Looking Back

LOOKING BACK

This morning I preached the last of my services here at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Hamilton Bermuda. I say “the last” because the end of this coming week I will be officially retired! Now, I do hope that when Jill and I move to our new home in Florida that there might be a little church there who could occasionaly use the services of one “slightly used” minister. I have spent a total of 39 years in the ministry. Have all my years been sunny and bright? The answer is NO! There have been some very difficult times in ministry but I am thankful for the good Lord who has guided me through all of life's paths through the difficult times as well as the good times. I was privileged to have served in the following areas; River John, Toney River, Brule and Middleton all in Nova Scotia, Grace Church in Calary Alberta, Westminster Church Barrie Ontario, Lucaya Kirk in the Bahamas, St Marys Churcg in St Marys Ontario and finishing up at St Andrews Church here in Bermuda. Also during my ministry I managed to fit in ten years as a padre with the Canadian Armed Forces (Reserves)/

The Lord has blessed me in many ways throughout my ministry. I am most grateful for his presence and sustaining Spirit that has guided me along the way. He blessed me with a wonderful and supportive wife and together we were blessed with three great daughters. I had the honor of conducting the weddings of all our daughters and baptized most of our grandchildren.

God has placed so many wonderful people in my path during the past 39 years and I am thankful for each and everyone of them. There was Navy Jim the Hermit, there was the “Big Step Lady,” there was Glorice, there was a rebellious teenager, there was the baby I baptized in the incubator, there was the 86 year old I baptized in his farm kitchen, there was Ruby who was the angel at my shoulder, there were all the wonderful church secretaries who somehow managed to put up with me, there was Henk my fishing buddy in Calgary, there was Jake my right hand man in Barrie, there was Leon in Bermuda and there was Dugie in the Bahamas who use to call me first thing in the morning and say those wonderful words; “I've just put the tea pot on.” Oh, and did I mention that during my ministry I also was introduced to Queen Elizabeth and got to shake her hand! These are but a few of the people that I have met over the years and you will read more about them and so many other in my upcoming book; John From the Church. God bless you one and all and thank you for your prayers.

Your Pastor & Friend,

John Fraser

All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great & Small

In the Book of Genesis chapter 1: 20 we read; “And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” Later in verses 24-25 we read; “And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind, cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of ever kind. And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.” I enjoy the wild animals that God has created and I have said more than once that if I hadn't studied for the ministry I would love to have studied to become a veterinarian. Just imagine, working with one of God's creatures Great or Small which was sick but could not really tell you where it hurts? They say it can be more difficult to become a veterinarian than a doctor of humans. Well, I went into ministry not animal sciences and God's creatures are probably the better off for it! However, I love having one of God's creatures for a pet. When I was young I had a black crow and I made a perch for him and set it amongst the lilac bushes in our yard. Then there was “skipper” a pigeon which I raised from a young bird. Skipper had his freedom and a special nesting box in our barn. While working in the garden you often felt a swoosh as Skipper landed on your shoulder just to say hie. My mom use to get after Skipper when he would pay her a visit in the kitchen. He would come to say hie, land on the counter walk over to the bread box and help himself to a slice of bread! When we left Oxford Skipper of course was left behind and to the best of my knowledge managed quite nicely.

Some people refer to them as “Vermin” but I always had a liking for pigeons. Two months ago while leaving church one Sunday morning Jill and one of her friends came across an injured pigeon on the church lawn. He wasn't able to fly nor was he able to defend himself. Well, guess what? The bird that God created to fly in the sky ended up in a carboard box in our kitchen. Jill named him “Buddy.” Although he couldn't fly “Buddy” could eat and he especially enjoyed crumbs of bread dampened with a little milk and sprinkled with just a few grains of sugar! I went to work and did some research on my computer. I was pretty certain that I discovered Buddy's problem. He had all the symptoms; drooping wing, a paralyzed leg and a loss of balance. The article said it could be treated with a drug called Baytril. Well you guessed it, Buddy and I made a trip to the Vet! They told me it was the first pigeon they ever treated but Buddy received all the care they could give him even down to a bath! I was sent home with a two week supply of baytril one doseage each day. Buddy had his ups and downs. There was one point when I discovered him on his back in his pen both feet in the air. I thought he was dead and carefully picked him up only to discover that Buddy was very much alive. Back to his box in the house he went and back to another week of Baytril!

Buddy's health eventually improved to the point where he was able to fly. He disappeared for a whole day only to return the following day for some bread, milk & just a smidge of sugar! Three days ago he left again and has not returned. I like to think that he has rejoined his friends and he is doing what God created him to do and that is “flying above the earth across the dome of the sky.” (Genesis 1:20). Always remember to show a little compassion for God's creatures both Great and Small.

Your Pastor & Friend

John

Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet?

When our daughters were young the most common question asked while we were on holidays was; “Are we there yet?” We would leave Calgary on our way to Nova Scotia when before Calgary's city limits were reached the question from the backseat was; “Are we there yet?”

Most of you are aware that my plans call for retirement this summer. Some of you may be wondering; “Are we there yet?” The truth of the matter is, “No, we are not there as yet.” Jill and I are waiting for our US Green Cards which were applied for last December. Before the Green Cards are given and we are free to move to the US and to our home in Florida a number of gates must be passed. First, we need to secure tentative approval, secondly we must complete many forms and declarations, third we must send in security reports, medical records etc. etc. Fourth, we must wait for a date to attend a meeting at the US Consulate here in Bermuda. Fifth, we attend the interview at which we hope and pray that final approval is given. Where are we in our journey? Jill has received her tentative approval and I am still waiting for mine! When will we arrive? If only I knew!

