Perspectives with Janet Evans

 

The Way We Live

The difference between the culture of God’s people, and the cultures of the world, must be clearly manifest. It is this clarity that allows for an informed choice, by those who would repent of their sin and turn in genuine faith to God for salvation. 

If the difference is not clear the choice cannot be clear. The free will of man is not served by the unclearness of the issue. If men, being free moral agents, will be able to make a self obligating moral choice, they must understand the issue without ambiguity. 

Therefore the Lord says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:7-9

The forsaking of one’s way of thinking, and way of doing things, is a major decision. But it is the decision called for in both the Old and New Testaments. It is certain that man’s way of thinking and God’s way of thinking, concerning matters of righteousness, do not agree. 

Notice that in God’s salvation appeal to the wicked and unrighteous, the forsaking of thoughts and ways, precedes the returning and receiving of mercy and abundant pardon. 

This reminds me of a time that a young man came to me asking how he could be saved. I asked him if he was ready to repent of his sin and he assured me that he was a “pretty good person.” 

But if one would attain to righteousness by his own efforts he must be perfect. Jesus admonishes us in the sermon on the mount, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) 

It seemed in the young man’s way of thinking, that in comparison with others he must surely qualify for God’s salvation. But according to Isaiah such thinking is to be forsaken, because by holding such thoughts one fails to “return unto the Lord,” continuing to trust in his own works for salvation.

But the bases for mercy and abundant pardon may not be found in the good works of men for Isaiah also says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;  (Isaiah 64:6) Therefore we must look elsewhere for any righteousness we may attain to. 

So we are thankful that Jesus Christ has come, living the perfect life before the Father, that we could not; and by sacrificing His life, that was not deserving of death, Jesus has provided eternal salvation for all who will put their trust in Him. In Jesus we find the mercy and abundant pardon of God. (Romans 6:17-23)

As Christians we must keep the issue clear, and openly demonstrate the difference Jesus Christ has made in our lives. The way we think, and what we do, must demonstrate the difference to be expected by one who returns to the Lord. We must manifest the clear and present choice that is before the free will of each person every day.

Rev. George T. Frey, 

Faith Christian Center 

Morrisburg 

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For the Love of Hockey

Tuesday night is a highlight of my week. It’s the night that a bunch of us guys get together at the arena to play some pretty decent hockey – the good old fashioned kind, not part of any league, not played with refs, just two teams going at it. Why?

Why do these guys go to out late in the evening (likely waking up groggy the next morning) to play Canada’s favourite sport week after week? (And there are 10s of 1000s doing the same thing all across this great land of ours.) 

Why? Dreams of glory are long past. If you play too intensely some guy might mutter that there are no scouts in the house. Neither are there any fans in the stands. And of course nobody gets paid a plug nickel.

In fact, after we lose, some guy might say, “No big deal. We’re all getting paid the same.” So why do these guys go out? Sure, it’s to get out and spend time with the guys. And it’s to get a bit of a workout. Some of us older guys (there’s a few of those, no offense) may be trying to offset aging, as if that’ll ever happen.

So why do guys all through the week and in arenas everywhere keep playing? 

I’d venture to say that for the most part it’s for the love of the game. Pure and simple.

When you think about it, that’s why we do lots of things. Out of love. Why do we crawl out of bed and head off to work everyday? Maybe it’s because we love our jobs. And likely needing the money has a lot to do with it. 

But I suggest that for many of us, it’s out of love for our families. Right? Why do we make meals and do laundry for our families? Why do we run ourselves ragged driving our kids here and there? I figure it’s because of love, love, love.

Love for someone or something is a great motivator. Because of love, we buy flowers. Because of love, we help out a buddy. Because of love, we work for the Food Bank. 

When you love, you don’t need a pat on the back for what you do. You don’t need people to notice.

If you get this it’s easy to “get” God. Everything he’s ever done, he did out of love. Think about it. 

Why did he make such a gorgeous world? Out of love for us. Why did he send his son into this world? Out of love for us. Why did his son Jesus suffer and die for the sins of this world. Out of love for us. People really do amazing and even surprising things motivated by love.

Of course the same is true of those who have personally discovered the love God has for them. Overwhelmed by God’s love, they love God in return. That love motivates them to do things for God, things like serving others, caring for the poor, or fighting for justice. They even do things like going to church or living clean lives.

Love. It makes the world go round. It’s why we do much of what we do. Whether it’s staying up late for a game of hockey or waking up early to head off to work. 

The preacher inside me would say, may all that love we see around us (and all it motivates us to do), help us see that love still higher and deeper than all our love put together, God’s. Just as we are, with all our failures, he loves us and offers us forgiveness in his son. In his love he waits for us to respond. To admit our need and receive his love.

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Dear Editor,

This past week, we visited our daughter and her family on Lake Huron in Kincardine. This was reading week for their daughter, home from university.

For her thesis to get her master’s degree she chose the topic “Community Response to Turbines”. She had interviews set up all week with people, both “for” and “against”.

The one interview especially interested me. This interview was with a farmer’s wife. Her dairy farm had been greatly affected by a turbine which was 560 metres across the road.

After the turbine was working, the cows’ production went down 500 litres every pick up. This was every four milkings for approximately 60 cows.

Following a great deal of observation and investigation, they discovered the cows were not getting enough water. Why? The metal water tanks in the cows’ free stall enclosures had become electrically charged.

More on Windfarms

This happened to the dry cattle, the heifers and the milking cows. They all got a shock trying to get a drink. This affected, not only milk production but the health of the animals. Stray voltage was coming from the turbine, underground, to the metal tanks. Rubber tanks had to be installed.

Another interview was with a lady who had a beautiful bed and breakfast on the lake. Her adjoining neighbour, unbeknownst to her, had optioned his lot to erect a turbine. She fears she must move as her livelihood is in danger. Needles to say, she and her neighbour are no longer friends.

After hearing and reading my granddaughter’s reports, I realized that it will take years to truly determine the varied effects wind turbines will have on our communities. It seems there is little consideration as to whether they are the right way to go or not.

Money has the final say. 

June Herriman

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