
Returning to the Practice of Confession
– Heidi Dirks
8
Can I give you a hug?
– Angeline Schellenberg
10 The Gospel according to Moses
– Dr. Dan Block
Writings Shared
12 An Education App
Looking at the
Order of Service
– Terry M. Smith
19 Been Thinking About
A heart for Israel
– Ward Parkinson
page
8
23 Further In and Higher Up
Departments
2
Editorials
3
Pontius’ Puddle
14 With Our Missionaries
16 With Our Churches
20 News
24 In Memory
25 Shoulder Tapping
A lover’s chase
– Layton Friesen
26 Here and Far Away
Excellence in the
presence of the King
– Jocelyn R. Plett
page
10
27 Stewardship Today
Things I wish my Father
had done
– Mike Strathdee
28 Kids’ Corner
Make a List
– Loreena Thiessen
page
21
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3
The Messenger
Volume 52 No. 2 February 2014
EDITOR
TERRY M. SMITH
ASSISTANT EDITOR
ANDREW WALKER
Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to
[email protected].
The Messenger is the monthly publication of the Evangelical
Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public.
Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in
the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious living, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.
Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed.
Unpublished material is not returned except by request.
Views and opinions of writers are their own and do
not necessarily represent the position of the Conference
or the editors. Advertising and inserts should not be
considered to carry editorial endorsement.
The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of
Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a
member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.
Subscription rates
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Manitoba residents add 8% PST.
Digital only subscriptions: $15 per year.
Single copy price: $2
Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within
or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the
Conference for members and adherents.
Change of address and subscriptions
Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be addressed to:
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Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.
ISSN: 0701-3299
Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the
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Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities.
Advertising
The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free
space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its
churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies
and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and
inquiries should be sent to [email protected].
THE MESSENGER schedule:
No. 05– May issue
(copy due March 08)
4 The Messenger • February 2014
Notes
Guidelines for letters
Letters published are generally to
comment on issues raised in The
Messenger. The magazine reserves
the right to edit letters for length,
style, legality, and taste.
Letters by regular mail and by
fax must contain a handwritten
signature with at least the writer’s
first and last names and an address.
For letters by e-mail, the writer’s
name and e-mail address are deemed
to be an electronic signature. The
writer’s regular postal address is to be
included in e-mail correspondence.
The writer’s name and general address are to be published. In sensitive
matters, names may be withheld.
Letters to the editor should be 250
words or less.
Columns • Writings Shared
Revolutionary Christian Citizenship, John Howard Yoder (Herald Press, 2013).
Edited by John Nugent, Andy Alexis Baker, and Branson L. Parker. 150 pp.
$15.99. ISBN 9780836196887. Reviewed by Henry Friesen (The ConneXion), BA,
MPhilF, BCM member.
Revolutionary Christian Citizenship is
another powerful new release of the
writings of John Howard Yoder edited
for today’s popular audience.
RCC is vintage Yoder in its clarion
call to following Jesus’ teachings in
life, which is nothing less than a call
to the kind of radical obedience that
makes decisions based on what constitutes obedience, rather than settling
for what we deem will yield acceptable
results.
In this volume Yoder addresses the
inescapable political implications of
the life and teachings of Jesus. How
does the Christian relate to the state,
and what is her responsibility to the
state in terms of service, taxes, voting, and other questions of ultimate
allegiance?
Yoder cuts through many questions that pretend to be practical and
reasonable, and yet ultimately distract
us from simple obedience to the voice
of our Master, without simplistic
pretensions regarding the possible
complexity of such obedience.
Yoder’s unremitting emphasis on
living in obedient truth is reflected in
this quote: “Whatever our position is,
it is wrong unless it is an expression of
the love of God. If trying to win an argument leads us to hate the arguer or
if our debating is not reinforced by a
loving life, then we have lost the truth,
regardless of what happens in the
debate. The final proof of our position
is not that we can defend it but that,
God helping, we can live it. As we do
so, our lives will extend God’s love in
the world by destroying the causes
and healing the effects of sin” (113).
It is his single-minded focus on
learning from and following Jesus in
daily life that makes this book highly
recommended reading for all.
News
The EFC: Effective in Ottawa
A half-century old, intervenes at SCC
Those who are prostituted are created in
the image of God. They’re also looking for
a way off the streets that will allow them
to reclaim that image in their lives. That
will require more than just a change in
the criminal law.
The EFC is considered a credible resource on the issues
on which we comment because our engagement begins
with biblical principles, then communicates the necessary
social and statistical evidence required to support proposals for good public policy.
In Dec. 2014, the EFC released a report and recommendations to the Government of Canada on the need
for reform of Canada’s prostitution laws, Out of Business:
Prostitution in Canada—Putting an End to Demand.
Within two weeks the Supreme Court of Canada
struck down Canada’s
prostitution laws, giving
Parliament one year
to reform them or lose
them. The presentation
in Out of Business is
finding favour. It identifies that most being
prostituted are not there
Don Hutchinson
willingly; and, their managers (pimps) and clients (johns) wield an abusive power
that is both financial and physical.
Those who are prostituted are created in the image of
God. They’re also looking for a way off the streets that will
allow them to reclaim that image in their lives. That will
require more than just a change in the criminal law.
It requires the engagement of Canadians, particularly
the Church, in being the ambassadors of reconciliation and
restoration the apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Cor. 5:20. To
read more visit www.theEFC.ca/OutOfBusiness.
The EFC has intervened before the Supreme Court of
Canada 24 times. We have applied for our 25th. The Quebec government ordered a private Catholic high school to
teach a course on religion and ethics from a non-Catholic,
secular perspective.
The EFC has gained a reputation as a defender of
religious freedom, keeping churches open and securing
space for Christian voices to be heard in the public square.
We might not be Catholic, but we know if the government
can tell Catholics to stop being Catholic for a few hours a
week, it won’t be long before Evangelicals are told the same
thing.
We plan to be in the Supreme Court of Canada on
March 24. Through prayer, you can be there too.
– Don Hutchinson, EFC
PHOTO: EFC
OTTAWA, Ont.—The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
(EFC) is, in 2014, celebrating 50 years of cooperation
between Canadian evangelical Christians across dozens of
denominations, each with their own theological traditions.
The EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life (CFPL) was
established in 1993 with the hiring of Bruce Clemenger,
now president of the EFC since 2003. In 1996, the CFPL
moved from Toronto to Ottawa. We’re just a few blocks
away from Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of
Canada.
Over the decades, the EFC has prepared discussion papers, positioning papers and Parliamentary and provincial
legislature presentations on a number of issues including:
abortion, education, the environment, gambling, poverty
in Canada, global poverty, marriage and the family, religious discrimination, international religious persecution,
pornography, prostitution and more.
An article from Faith Today magazine (Jan./Feb. 2014)
notes:
“When Parliamentarians and committees seek you out,
you know you have become an invaluable part of the process of enacting good law,” says Clemenger. He adds that
staff have always built connections with Parliamentarians
from various political parties as well as networks with other
non-governmental organizations.
Don Hutchinson is vice president, general legal counsel with
the EFC, and director of the Centre for Faith and Public
Life.
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 5
Returning to the Practice of Confession
by Heidi Dirks
I
t can be uncomfortable, even
terrifying, to share aspects of
ourselves that are embarrassing or make us appear somehow
inadequate. Whether it is sin, or
something that is seen as inappropriate or undesirable, we tend to hide
those parts of ourselves from others,
preferring to put forward a face to
the world that says we have life all
figured out.
While confessing our sins to God
is necessary, we are also called to
confess to each other. This requires
vulnerability and trust, taking the
risk of being hurt.
Why confess our sins to others?
In James 5:16 we are called to confess
our sins to each other so that we may
be healed, and we are reminded that
the prayers of those who are living a
righteous life are powerful. The Message says it this way: “Confess your
sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you can live together
whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something
powerful to be reckoned with.”
Confessing our sins is an
important part of resisting
shame.
In her book Girl Meets God,
author Lauren Winner recounts her
experience of seeking out a priest to
hear her confession. After hearing
her confession, the priest pronounces absolution, and reminds her that
God has “put away all your sins.”
We need others to proclaim
6 The Messenger • February 2014
God’s forgiveness and grace when
we have lost sight of this promise
under the burden of sin. Winner
says that the reason for confession is
not to be forgiven, but rather to be
transformed.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer has much
to contribute to this topic in the
context of Christian community.
In his classic book Life Together,
Bonhoeffer states that sin creates a
barrier between us and our community, making it even more destructive
in our lives.
He says that sin needs to be
“brought into the light” through confession to another Christian in order
for it to lose its power. Once sin has
been revealed and declared as sin, it
is no longer a barrier to fellowship
within the community.
Shame and vulnerability
Confessing our sins is an important
part of resisting shame. Brené
Brown has become well known for
her research on the topics of shame
and vulnerability. As a social work
researcher, she sought to understand
what shame is, how it is experienced,
and the characteristics of people who
were resilient to shame.
Brown describes shame as the
fear of losing connection with others
because there is something wrong
with us that makes us unworthy of
being accepted. Shame, like sin, creates disconnection.
Shame can be caused by sin, or
believing we are inadequate in areas
of our lives such as our job, physical
appearance, or ability to live up
to the expectations placed on us.
Shame has many different origins.
We all
experience
shame. In
order for
us to combat shame,
Brown
argues
that we
need to be
vulnerable.
When we
are vulnerable, experiencing emotional uncertainty, we
are courageous enough to show who
we really are. This is not easy, but
it is necessary for connection with
others. We need to push through the
discomfort of vulnerability.
Being vulnerable is not a sign of
weakness, but rather an expression
of strength. When we are vulnerable, we often feel weak. However,
when we see vulnerability in others,
we generally admire them for their
courage.
God’s promise of forgiveness
It is in Jesus’ death and resurrection
that we are forgiven. We are promised
that if we confess our sins, God is
faithful and will forgive us (1 John
1:7-9). Proverbs 28:13 tells us that
“whoever conceals their sins does not
prosper, but the one who confesses
and renounces them finds mercy.”
Mercy and forgiveness of sins is not
based on our actions, but on the work
of Jesus.
As Christians, we have the
privilege of declaring this promise
to those whose confessions we hear.
This is an important responsibility.
Many of us have experienced the
hurt of being vulnerable only to have
our fear of disconnection come true.
It is important to hold sensitive
information in confidence, not sharing it with others unless there is an
immediate concern for a person’s
safety or you are required by law to
do so. It certainly should not be used
to spread gossip or exclude someone
from a community.
To whom do we confess?
When seeking out someone to confess
to, we are not limited to pastors,
although they are certainly an important support available to us. Many
pastors have specific theological train-
everyone in our lives will earn the
right to hear our stories.
Use with caution
One caution that Bonhoeffer points
out is the need to avoid having one
person hearing everyone’s confessions. This person can easily become
overwhelmed, making confession a
meaningless routine, and potentially
allowing the practice of confession to
be used to spiritually dominate others.
As well, he says we should only confess to someone who also confesses
their sins to another Christian.
Public confession is another
practice that should be used with
extreme caution. Bonhoeffer says
that his statements apply only to
Brown says that we “share with people who’ve earned
the right to hear [our] story.”Trust needs to be built in a
relationship, giving us time to discover if this is a safe person
with whom to be vulnerable. Not everyone in our lives will
earn the right to hear our stories.
ing, in addition to their experiences
as a pastor and in their personal lives
that enable them to walk with us as
we make ourselves vulnerable through
confession.
Bonhoeffer says that we should
confess to another Christian who
understands the depth of their own
sin and has accepted God’s forgiveness in their life. A person who is
horrified by the extent of their own
wickedness will not be horrified
at the sin of a brother or sister in
Christ.
Brown says that we “share with
people who’ve earned the right to
hear [our] story.” Trust needs to be
built in a relationship, giving us time
to discover if this is a safe person
with whom to be vulnerable. Not
confession between two people, arguing that a person does not have to
confess to the entire community in
order to restore the relationship with
that community that was broken by
sin. While public confessions may
be appropriate in some cases, there
can be great risk of harm to both the
person confessing and those hearing
the confession.
A confession should not be
demanded or coerced. Each of us
needs the freedom to choose to
confess, and choose who will hear
that confession.
Seek wisdom from God
It is important that we seek God’s
wisdom and guidance to know who
is safe to confess to. We should also
Public confession is another
practice that should be used
with extreme caution.While
public confessions may be
appropriate in some cases,
there can be great risk of
harm to both the person
confessing and those hearing
the confession.
be open to His leading, as God may
use our vulnerability to strengthen
relationships, or to show the other
person they are not alone in their own
sin. It is through confession that we
are reminded that we are all sinners in
need of God’s grace.
Christian communities should be
a place where God’s grace abounds.
They become a safe place when those
in it are safe, practicing confession
and proclaiming God’s forgiveness
in our lives. God can bring blessing
and healing from our vulnerability in
confessing our sins. It is a privilege
to see God work in us and through
us to bring His healing to our broken
world.
Heidi Dirks (St. Vital), BA, BEd, is an
MA student (counselling) at Providence Theological Seminary.
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 7
PHOTO: TONY SCHELLENBERG
Jeannette Thiessen and Donovan Thiessen
Can I give you a hug?
Including people with disabilities in the Church
by Angeline Schellenberg
A
couple who’ve just learned
their unborn child has Down’s
Syndrome enter a church for
the first time and are greeted warmly
by a man with Down’s. He leads them
to the visitor centre, and when they’ve
mopped up their tears, they say, “God
told us everything we needed to know
through your greeter.”
With one in seven Canadians
having a disability, and one in 50
children being diagnosed with autism
alone, individuals’ and caregivers’
need for support is great. Following
Hope Centre Ministries’ IN 2013, a
Winnipeg conference held on April
26-27, 2013, about fostering inclusion
in the church, fellow parents and
leaders shared their stories of hits and
misses. (The event was endorsed by
the EMC.)
Jeannette Thiessen’s story
“What meant a lot to me, when we
came into McIvor Church for the
first time, was seeing a banner of the
world with people holding hands, and
one had a wheelchair,” says Jeannette
Thiessen, who was raised in the EMC.
In Africa, her son Donovan, who
was born with an unlisted genetic
disorder, was included by the small
8 The Messenger • February 2014
group of missionary kids. When
Donovan’s cancer (which put him in
a wheelchair) forced the family to return to Canada for treatment, “People
would say hi to us and our other kids,
but not always to Donovan. It was as
though he didn’t exist.”
Despite youth pastor Denver
Wilson’s best efforts, at youth events,
“Donovan stayed on periphery. If
youth group is going to work, kids
with special needs need one-to-one
mentoring.”
“The piece that’s missing in many
of our churches is awareness” from
the front, says Jeannette, for example,
of the fact that children with disabilities can’t be disciplined the same
way. She applaud’s IN speaker Barbara
Neuman’s story about a pastor’s response when a girl screamed during
his message. He said, “I’d like to
introduce you to a new family. Their
daughter is sensitive to noises and the
seams in her clothes, and sometimes
gets so uncomfortable that she has to
say something.” The next time the girl
screamed, no one stared.
Before Donovan attended Hope
Centre’s Serve (a weeklong service opportunity for people with disabilities
similar to MB Mission’s SOAR), Hope
Centre contacted Denver and asked
him to commission Donovan. “After
the commissioning service, so many
people came to talk to Donovan!” says
Jeannette.
Jeannette and her husband Elmer
“hope to create a safe place in our
home for families”—not a “sob fest,”
but a support group to talk about
where God is, and how he sees their
children, and to make a game plan for
school, respite, employment, housing
– and next steps. “If the child qualified
for funding, they can stay in school till
21, but then what?”
“I’ve never heard a faith story of
someone parenting special needs.
Why not share that story?” says
Jeannette. Donovan—now 29, in
remission, walking again, living on his
own, and driving himself to his fulltime janitorial job—has his own story:
when he had cancer, he heard Jesus
say, “I’m not taking you to heaven
now. I have you here for a purpose.”
Part of that purpose is serving as an
usher at McIvor; another is paving the
way for others with special needs.
Brian Doerksen’s story
Worship singer/songwriter Brian
Doerksen took the stage at Hope
PHOTO: TONY SCHELLENBERG
Brian Doerksen
Centre’s conference, not as a performer, but as a father. When Brian’s
third child was three, Benjamin was
diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome,
a genetic condition causing a range
of developmental delays. Brian and
Joyce’s future children had a 50/50
chance of having it.
“There’s a season where it settles
into your soul. Then you realize: it
means the rest of my life,” says Brian.
September 1998, Brian felt a stirring: “Take a risk, now that you have
all the genetic data, and have another
child.” People angrily ask, “Why?”
He has two reasons: to model to his
daughters, who are carriers, to take
the risk. And second: “We believed
we’d have a child without Fragile X.”
During Joyce’s pregnancy, Brian
composed these lyrics, amid overwhelming fear: “I don’t know what
tomorrow holds. Still I know I can
trust your faithfulness.”
“What people fasted and prayed
with us for didn’t happen,” says Brian.
He considered giving up his ministry to help raise two special needs
sons, but “I sensed God wants me to
keep going – a little more broken, a
little more trusting.… A little later I
had the picture of Joshua asking the
people to choose, and the phrase ‘As
for me and my house’ (Josh. 24:15).
You don’t choose your household; you
take what God gives.”
Isaiah, now 13, is a living love message from God. “When he wakes he’s
on a single mission: to hug as many
people as possible,” says Brain. Everywhere they go, Brian’s family of eight
has to think “WWID”: “What would
Isaiah do?” Will there be food that fits
his dietary restrictions? Will there be
sounds that overwhelm him?
Brian doesn’t set out to write worship hits; these are his own “survival
songs.” Even though his “Come, Now
is the Time to Worship” and “Faithful
One” are heard around the world, like
other parents of children with disabilities, Brian’s heart’s cry is that the
church would “truly see my children.”
Mary Reimer’s story
“I was overwhelmed and felt the need
to apologize on behalf of the church,”
says Faith Works pastor Mary Reimer
about hearing parents’ roundtable
stories at IN. “I saw how poorly
equipped the churches are to enter
their situation.”
“I can’t imagine what it’s like for
parents to navigate the turbulent water of disapproval with their kids,” she
says. “We have no desire to hurt or be
exclusive. We do it out of fear; rather
than get it wrong, we do nothing,
which hurts more than anything.”
“People tend to back away from
disruptive behaviour, and label the
child as a nuisance instead of getting
information,” says Mary. To combat
this, she latched onto a tip from
Neuman’s G.L.U.E. Training Manual
workshop: rather than asking, “Does
your child have ADHD?” ask, “Does
your child have difficulties with reading, using scissors, staying focused?”
Then visit each family and discuss
“How can we make your child more
successful and safe?”
What you can do:
● Speak positively about everyone,
whether it’s your own child, your
student, or the person in the next
pew.
● Listen without giving advice.
● Bring a family dinner. Even a delivery pizza tastes like love.
● Invite someone with disabilities to
come with you to their favourite
shop, restaurant, or sports game.
● Use visuals in your class or service
for people who have difficulty
hearing, reading, processing, or
sitting still.
● Help families form a support
group. Offer space, promotion, material, budget, and
encouragement.
● Create a culture that accepts outbursts of joy or pain.
● Have a toolbox of fidget toys (such
as stress balls) available in classrooms and sanctuary.
● Appoint an inclusion coordinator
for your church who is not a caregiver of a person with disabilities.
This individual isn’t responsible for
providing the hands-on support
but ensuring no one falls through
the cracks.
● Welcome families to speak from
the pulpit, at a membership meeting, or in a Sunday school session
about their diagnosis. Or invite a
ministry like Hope Centre to do a
needs evaluation or presentation
in your church.
● Create a form for Sunday school
students that focuses on needs and
strengths, rather than labels: What
does she like to do? How does she
learn best?
This article, shortened, is used with
permission from the Mennonite
Brethren Herald where it appeared in
Oct. 2013.
Editor’s note: IN2014 is in Winnipeg
on April 25-26, 2014, at Covenant
Christian Reformed Church (Friday
and Saturday nights) and McIvor Ave.
MB Church (Saturday during the day).
IN is short for Include, Invite, Inform,
Inspire. The EMC has endorsed the
event.
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 9
The Gospel according to Moses: a fresh look at Deuteronomy
by Dr. Daniel I. Block
A
nabaptists are deeply indebted to the Reformers
for their rediscovery of the doctrine of salvation
by grace alone through faith alone in Christ
alone.
However, Luther’s close identification of Old Testament
expressions of faith with legalism and the works righteousness that he found in the Roman Catholic Church of his
day blinded him (and many evangelicals since his day) to
the pervasive grace that drives the revelation of God as
found in the Hebrew Bible. The key to rediscovering that
grace in our day is to return to the Book of Deuteronomy,
Jesus’ favourite biblical book.
Most Christians think of Deuteronomy as a book of
law, which is not too surprising since (1) the name means
“second law,” (2) the book repeats the Decalogue (Ten
Commands, Deut 5:6-21), and (3) it actually reiterates
many laws found in Exodus and Leviticus.
No mere book of law
In its homiletical and pastoral style and tone, Deuteronomy bears a far closer resemblance to the Gospel of
John or Paul’s epistle to the Romans than to Hammurabi’s
Law Code.
An appeal to grace
Cast as a collection of Moses’ farewell sermons to his congregation, the book represents an impassioned appeal to
believers of all ages not to forget that they are entirely the
product of divine grace, and to respond to that grace with
joyful obedience to the divine Redeemer and demonstrated
love and grace in their relationships to others.
At the heart of Moses’ gospel is the notion of love. But
Moses’ understanding of “love” is quite different from
that of our contemporary culture, which often views love
primarily as a feeling of warmth toward someone, if not a
romantic passion. In Deuteronomy—as in the Bible generally—love is not fundamentally
an emotional term. Rather
the Hebrew word ’āhab, “love,”
may be defined as “covenant
commitment demonstrated in
actions in the interest of the other person.” This is what
God has demonstrated toward Israel (5:10; 7:7, 9, 12, 13;
10:15), and this is how he expects his redeemed people to
respond to him (6:4-5; 10:12-13; 11:1, 13; 13:3; 30:6), and to
each other, even the alien (10:19).
Until and unless Christians rediscover the grace
of God in Deuteronomy, the entire Old Testament
will remain largely a dead book to the Church.
However, to dismiss Deuteronomy as essentially a
book of laws not only obscures its true character and function, but also blinds us to
the life-promising and life-giving message to be found in it.
Moses’ role in the book was not that of a lawgiver—he had
no authority to legislate. The only professional designation
applied to him is that of “prophet” (nābî’; 18:15; 34:10), a
role that is reinforced by the epithet, “man of God” in 33:1.
Although we usually think of prophets as foretelling the
future or forth-telling oracles, in this book Moses’ exercises his prophetic role as Israel’s pastor (cf. Num. 27:17). Not
only does the book preserve a record of Moses the pastor
delivering his farewell pastoral addresses to his congregation (like Jesus in John 13-17 and Paul before the Ephesian
elders in Acts 20:17-38); it is also exhibits the structure
of a lengthy worship service, consisting of three pastoral
addresses (1:5-4:10; 5:1-26:19 and 28:1-68; 29:2-30:20), a
hymn of application summarizing his preaching in poetic
form (31:19-22, 30; 32:1-47), and a closing benediction for
each of the tribes, concluding with a climactic blessing for
the people as a whole (33:1-29).
After this he exits the stage. All that remains is for a
narrator to attach a summary account of his death and
burial (34:1-8) and his own eulogy for the man (vv. 9-12).
10 The Messenger • February 2014
The grace of demonstrated actions
When we examine the book of Deuteronomy to see how
God (YHWH) has demonstrated that love to Israel we discover a brilliant and multi-dimensional gospel of grace that
consists not of empty words, but of demonstrated actions
in Israel’s interest.
First, the God of Israel has graciously redeemed his
undeserving people from slavery in Egypt. The Decalogue,
the foundational covenant document opens with an announcement of God’s saving grace: “I am YHWH your
God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, out of
the slave house” (5:6).
Throughout the book Moses celebrates this grace with
reminders of God’s saving actions (4:32-40; 6:21-24; 26:18). And in his ethical commands he repeatedly appeals
to Israel’s bondage as motivation for charity to others.
Israelites are not to treat one another like Pharaoh treated
them; rather they are to exhibit the same redeeming grace
that God showed to them (6:13-14; 10:17-19).
Second, God has demonstrated his love for Israel
by graciously calling this redeemed people to covenant
relationship with himself. The entire book of Deuteronomy
exhibits a covenantal flavour, as Moses leads this generation of Israelites in a series of renewal rituals binding them
to God and God
to them before
they cross the
Jordan. This privileged
covenantal
relationship is
expressed in a
series of epithets
by which Israel is
identified: they are
“the people of/belonging to YHWH”
(9:12, 26, 29; 21:8, 26:15; 27:9; 29:13, 32:9, 36); YHWH’s
“sons” (1:31; 14:1; cf. 32:6); “a consecrated people belonging to YHWH” (7:6; 14:2, 21; 26:19); YHWH’s “treasured
possession” (7:6; 14:2; 26:18).
Third, God has revealed his will to his people, a revelation that is the envy of the nations and that they recognize
as uniquely righteous (4:5-8). Given Paul’s apparently
negative views of the law in his responses to the Judaizers
in the epistles to the Galatians and the Romans, and the
fundamental contrast that Luther drew between the law of
the old covenant and the grace of the new, it is difficult for
many evangelical Christians to view Israel’s law as a grace. Rather we tend to look upon it as a burden from which
they needed deliverance—despite the psalmist’s celebration of the grace and life-giving effects of the law (Psalm
119).
Jesus is the God who had
mercifully redeemed Israel,
called her to covenant
relationship with himself, and
commissioned her to be his
agents of grace.
The grace of law
Moses’ clearest exposition of “the grace of law” occurs
in 6:20-25, where, in response to a young boy’s question,
he declares that the will of God revealed in the statutes,
judgments, and stipulations of the covenant represents a
climactic symbol of divine grace, alongside Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the gift of the land of Canaan.
Unlike the peoples around Israel, his covenant people
had no need to guess concerning the boundaries between
sinful and righteous behaviour, nor the appropriate
response to sin when they commit it. On the contrary,
having redeemed Israel, in his grace God revealed in
unequivocal terms what an appropriate “Thank you” for
redemption and petition for forgiveness might look like.
Viewed in these terms, with the psalmist we agree that
the more detailed the revelation of the law, the greater the
grace.
Until and unless Christians rediscover the grace of God
in Deuteronomy, the entire Old Testament will remain
largely a dead book to the Church. Our use of it will be
limited to moralistic readings of the narratives and trite
christologizing of Israelite characters.
Jesus is YHWH incarnate
However, we must remember that Jesus Christ is YHWH
incarnate. He is the God who had mercifully redeemed
Israel, called her to covenant relationship with himself, and
commissioned her to be his agents of grace. This same God
has graciously redeemed us from sin, made us his covenant
people, and commissioned us to be his agents of blessing
to the whole world.
Unless we understand the way grace worked in the Old
Testament our understanding of its working in the Church
will be incomplete, truncated, and skewed.
Dan Block, PhD, is Gunther H.
Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, where
he has been on faculty since 2005.
At SBC’s Leadership Conference
on April 4-5, he will speak on “The
Gospel according to Moses: Rediscovering the Old Testament.”
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
APRIL 4-5, 2014
The Gospel
according to
MOSES
Rediscovering the Gospel
in the Old Testament
with
Dan Block
Visit www.SBCollege.ca for more info
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 11
Columns • An Education App
Looking at the Order of Service
H
ow well does this Order of Service
match your church’s worship pattern?
by Terry M. Smith
Hymns/Songs
Prayer
Welcome and announcements
Offering
Scripture
Sermon
Song/Hymn
Dismissal/Benediction
This has been called the “revivalist” format
(Don P. Hustad) because it focuses on the
sermon and the personal
response that is to follow.
Without time for collective responses after the
message, “people are given
the impression that the
Christian faith is nothing
more than listening to a
sermon and then going
home to lunch,” say Robert Wilson and William
Willimon, Methodists and professors at Duke
University. While their comment risks appearing flippant, late placement of the sermon does
reduce what collective responses are possible in
a service after the message.
Wilson and Willimon encourage such later
elements as an “affirmation of faith (Creed),
offering, altar call, or prayer.”
Our individual EMC churches use the
orders of service that they do because they
work. On various levels, they meet needs and
are effective.
However, opting for a revivalist format
can miss rich elements or acts of worship:
collective use of the Lord’s Prayer and the
Apostles’ Creed, confession and assurance of
pardon, and more. Various Orders of Service
can express evangelical convictions.
Let’s continue to reflect on the Orders of
Service we use and why. In fact, explaining
to a congregation why a particular order of
service is used can be educational in itself.
Churches use the liturgies they do
because they work, yet they need
to be used more consciously as a
way of educating.
12 The Messenger • February 2014
Local churches often assume their liturgy.
A small illustration: as a person privileged to
be a guest preacher in 46 of our churches, it is
interesting to observe how many details worship
leaders assume. For instance, does the speaker read the Scriptures before for the message or does someone
else? Does a worship leader pray for the speaker
or the speaker pray before the message? After
the message, is there a closing song? Is there
a benediction? If so, who does it? Does the
speaker stay in the sanctuary or go to the back to
greet people?
None of these are wrong. What these options
illustrate is how EMC churches can vary in
their liturgy and assume other will follow along.
However, to help new people feel at home in the
congregation, teach the meaning of what we do
together.
A couple of other worship tidbits. First,
“Why should evangelicals who know the personal, loving ‘God who is there’ be behind liberal
churches when it comes to Scripture reading
and worldview praying each Sunday morning?”
asks Hugh Mclaren in a ChristianWeek article.
Second, when someone is asked to represent,
or lead, the congregation in prayer, it is fitting to
use “we pray” language rather than “I pray.”
Order of Service used by Fort Garry EMC
Prelude
Call to Worship (a Psalm or prayer)
Congregational Singing (three songs)
Reading of Scripture
Prayer of Confession
Congregational Singing (two songs)
Reading of Scripture
Sermon
Congregational Singing (two songs)
Communion (third Sunday of month)
Pastoral Prayer
Offering and Offertory
Doxology
With Our Missionaries
English Please! If Only . . .
ASIA
The Sovereign Judge takes His seat on His royal
throne. Before Him are gathered the churches he has
summoned—the English-speaking churches of the
world. They’ve come with binders, PowerPoint presentations, and exhibits to show the projects they have
been involved in in “making disciples of all nations.”
After the lengthy “show and tell” session has gone
on for some time the Judge points at a large map of
the world and gravely asks: “What about North Korea,
Tibet, Laos, Bhutan, Bahrain, Vietnam, Morocco,
Myanmar, and Uzbekistan? I have heard only scant
reference to these places.“
“But these
places are
closed to foreign
Christian ministries. We couldn’t
send missionaries
there,” chant the
churches in unison.
The Judge is
obviously deeply moved and disturbed. He rises and with
deep emotion addresses this English-speaking gathering of
saints: “Did you ever notice that the whole world wanted
what you had—English?
“Did you not connect this with the fact that the whole
world needs Jesus and the salvation
He purchased for all nations? Did it
not occur to you that you could send
English teachers to live and work in
every country or people group of the
world, making disciples? Who do you
think designed this phenomenon, this
wide open door to every nation? And
what did you do about it?”
The crowd hangs their heads in
shame. There’s some muttering about
cost, safety, credibility, bang for your
buck, statistics, missions studies. But
there can also be heard the sound of
weeping, even wailing—the remorse of
a golden opportunity missed, a divine
provision ignored. If only.
“Who do you think designed
this phenomenon, this wide
open door to every nation?
And what did you do about it?”
And you? Is that an English-language magazine in your
hand? Would you like to make a difference in restricted
access areas of the world? Take some risks for Christ and
be there?
There are different ways of getting there and living and
working there as a Christian English teacher—making
disciples. If only.
-Elmer
Elmer is an EMCer who sees an open door. For information,
contact the EMC national office or we can forward your
e-mail to Elmer.
CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 13
With Our Churches
Crestview Fellowship
Christmas program gives reason for season
PHOTO: CRESTVIEW FELLOWSHIP
WINNIPEG, Man.—Have you started or finished your
Christmas shopping? Got your tree up yet? Have you
started your Christmas baking? Sound familiar?
These questions seem to dominate our conversations
once December arrives so what a pleasure it is to attend
a Sunday School Christmas program and focus on the
reason for the season. Our program was held on Dec. 8
and since Sunday School is for everyone, participants of all
ages presented the wonderful Christmas story with music,
poems, and a skit “Footprints in the Snow.” The program
was followed by a light supper (faspa) and a great time of
fellowship.
Christmas program participants
Music, a children’s feature, and “Christmas By The
Book” narration comprised the beautiful candlelight service on Christmas Eve.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Our annual committee elections were held on Nov. 18.
Thank you to those who have served faithfully over the last
years and have decided to let others have the
opportunity to serve. A rest is good. Thanks also
to those who have agreed to fill a vacant position or will be returning for another term. Your
work does not go unnoticed.
Our congratulations to Lisa and Blaine on
their recent engagement. We wish you God’s
blessing as you plan your future together.
Now that winter has arrived, many of our
church family travel to warmer climates, some
for a week or so, others for several months.
We pray for safety in your travels and that you
will return home refreshed and maybe a little
tanned.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life” (John 8:12).
– Sharron Straub
Speakers
Covenant Christian Reformed
Church (Fri., 7 p.m.)
Concert/Story Telling
Emily Colson, Ken Medema
McIvor MB Church (Sat., 9 a.m.)
Keynote Speaker: Emily Colson
Workshops, worship, and more
Winnipeg, Man. | April 25–26
A conference about including
individuals who live with disabilities
Emily Colson
Register at www.in2014.org or call
Hope Centre Ministries at 204-4794893 by April 15.
LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH
14 The Messenger • February 2014
Ken Medema
Covenant Christian Reformed
Church (Sat., 7 p.m.)
Our Beautiful Secret movie
Co-sponsored by the
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Living the Good Life
With Our Churches
Taber EMC
Senior pastor and
ministers chosen
T
PHOTO: TABER EMC
PHOTO: TABER EMC
ABER, Alta.—Happy New Year! It is always
exciting to start fresh in a new year full of new
possibilities.
Taber EMC is also excited to announce the arrival of our new pastoral couple Dick and Margaret
Loewen. The Loewens officially began their position
as our pastoral couple on Nov. 1, 2013, and have been
settling into our church family nicely.
Charles Koop, an EMC Board of Leadership and
Outreach staff person, came as representative of the
Pastoral couple Dick and Margaret Loewen are surrounded in prayer
EM Conference and prayed over the Loewens along
by Charles Koop, Abe and Anna Klassen, Abe and Eva Klassen and
with deacons Abe and Anna Klassen and lay ministers
Jake and Nancy Heide.
Abe and Eva Klassen and Jake and Nancy Heide.
The Loewens have five children: Nolan (20), Jermaine
It has been a great blessing to find a new pastor couple
(18), Kelsey (16), Scott (14) and Eric (12). Their oldest son,
so quickly and to find a couple who so obviously have a
Nolan, is currently attending Millar College of the Bible in
love for the work. The Loewens have been graciously welSalmon Arm, BC. The rest of the children have moved with comed in our church and it has been wonderful to see their
their parents and are making Taber their home.
children get involved with youth and also worship teams.
Both Dick and Margaret grew up in northern Alberta,
We look forward to getting to know Dick and Margaret
Dick in the Prespatou area and Margaret in La Crete. They
and their children more and hope to make them feel at
met and married in La Crete and lived in that area until
home here.
relocating to Grand Prairie in 2010 where Dick attended
Our church also elected two lay ministers to join in the
PRBI.
pastoral work. Abe and Eva Klassen and Jake and Nancy
Heide were elected to serve as lay ministers in Sept. 2013
and will be officially installed in Jan. 2014. We know they
will do a wonderful job in fulfilling this calling.
Praise be to the Lord for filling these leadership positions in our church with people who display such a great
love for Him and love for the people around them. We are
truly blessed.
– Naomi Klassen
Join with Christ
in shaping our
world
Pastor Dick and Margaret Loewen with their children
They worked as part of the pastoralEvangelical
team inMennonite
the BergthConference
Boardand
of Missions
aler Conference for seven years both in associate
204-326-6401
senior pastoral roles. Taber is their first full-time
pastorate.
[email protected]
Copies
now
available
free.
Contact info@
emconf.ca or
204-326-6401.
www.emconference.ca
50 Years
of MCC in Canada
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 15
With Our Churches
Morweena EMC
Speakers
PHOTO: MORWEENA EMC
New members in 2013
Covenant Christian Reformed
Church (Fri., 7 p.m.)
Concert/Story Telling
Emily Colson, Ken Medema
MORWEENA, Man.—In the past year our congregation
has experienced the blessing of witnessing the commitMcIvor MB Church (Sat., 9 a.m.)
ment of men and women to Jesus and to life and service
Keynote Speaker: Emily Colson
in the church. We are richer for each person who joins
Workshops, worship, and more
us, and their willingness to serve is a joy. To God be the
Five young people were baptized on June 9: Trenton Kornelsen, Julia
glory.
Covenant Christian Reformed
Emily
Colson
Ken Medema
Winnipeg, Man. | April 25–26
Hamm,
Jesse Lukas, Kendall Reimer, and Francesca Harris. Standing
– Janet Hamm
Church (Sat., 7 p.m.)
with them
youth pastor Donovan Dueck (left) and senior pastor
Register at www.in2014.org
orare
call
Our Beautiful Secret movie
A conference about including
Isaac (right).
Hope Centre MinistriesEric
at 204-479Co-sponsored
by the
individuals who live with disabilities
4893 by April 15.
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
PHOTO: MORWEENA EMC
LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH
Armando Fehr was baptized on Sept. 15. Catalina Janzen transferred her membership on Oct. 27.
••
Straffordville EMC
Open your home
or workplace to an
international volunteer
ivep.mcc.org
Commit a year to serve alongside
others in Africa, Asia, Europe,
Middle East and Latin America
salt.mcc.org
Seven
SEAN grads
STRAFFORDVILLE, Ont.— On May 19, 2013, we enjoyed
the graduation of seven individuals from the SEAN course:
of Mennonite Central Committee
(front) Dave and AggiePrograms
Blatz, Ann
Fehr, Tina Braun, (back)
Dave and Anna Froese, and Martha Bergen.
– Katherine Klassen
International Volunteer Exchange Program
Serving And Learning Together
Living the Good Life
EMC Young Adult Retreat
Feb. 28-March 2, 2014
Speaker: Pastor Darren Plett
Camp Cedarwood,
(Lac du Bonnet, Man.)
$110 per person
No cancellation refunds after Feb. 9.
PHOTO: STRAFFORDVILLE EMC
Contact your pastor or youth leader or
Nathan Plett ([email protected])
Gord Penner ([email protected])
Jason Heide ([email protected]
See You There!
CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY
16 The Messenger • February 2014
With Our Churches
Kola EMC
KOLA, Man.—This past year we were privileged to have
David and Laura Sharp share about their ministry with
New Tribes Mission (NTM). The 43 years they have
served have held times of challenge, growth, but, most of
all, obedience to our Lord. David challenged us with the
simple question, “ Are you listening?”
Romans 10:13-15 says “for ‘Anyone who calls on
the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call
on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how
can they believe in him if they have never heard about
him? And how can they hear about him unless someone
tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without
being sent?” (NLT, emphasis added). in shaping our
Scripture clearly states that if we call on the Lord’s
name we will be saved; this is guaranteed. But what about
the 2,500 people groups who have never heard about
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Christ? (NTM website). How are we reaching Board
them?
of Missions
David challenged us to be “goers” as well as204-326-6401
“senders”
to
[email protected]
the mission field. He recognizes that Christ does
not call
ence.ca
www.emconfer
all of us to go out into the jungles; some of us are needed
to provide for those who go. It is not just enough to feed
the children; we need to be sending people to teach their
communities about Christ.
We, in North America, have been blessed with the rich
Christian literature, Bible translations, and wisdom-filled
pastors. But what about those who do not have a single
scripture to lean on (one third of the world)? To what do
Mennonite
they turn?
The tribe David and Laura Central
served in for 10 years turned
Committee
in
to evil spirits, living in fear of death
for themselves
or their
Canada:
A
History
loved ones. Babies were left unnamed because of high
Epp-Tiessen
infant mortality and the belief Esther
that their
spirits, if named,
346
pages,
paper,
would haunt and curse the living.
$29.50.
The people lived in constant fear of upsetting the evil
spirits until they began to learnISBN
about the gospel. Through
David and Laura the tribe was 9780920718957
able to hear of God’s love,
to learn about his saving grace, and many came to know
Christ. The history of MCC Canada comes out of a
On the
eveningtradition.
David called 20 people onto the
richlast
historical
stage to display the missionary positions that were needed—including
construction
workers, elRead this
fascinatingand
andmaintenance
complex story.
ementary
andPress
secondary teachers for missionary children,
CMU
cooks, host
parents, lawyers, business administration,
cmupress.ca
pilots, accountants,
IT personnel, computer programmers,
Toll Free 1-877-231-4570
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world
PHOTO: KOLA EMC
Missions Fest held on Oct. 27-29, 2013
Copies Laura and David Sharp
now
and supply buyers. These behind the scene workers are all
available
needed to support those who are called.
free.
My prayer
is that God will continue to draw you in
Contact
the direction
heinfo@
is calling you to go, being a “sender” or
emconf.ca orthe direction, let’s make it a focus this
a “goer.” Whatever
204-326-6401.
year to help
reach the people who live in darkness and
draw them into the light.
– Alida Martens
50 Years
of MCC in Canada
Bible-Theology
Children’s Ministry
Counselling
Missions
Pre-Education
Pre-Social Work
Pastoral
Worship
Youth
www.SBCOLLEGE.ca
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 17
With Our Churches
La Crete Christian Fellowship
Amid search, grateful for ministerial staff
PHOTO: PETERS FAMILY
LA CRETE, Alta.—The search for a senior pastor continues for us in LCCF. This need keeps the board and the
pastor search committee busy and asking God for direction. We know God is faithful and will provide. Church
life continues with youth events, baptism and Sunday
School.
On Sept. 22, 2013, Russell and Lynda Peters were installed as our associate pastoral couple. We at LCCF are so
excited to welcome them into our church family. Russell
and Lynda both grew up in La Crete, but since being marSpeakers
ried in 1998, have always made their home elsewhere.
Russell completed his term at Prairie Bible Institute this
summer. In August they moved with their three children
Associate pastor Russell Peters with family: Brooklyn, wife Lynda,
and have quickly found their place within the church and
Ashtyn and Kyanna
the community.
Members of the ministerial pray with Russell and
Currently 10 couples actively serve as deacons. While
Lynda at the installation
there are many others who serve in and around the church,
While we seem to experience the senior pastor search
many behind the scenes, these are the ministerial staff of
semi-frequently, we are very blessed with many dedicated
LCCF. We are thankful for the constant and faithful leadColson
Ken Me
Winnipeg,
Man.
April 25–26
staff. Gordon and Marilyn Foster have served as a lay
ership this
team|provides
and praise GodEmily
for His
leading.
minister couple for 12 years. Gordon and Marilyn started
“For just as the body is one and has many
members,
and all
Register
at www.in2014.org
aboutofincluding
attending in 1981 and became a deacon couple in 1987. A conference
the members
the body, though many,
are one
body,
so it at 204Hope
Centre
Ministries
live (1Cor.
with disabilities
Jordan and Valean Doerksen serve in the youth pastor individuals
is with who
Christ”
12:12).
4893 by April 15.
position. A recent evaluation showed that the congrega–Tena Doerksen
tion overwhelmingly affirmed their position. Peter
and Telita Janzen currently lead as interim pastoral
couple. They have been faithful in lending their abilities wherever they see a need in the church.
LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH
Liv
E
PHOTO: DIANA PETERS
F
Many people enjoyed the hospitality of La Crete Christian
Fellowship during EMC convention 2013.
Open your home
or workplace to an
international volunteer
ivep.mcc.org
International Volunteer Exchange Program
Commit a year to serve alongside
others in Africa, Asia, Europe,
Middle East and Latin America
salt.mcc.org
Serving And Learning Together
Programs of Mennonite Central Committee
18 The Messenger • February 2014
Columns • Columns Been Thinking About…
A Heart For Israel
T
he recent passing of Ariel Sharon, former
Prime Minister of Israel, has coincided
with my reading of the updated edition of
Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour (Baker Books,
2013).
Subtitled The Dramatic Story of a Palestinian
Christian Working for Peace in Israel, the book
tells Chacour’s story of growing up in Galilee
in the wake of the 1948 formation of Israel as a
nation. If you have a heart for the nation of Israel,
you might need to read this book.
There is no question that Israel’s 65-year
history as a modern nation has been laced with
much turmoil, controversy and violence. On
the one hand, her birth as a nation was seen as a
victory and a vindication after the holocaust of
World War Two.
Many Christians have even seen it as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. On the other hand, the
way Israel has treated her Palestinian citizens has
not exemplified the character God seeks for his
people. As often the case, it is a history that can
look very different depending on who is telling
the story.
This is the Church’s—and Israel’s—
true calling: not to lay claim to or
defend any particular piece of soil, but
to represent her Redeemer in such a
way that all the families of the earth
are blessed.
Sharon himself was a complicated figure.
Nicknamed “the Bulldozer” for his ruthlessness
as a military general in the 1967 Six-Day War,
he moved to a career in politics and eventually
became Prime Minister. It was under his watch as
Defense Minister in 1982 that hundreds of Palestinians were massacred in the Lebanese refugee
camps of Sabra and Shatila. Yet U.S. President
George W. Bush once famously, and controversially, called Sharon a “man of peace.”
Chacour, as a native son, gives us an on-theground view of those years of Israeli history
through the lens of his deep Christian faith.
He shares openly of coming to grips with his
anger when, as a boy, he witnessed the displacement of his family from their home and village
in 1948. The utter confusion and frustration he
felt when, as Palestinians, they were suddenly
considered dirty and second-class in their own
homeland. Then came the despair of seeing his
whole home village leveled by Zionist bombs and
tanks.
Chacour points to the example of his parents
who instilled in him the Christian calling of
responding to violence and hatred with love and
peace. He saw this teaching lived out in dire
circumstances.
But Chacour was convinced that God’s calling
for his life involved more. Shunning both the
idea of being a doormat in the face of strife and
of resorting to retaliatory violence, he knew Jesus
was calling him to be a peacemaker in his native
land. The Beatitudes and Sermon on the Mount
became his life’s message and work.
Indeed, I think these words of Jesus in Matt.
5 are still the greatest hope for peace that our
troubled world will ever have. I think this is the
Church’s—and
Israel’s—true
calling: not to lay
claim to or defend
any particular
piece of soil, but
to represent her
Redeemer in such
a way that all the
families of the
earth are blessed.
“Pray for peace
in Jerusalem”
(Psalm 122:6).
by Ward Parkinson
Conference Pastor
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 19
News
Dr. Rob Reimer returns from sabbatical
STEINBACH, Man.—Dr. Rob Reimer, president of SBC,
recently returned from a six month sabbatical. SBC practices faculty sabbaticals, after a minimum of six years of
service, for the purpose of continuing education, service,
or major projects. His report follows:
I’d like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the SBC Cabinet for granting the sabbatical. I also
want to express my sincere gratitude to Terry Hiebert for
taking on the additional role of Acting President in my
absence. I found the sabbatical to be a wonderful time of
study, contemplation, and service. I return refreshed and
excited to be back leading SBC.
During the sabbatical my wife Myrna and I enjoyed
the opportunity to rest and to connect with friends and
family locally, in Alberta, and in Kansas. The majority of
my time, though, was spent in research and development
of a new strategic plan for SBC. I also spent significant
time in preparation for the Biblical Preaching course I
will be teaching in the second semester.
The sabbatical was a very meaningful time. I believe
the opportunity to focus intently on planning and
preparation will benefit the college in the future and look
PHOTO: SBC
‘It’s great to be back’
Dr. Rob Reimer
forward to the completion of the 2013-14 academic year
and what lies ahead for SBC. It’s great to be back and I’m
excited to have the opportunity to take a few students
north of the Arctic Circle on a MissionX trip to Kugluktuk,
Nunavut, in mid-January.
– SBC
••
VBS material available for 2014
God’s hospitality chosen as theme
WATERLOO, Ont.—Welcome! Give and Receive God’s
Great Love is the new MennoMedia VBS material for
2014.
It features five Bible stories that focus on hospitality.
From Abraham and Sarah to the people on the island of
Malta who helped Luke and Paul when they were shipwrecked, the stories illustrate how children can also reflect
God’s love by showing hospitality.
The VBS 2014 curriculum materials were written during the past year by a group of educators in Goshen, Ind.,
coordinated by managing editor Mary Ann Weber. Writing
rotates among various Anabaptist communities across the
U.S. and Canada, and varies by year.
20 The Messenger • February 2014
Welcome! Give and Receive God’s Great Love may
be ordered in an all-in-one
boxed set including everything needed for planning
and preparation. All items
are also available separately.
More information is at: www.
mennomedia.org/vbs. To
order, call 800-631-6535
(Canada). A sample preview
video with a Bible memory
verse is available on YouTube.
– MennoMedia
PHOTO: MENNOMEDIA
News
Mennonites, Lutherans continue journey toward
reconciliation
The two task forces identified several areas of progress
churches.
The Mennonite task force
further affirmed a website
(www.anabaptistwiki.org),
sponsored by the Institute
for the Study
of Global
Anabaptism at
Goshen College,
that provides
easy access to resources related to
Dr. John D. Roth
Lutheran-Mennonite dialogue.
The MWC task force called on the Faith and Life Commission to take a stronger role in encouraging Mennonite
colleges, universities, seminaries, historical societies, information centres and tour groups to incorporate the story of
MWC-LWF reconciliation. It also recommended that several MWC national conferences pursue conversations on
Christian peacemaking with their Lutheran counterparts,
recognizing that local contexts differ widely on this theme.
On July 21, local Lutherans and Mennonites engaged in
a public dialogue with the joint task forces at an afternoon
service hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church in Goshen.
The Lutheran task force concluded its visit with a tour of
Mennohof, a nearby Anabaptist-Mennonite information
centre, and an extended conversation with 25 Amish ministers and lay people on the topic of baptism and Christian
witness.
“After five hundred years of separation, full reconciliation will not happen overnight,” said John D. Roth,
professor of history at Goshen College and secretary of the
MWC Faith and Life Commission. “But we praise God for
these steps toward healing within the Body of Christ.”
MWC members of the task force included Andre Gingerich Stoner, Gayle Gerber Koontz, James Juhnke, Enrique
Rodriguez and John D. Roth, along with Kathryn Johnson,
a Lutheran professor of history who played a major role in
organizing the reconciliation service in 2010.
– Goshen College
“After five hundred years of separation, full reconciliation will
not happen overnight,” said John D. Roth. “But we praise God
for these steps toward healing within the Body of Christ.”
At that service, which culminated nearly five years of
dialogue, representatives of the LWF asked forgiveness for
the actions of their forebears against the Anabaptists in
the 16th century. They also committed their churches and
seminaries to interpret the Lutheran confessions in light
of the dialogue report, Healing Memories: Reconciling in
Christ, and to continue conversations with Mennonites
on the topics of baptism and the Christian relation to the
state.
MWC leaders, in turn, committed themselves to
promote a more balanced interpretation of the LutheranAnabaptist story, to continue conversation on unresolved
issues and to encourage their member churches to seek
greater cooperation with Lutherans in service to the world. In their joint meetings at Goshen, the two task forces
identified several areas of progress in their mutual commitments. They noted especially the many local services of
reconciliation held by Mennonite and Lutheran congregations around the world, a study guide produced by Mennonite Church Canada, and numerous examples of cooperation in service projects. They also affirmed the trilateral
conversations
Births
on baptism that
are now moving
BRANDT— To Jay and Cherie Brandt, a
forward among
daughter, Hailey Renee, on May 30, 2013.
the MWC, LWF
and Catholic
MINNES— To Andrew and Sarah, a son, James
Arnott, on Sept. 18, 2013.
PHOTO: GOSHEN COLLEGE
GOSHEN, Ind.—A six-member task force appointed by
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) Faith and Life
Commission met at Goshen College with counterparts
from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) on July 20-23,
2013, to review progress on the commitments that the two
global communions made to each other during a service of
reconciliation in Stuttgart, Germany, in July 2010. www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 21
News
‘Not fair for the children to suffer’
LEBANON—In a sea of women at a meeting of Syrian
refugee parents whose children attend a preschool in Lebanon, Latif Anaoun stands out.
The 34-year-old father wishes his wife was at the
meeting, not him. But she can’t be there—she died during
childbirth, along with the infant—two more of the many
victims of the conflict in Syria.
As his little son, Leith, 6, cuddles on his lap, Anaoun remembers his family’s comfortable middle class life in Syria.
“Here, we are suffering to eat,” he says. “I am not able to
provide for my child.”
Anaoun and his family decide to flee Syria when the
fighting came closer to their home. He was especially
worried about his wife, pregnant with their second child.
If anything happened to him, he would be leaving his wife
with a young son and a newborn baby.
After selling a few things to get money, but not so much
as to arouse suspicion, the family left in the middle of the
night. They traveled to the Lebanese border, finding a place
to live in Beirut.
He was glad to be out of Syria, but things weren’t going
well with his wife’s pregnancy. Since it was hard to get
medical care in Syria—the hospitals in that country are
overwhelmed—they made the difficult decision to go back
to Syria, where he knew they would be able to see a doctor.
The Syrian doctors did what they could, but it was too
late. Anaoun lost both his wife, only 31-years-old, and the
baby during childbirth. After she was laid to rest, he came
back to Beirut with Leith.
“It feels like a dream,” he says of the past few months.
“Like a nightmare.”
One thing that makes their lives a little easier are
food vouchers he receives from Canadian Foodgrains
Bank through a program implemented by Foodgrains
Bank member Mennonite Central Committee. The
vouchers allow him to save money on food so he can
pay his portion of the rent in the tiny apartment he and
Leith share with 18 other people.
“We could be on the street if it weren’t for this,” he
says of the vouchers, adding that “it’s not fair for the
children to suffer this much.”
Anaoun and Leith are just two of over 70,000 Syrians
being helped by the Foodgrains Bank. With matching
support from the Canadian government, the organization provided $5.8 million of food in 2013 and will
provide another $6.5 million this year.
22 The Messenger • February 2014
PHOTO: CFGB/AMANDA THORSTEINSSON
Sharing food as an act of hope
A box of food showing the logo of the Canadian government and
the Foodgrains Bank logo is unloaded off a truck for distribution.
More than 70,000 Syrians are being helped by CFGB.
Along with programs in Syria, the Foodgrains Bank
is also responding through its members to needs in The
Philippines, following Typhoon Haiyan, and in many other
countries around the world. In 2012-13 the Foodgrains
Bank provided $43 million of assistance for 2.1 million
people in 37 countries.
Sharing food is an act that speaks of hope for the
future,” says Foodgrains Bank Executive Director Jim
Cornelius. “Like the bread we share at our communion
celebration, it speaks to something deeper, to a community
of love and care for the other, for a better world.”
– CFGB
Fundraising
Faspa
Sunday, April 6, 2014, 4:00pm
STEINBACH BIBLE COLLEGE
featuring SBC vocal ensemble
Reserve your FREE ticket by calling SBC at 204-326-6451
Columns • Further In and Higher Up
A lover’s chase
A
spiritual hero of mine has been 20th
century theologian Hans Urs Von
Balthasar. A simple thing I have
already learned from him has to do with the
meaning of mystery. I had thought that mystery
referred to that which we do not know.
Once we understand something the mystery
has been shrunk. The more you learn about
something the less of a mystery it is. If I consider
quantum mechanics a mystery, I should take a
course on it, that will take care of it.
know someone deeply, and thus to realise their
elusive depths, we need to learn in love.
Love is an openness to the other’s uniqueness
and to their strangeness. Without love, the quest
for knowledge destroys what it seeks to know. It
becomes like learning about frogs we dissect in
a pan, which is the modern tendency in gaining
knowledge.
When we stop loving another person, they
quickly become tiresome. Boredom is a failure
to love. The vow to love one person intensely
till death do us part at first seems foolish.
Can another person sustain our attention
for that long? Won’t we get bored of each
other? Only if the two close themselves off
to the depths revealed in love.
All this is even more so of God.
Sometimes we suggest that by being kind
of vague and non-committal or perhaps
skeptical about who God is, we are holding
on to the mysteriousness of the deity. But people
who have not known God have no sense of the
mystery God is.
For those who have walked with Jesus of
Nazareth, who have noted his thoughts and
acts, have lived with him from
Advent through Christmas,
Epiphany, Lent, Good Friday,
Easter, Ascension, Pentecost
80 times over, God is a
bottom-less mystery. And the
deeper a person plunges into
the fathomless reality that is
Jesus, the more they realize
that there are oceans yet to
be known about God. This is
love’s endless inability to reach
the end.
What I take from Balthasar
is that if it’s a lover’s chase,
pursuing knowledge of all
kinds leads to wonder, curiosity and worship.
by Layton Friesen
The deeper a person plunges into the
fathomless reality that is Jesus, the more
they realize that there are oceans yet to be
known about God.
But Balthasar says the opposite is true. True
knowledge of something does not “solve” the
mystery—it only deepens it exponentially. Unveiling a mystery only opens my eyes to what has
not yet been grasped.
We see this in human
relations. If I wanted someone
to tell me about the mystery
that is Terry Smith, our editor,
would I ask a stranger on the
street? No, I would ask his wife
or his co-workers.
Because they know him,
they could tell me all sorts of
things about the mystery that
is Terry Smith. It’s the people
for whom Terry Smith is a
common, real presence, the
people who know most about
how he thinks and loves, who
could wax eloquent on how
deeply mysterious the man
really is.
But there is one condition
to this. Knowledge leads to
mystery only when led there by love. To really
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 23
Join with Christ
in shaping our
In Memory
world
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Board of Missions
204-326-6401
[email protected]
Copies
now
available
free.
Contact info@
emconf.ca or
204-326-6401.
www.emconference.ca
on the farm or in business decisions
He left a great legacy to his four sons
where his commitment to integrity
and their families. He will be greatly
might have incurred a financial cost,
missed by: wife, Helen; sons, Glenn
Dad’s faith in God determined his
and wife Sue; Brian and wife, Luella;
path. Through the years, his commitTerry and wife, Sheila; Randall and
ment to putting his faith into action
wife, Karen; by grandchildren Chris
Mennonite
William (Bill) S. Friesen
led to serving in many capacities in
(Alyssa), Andrea (Scott), Cory (AlCentral
1928 - 2013
the Pleasant Valley EMC.
lison), Arlin (Beth), Lance (Danielle),
Committee
in on the EMC Board of
He served
Melissa (Jason), Tara, Michael; by
Canada:
A where
History
Bill Friesen was born at Riverside,
Missions
he helped oversee
great-grandchildren Carter, Matea,
Esther
Epp-Tiessen
Man., on Feb. 25, 1928, to Cornelius
the activities
of a large number of
Macy, Anabelle, Zade, Alaina and
pages, paper,
and Mary Friesen, the third child in a 346
missionaries
and traveled to several
Rory.
$29.50.
family of twelve.
different mission stations in other
While we greatly miss Dad’s
ISBN
His growing up years revolved
countries. For many years he and
presence in our family circle, we look
9780920718957
around work on the family farm
Mom were actively involved in visitaforward to being re-united with him
together with his parents and siblings. tion to prisoners at Stony Mountain
again.
of MCC
comes out of a
Times were often The
hard,history
especially
in Canada
Penitentiary.
Funeral service Bible-Theology
was held at
historical
tradition.
the 1930’s, but therich
family
was close
Over a number of summers, they
Rosenort EMC onChildren’s
Saturday,
Aug. 31,
Ministry
Counselling
and experienced many happy times
opened up their home to inner city
2013, at 2 p.m. Donations
in Bill’s
Missions
Read
this fascinating
complexInstory.
Pre-Education
and did not feel they
lacked
the im- and
children.
their retirement years,
memory can be made
to EMC Board
Pre-Social Work
CMU
Press
portant things in life.
they volunteered with Wycliffe Bible
of Missions or the Cancer
Pastoral Clinic at
cmupress.ca
Worship
In time, Bill began
working at
Translators in Dallas, Texas. They
Boundary Trails Health
Centre.
Youth
Toll
Free
1-877-231-4570
jobs away from home. This included
spent a portion of five winters there
– His Family
working as a farm hand and also at
and made many new friends while
www.SBCOLLEGE.ca
the sugar factory in Winnipeg. At the they used their skills to benefit others.
age of 21, he began working in lumber
Dad passed away on Tuesday, Aug.
camps in northwestern Ontario, a
27 at Boundary Trails Health Centre.
wintertime occupation that lasted
for another ten years. These efforts helped him get established
in his life-long occupation of
farming.
In May 1951, Bill began to
take special notice of Helen
Brandt who lived two miles down
the road. This led to them getting
married on Sept. 28, 1952. Last
Sept., Mom and Dad celebrated
their 60th anniversary.
Dad’s journey of faith began
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert The Paraguay team will be led by Flo
at the age of 20, when he made a
mind and a thankful heart” (Col. 4:2)
Friesen. This team will be sent to pray
personal commitment to follow
with missionaries in Paraguay
Jesus—a journey that shaped
Paraguay (March 19- April 6 Full)
The Guadalajara team will be led by Angel
his life for the next 65 years.
Infantes (Braeside). His team will pray
Throughout these years, his faith
Guadalajara: (March 7- March 17)
with local churches and EMC missionaries
never wavered and it became the
For details, including costs, please email
very essence of who he was.
Bolivia Exposure Trip (April 3-15)
[email protected] or call 204-326-6401
Whether it was in adversity
50 Years
of MCC in Canada
2014 EMC Prayer Teams
24 The Messenger • February 2014
Ads.indd 1
Shoulder Tapping
Ministry Information Profile
*With any applications for EMC church pastoral
positions, candidates are expected to also register
a Ministerial Questionnaire with the EMC Board of
Leadership and Outreach, which can be obtained
through Erica Fehr, BLO Administrative Assistant,
at [email protected] or 204-326-6401.
EMC Positions
The ConneXion church in Arborg, Man, a community
of one thousand, is currently seeking a half-time
pastor. Arborg is in the heart of Manitoba’s Interlake,
one hour north of Winnipeg’s perimeter. The church
of 25 to 50 adherents is affiliated with the EMC. We
practice the values of “BELLS” as we build our community; we seek to bless, eat, listen, learn and send.
There is significant opportunity for other part-time
employment in the community.
Interested applicants should contact the pastoral search committee chair or submit a resume
to [email protected]. We are seeking a faithful
Jesus follower with proven leadership skills.
Heartland Community Church located in Landmark,
Man., is looking for a young life pastor. Reporting
to the leadership team and working closely with the
senior pastor, this pastor will develop and lead dynamic ministries that reach youth, young adults and
young families with the gospel, equipping them as
disciple-makers and assimilating them in a healthy
way into the church. Coordinating and leading mentorship programs is important.
Needed: a visible passion for God and a strong
desire to see youth and young adults grow with
Christ; a degree in theology (or equivalent experience); excellent interpersonal, communication and
leadership skills; and the ability to train and teach in
a multi-generational setting.
The pastor will demonstrate a biblical understanding and live in agreement with the HCC
Statement of Faith. Living in or near Landmark is
important. Please visit the HCC website (www.heartlandcommunitychurch.ca) for a full job description.
Please send your resume to [email protected]
by Feb. 28, 2014.
Taber EMC is seeking a full-time youth/associate
pastor. Candidate should have the ability to plan and
oversee a comprehensive youth ministry and oversee
associate pastor ministries as arranged by the church
leadership. Valuable assets would be skills in sports
and music. Contact church board chair Abe Klassen
at 403-223-0588 or 403-331-9563. Send resumes to
Taber EMC, Box 4348, Taber, AB T1G 2C7 or taberemc@
yahoo.ca.
Hillside Christian Fellowship is looking for a fulltime or interim pastor. Previous experience is
preferred and housing is available. Hillside Christian
Fellowship is a rural church located on Highway 697
in the Buffalo Head Prairie area, about 25 kms from
La Crete in northern Alberta. The industries that
drive our community are farming and logging. We
have about 50 to 60 people attending on average
each Sunday. For information contact Jim Friesen at
[email protected] or call (work) 780-928-3880 or (cell)
780-926-7717
La Crete Christian Fellowship is seeking candidates
to fill the role of senior pastor. LCCF is located in a
beautiful, prosperous farming and logging community in northern Alberta. We are a multi-generational
congregation with a strong commitment to missions. Our average Sunday attendance is 450.
The senior pastor would be a team member
working with and providing general oversight to
the associate pastor, youth pastor, office staff, lay
minister and a large, supportive ministerial. He
would have appropriate Bible college education and
preferably a number of years of pastoral experience.
He would agree with the EMC Statement of
Faith and Church Practices. Duties include, but are
not limited to, preaching, teaching, some administration and officiating at various church functions.
Information can be found at www.lccfc.ca.
Please contact Darryl Olson at darrylwolson@gmail.
com or 780-821-0287 if you can serve together with
us in this capacity.
Kola EMC is looking for a full-time pastor, but
would also consider an interim position. Previous
experience is preferred and housing is available.
Kola, in southwest Manitoba, is a small but aggressive little town in the middle of the oil patch with a
lot of construction and farming in the surrounding
area. We currently have approximately 100 people
attending on a regular basis. For information, call
204-556-2037 or e-mail at [email protected].
Other Positions
Mennonite Foundation of Canada seeks a full-time
stewardship consultant in its Calgary, Alta., office.
This person is responsible to promote biblical stewardship of financial resources and to provide charitable gift and estate planning services. MFC offers a
competitive salary and benefits package.
Please submit resume by Feb. 28, 2014, to Milly
Siderius, Director of Stewardship Services, 207-50
Kent Ave., Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1; [email protected].
MCC Ontario seeks three creative, strategic leadership persons: an associate executive director, a
revenue development director, and a financial
controller. For information see http://serve.mcc.
org/positions/employment. Postings close Feb. 28,
2014.
Bergfeld Mennonite Church (EMMC), a rural congregation in southern Manitoba, is looking for a fulltime pastor. We are an evangelical, mission-minded
church of about 120. Our church has many strong
committees and programs in place, especially a
vibrant adult Sunday School.
Contact: Bergfeld Mennonite Church, Attn:
Pastoral Search Committee, Box 1478, Altona, MB
R0G 0B0; [email protected]; 204-324-8283 (ask for
Abe).
Aylmer EMMC prayerfully seeks a full-time bilingual lead pastor. Our average attendance is 300
to 350. The senior pastor would be a team member
working with and providing general oversight to the
associate pastors, youth pastor, office staff, lay pastors, board, and other church leaders. Please contact:
AEMMC Lead Pastor Search Team: [email protected]
or 519-866-3202 (chair Abe Wiebe).
Camp Cedarwood, a Youth for Christ ministry 90
minutes east of Winnipeg, seeks a food service
manager/cook and a prep cook.
If you feel that God’s calling you, contact Scott
Kelusky, Cedarwood’s director, at 204-345-8529 or
[email protected]
Mid-Way Christian Leadership, based in Thompson,
Man., is looking for an adult life coach, youth life
coach and office manager. Please email [email protected] for full job descriptions or
inquiries.
Inner City Youth Alive, a faith-based youth organization in Winnipeg, Man., is looking for a motorsport
director, a dynamic person with strong leadership
and organizational skills to work with youth in the
race car program, Inner City Motorsport. Knowledge
in metalworking, mechanical skills and use of related
tools is an asset. If this is you or someone you know
that would be interested and qualified, go to www.
icya.ca for job details. Forward resume to Don at
[email protected].
Where are position ads to be sent?
Ministry-related position ads are welcome. Please
send all position ads, including pastoral search
ads, to [email protected]. All ads are to be
150 words or less. Space is provided without
charge. All ads are subject to editing and can
be removed after two appearances unless prior
arrangements are made to have them appear longer. Please notify The Messenger as soon as possible when an ad is no longer needed. Thank you.
May the Lord bless your search.
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 25
Columns • here and far away
Excellence in the presence of the King
I
Pursuing
excellence
brings honour
to God’s
Name, for
which we
strive.
PHOTO: DESIGNPICS
by Jocelyn R. Plett
www.writewhatyousee.
wordpress.com
’ve recently heard that it takes 80 per
cent of one’s time to finish 20 per cent
of a project. That is, the finishing work
usually takes more time and effort than the
rest of the project.
In our house we also use the phrase:
“Do it well the first time” when we speak
with our boys about completing chores or
doing homework, as they seem to display
the human penchant for slacking off
when they get bored or are distracted
with other things.
I myself find the finishing tasks of
making a quilt to be tiresome, and I’m
tempted to speed through them after I’ve
completed the parts I like best: piecing. Speeding through, however, often causes a sloppy
finished product.
In this country we tend to see the results of
not doing things right the first time, or in not
completing projects well, almost everywhere we
look: road work which is destroyed within weeks
of being finished, “fancy” houses that have paint
smears on the light fixtures and on the window
panes, pieces of glass left in the fertilizer soil
brought in for our lawn.
The phrase “a stitch in time saves nine” is one
that comes to my mind often as those who are
responsible for these projects are often the ones
who must be called back days later to fix a problem that would not otherwise have occurred had
they done it well the first time.
While we as children of God are gracefully
not called to perfection, we are called to a high
level of excellence due to the Master we serve.
Colossians exhorts us, “Whatever you do,
work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the
inheritance as your reward. You are serving the
Lord Christ” (3:23). Earlier in the text it mentions working “not only when [someone’s] eye is
on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (3:22b).
This encouragement speaks to my heart often
Would you serve your King a “good
enough” cake with no icing?
as I go about my own daily work. Sometimes,
as I prepare cake for teatime after the church
meeting, for example, I think to myself how an
hour’s work is eaten in seemingly unappreciative
seconds.
I am therefore tempted to offer something
just “good enough”—perhaps skipping out on
the icing—thinking no one will notice anyway.
The Spirit reminds me in those instances that I
am serving the Lord, not people, with my cake
offering and asks me quietly: would you serve
your King a “good enough” cake with no icing?
Perhaps it’s a silly example, but it is one that
reminds me that in everything I do, even the
small things, I must do as though I am serving
the King. He’s not a King from whom I fear
punishment, but rather a King I revere and seek
to honour. Pursuing excellence brings honour to
God’s Name, for which we strive.
Join with Christ
in shaping our
world
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Board of Missions
204-326-6401
[email protected]
www.emconference.ca
26 The Messenger • February 2014
50 Years
a
Co
e
20
Columns • stewardship today
Things I wish my father had done
W
e almost missed it on the first pass,
buried under the newspapers and
magazines that were filling a large
recycling bin. If we hadn’t been checking each
piece, it would have been discarded unnoticed.
The letter. I had long forgotten having written it. My aunt, helping to clear out my father’s
house this fall after his sudden passing, couldn’t
believe Dad had kept the letter in his reading
pile for so many years.
Dad told me in 2007 that he was naming
me co-trustee of his estate. I wrote the letter to suggest steps he could take to simplify
things. Making his wishes clear could minimize
misunderstandings.
I mentioned that most people don’t state
their wishes around distribution of personal
effects. This is unfortunate, as disagreements
about who should get an item that has fond
memories attached to it is the greatest source of
family conflicts after a loved one passes.
Dad had many musical instruments and
all five of his grandchildren play one or more
instruments. Knowing his thoughts would have
made some of the divvying up easier. Thankfully,
no one has come to blows over any of Dad’s
things.
As I haul stuff hither and yon, I wish I had
convinced him of a few things:
● Federal deposit insurance protects up to
$100,000 at chartered Canadian banks. Similar provincial insurance protects deposits at
credit unions. Like many folks his age, Dad
didn’t trust banks and spread his money
around. But the only difference between 10
separate $20,000 deposits at 10 institutions
and two $100,000 deposits is the work
required to wind them up.
● Tell your trustees where important stuff is
kept. My aunt and I had to visit numerous
financial institutions before we discovered
where Dad had rented a safety deposit box.
● Label your keys, and tell someone where you
keep them. (Ask an MFC consultant for a
copy of our Personal Information Directory).
We couldn’t find keys to Dad’s freezer, where
a lot of important stuff was carefully wrapped
in zip-lock bags. A crowbar took care of
the lock, but not the answer to where safety
deposit box keys were located. I found those
keys hidden in the back of a dresser drawer,
weeks after paying to have the box drilled.
By Mike Strathdee
● If you collect things of value, leaving records
of the purchase date, maintenance schedule and so forth is helpful to trustees in
establishing what stuff is worth.
Many Canadians
don’t understand
● Put something in writing to inform your
the consequences
loved ones of your wishes for health
care if you are incapacitated. Many Canadians have never prepared incapacity of failing to
documents like Powers of Attorney or
Advance Directives and don’t understand prepare incapacity
the consequences of failing to prepare.
Even when people complete these docu- documents like
ments, many often don’t share details
Powers of Attorney
with family.
or Advance
Do your loved ones a favour and spell
out your wishes. MFC can help. Ask for a
copy of Your Will and Estate Planning Guide Directives.
or meet with a consultant.
Mike Strathdee is a stewardship consultant in the
Kitchener, Ont., office of Mennonite Foundation
of Canada. For information on impulsive generosity, stewardship education, and estate and
charitable gift planning, contact your nearest
MFC office or visit MennoFoundation.ca.
Do your loved ones a favour and spell out
your wishes about health directives and
possessions. Let someone know where
your bank accounts, security deposit box,
records, and keys are kept.
www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 27
Columns • Kids’ Corner
Make a List
D
Having a
list may
encourage
you to do
something
you want to
do, or need
to do.
PHOTO: DREAMSTIME
by Loreena
Thiessen
o you make lists?
You may have seen your mother
with a list. It may be a grocery list of
all the food items that need to be replaced,
milk, bread, or fresh vegetables. Or it could
be a list of things she must do, appointments to keep, or chores to work on. The
list is a reminder in case she forgets. It is
important to get things done.
What kind of a list could you make?
One list could be naming items in a
collection you already have. You could list
all your stuffed animals by name or what kind of
animal it is.
Another list could be the things you may
want to have, a wish list like the one you made
for Christmas. You could make a list of your
friends, or important dates like birthdays or
holidays.
If you have a snow day you could list all the
things you will do that day, starting with “get up
at 8:00, eat breakfast at 9:00,” and so on, all the
way to bedtime.
You could make a list of books you have read,
or ones you want to read. You could list things
you want to learn or do better, like bake fluffy
cupcakes, or build a special bird feeder.
Why should you make lists?
One thing it will do is help your memory.
You have to remember all the items that fit in
the list.
Activity: Match the “icy” word to the right definition.
1. Water drips that grow. 2. Stars of snow.
3. A cool treat.
4. Dogs that guard the sun.
5. Gliding on frozen water.
6. A kind of fight.
7. Icy pattern on a window.
8. Balls of ice in a storm.
28 The Messenger • February 2014
Making lists will help you organize your
thoughts as you put certain items in their
groups. You will have to decide which ones
belong together.
Writing lists will help you communicate, to
say what you mean clearly. It will help you write
better.
Having a list may encourage you to do
something you want to do, or need to do. As you
read your list later you will remember what’s
important to you.
There are lists in the Bible too. One list is
found in Matthew 5:3-10. These are the Beatitudes, a list of good attitudes. In this chapter
Jesus teaches how your actions affect others and
how the way you treat other people will change
you. You may remember them better because
they are written up as a list.
snowball
frost
hail
icicles
snowflakes
ice cream
sun dogs
skating
The Messenger
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
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