So what is happening in the meantime? Well, my three year workpermit comes to a close the end of July. However, the congregation has secured a three month extension to my permit. When this extension comes into play on August 1^st I will only be working parttime at St. Andrews. Parttime employment will consists in preaching on Sundays and emergency visits through the week for a total of about four hours. We are hoping that during this three month period we will hear from our Green Card application. In the meantime we are keeping busy with pastoral work along with some packing. Perhaps in my next blog I can share with you what are plans are once we reach Florida!

From Your Pastor & Friend,

John

Father's Day, June 21, 2015

Following is a story that I came across which I feel is very suitable for Father's Day. Hope you enjoy it.
Pastor John


Jamie Buckingham tells a story in his book, Power for Living. It was a story first told by Fred Craddock while lecturing at Yale University. He told of going back one summer to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to take a short vacation with his wife. One night they found a quiet little restaurant where they looked forward to a private meal—just the two of them.

While they were waiting for their meal they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting guests. Craddock whispered to his wife, “I hope he doesn’t come over here.” He didn’t want the man to intrude on their privacy. But the man did come by his table.

“Where you folks from?” he asked amicably.

“Oklahoma.”

“Splendid state, I hear, although I’ve never been there. What do you do for a living?

“I teach homiletics at the graduate seminary of Phillips University.”

“Oh, so you teach preachers, do you. Well, I’ve got a story I want to tell you.” And with that he pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with Craddock and his wife.

Dr. Craddock said he groaned inwardly: Oh no, here comes another preacher story. It seems everyone has one.

The man stuck out his hand. “I’m Ben Hooper. I was born not far from here across the mountains. My mother wasn’t married when I was born so I had a hard time. When I started to school my classmates had a name for me, and it wasn’t a very nice name. I used to go off by myself at recess and during lunch-time because the taunts of my playmates cut so deeply.

“What was worse was going downtown on Saturday afternoon and feeling every eye burning a hole through you. They were all wondering just who my real father was.

“When I was about 12 years old a new preacher came to our church. I would always go in late and slip out early. But one day the preacher said the benediction so fast I got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. I could feel every eye in church on me. Just about the time I got to the door I felt a big hand on my shoulder. I looked up and the preacher was looking right at me.

“Who are you, son? Whose boy are you?’

I felt the old weight come on me. It was like a big black cloud. Even the preacher was putting me down.

But as he looked down at me, studying my face, he began to smile a big smile of recognition. “Wait a minute,” he said, “I know who you are. I see the family resemblance. You are a son of God.”

With that he slapped me across the rump and said, “Boy you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.”

The old man looked across the table at Fred Craddock and said, “That was the most important single sentence ever said to me.” With that he smiled, shook the hands of Craddock and his wife, and moved on to another table to greet old friends.

Suddenly, Fred Craddock remembered. On two occasions the people of Tennessee had elected an illegitimate to be their governor. One of them was Ben Hooper.

Jamie Buckingham, Power for Living.

ATHEISM

ATHEISM

As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev's widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev's wife performed an act of great courage and hope, a gesture that must surely rank as one of the most profound acts of civil disobedience ever committed: She reached down and made the sign of the cross on her husband's chest. There in the citadel of secular, atheistic power, the wife of the man who had run it all hoped that her husband was wrong. She hoped that there was another life, and that that life was best represented by Jesus who died on the cross, and that the same Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband.

From Christianity Today Oct. 3/94

ASCENSION SUNDAY

  

   Today is Ascension Sunday. Today we remember the Ascension of our Lord and the promise to come again in a similar manner. The disciples watched longingly as Jesus ascended into the clouds. Two men in white roes (angels) said to them; "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven." The disciples had hoped that they would live to see the day of his return. They didn't live to see the day, that would be given to another generation.

   A number of years ago a rather large family were all seated around the table enjoy their evening meal. The mother remarked at how still and how quiet the weather appeared. There was a strange feeling in the air and she commented; “It's almost like the end of the world and Jesus is about to return.” One of the younger members of the family who has just received his dessert said; “I hope He doesn't come until after I have finished my apple pie.” Well Jesus allowed me to finish my apple pie and perhaps too many other desserts after that. We do not know the times nor the circumstances of his return we only know that someday it will take place.

Pastor John Fraser

What Is Involved In????

Retirement Planning

There are so many things to plan for when retiring that it makes one's head spin. Jill and I have already started gathering packing boxes and separating what stays, what goes and what comes with us! As I am writing this little blog I look across my office an at old “wardrobe box that we used to transport our belongings when we first moved here. Already the box is half filled. However, it is filled with throw away items that are not coming with us! We have already looked into the best means of transporting our belongings from Bermuda to Florida. It looks like there are two possibilities both of which include air cargo. One possibility is to go through Miami and up to Orlando. The other possibility is to go through New Jersey and down to Leesburg. Cost will play a determining factor as to which one we will choose.

However, the big item of concern with regard to our move to the US is health insurance. I am certain that we have all heard horror stories of how expensive health-care can be in the States. While Jill and I are in good health it is an absolute necessity to have some form of health insurance. I have looked at several possibilities and the cost varies. The one that I am giving very serious consideration to is the one that I would like to tell you about.

Christian Healthcare Ministries has been in existence now for 30 years plus. U.S. Health insurance under the Obama administration allows for CHM having factored it in as a “grandfather clause.” CHM is a Christian ministry and is open to people no matter where they live and no matter what their age. There are three levels of coverage; Gold, Silver and Bronze. The cost per month goes from $45, $85 to $150 per person. For an additional package called “Brother's Keeper” your coverage can be increased. Jill and I estimate that the Gold Package for both of us along with “Brother's Keeper” will cost us approximately $325 a month. Who is allowed to join and what are the restrictions?

To be CHM members, participating adults must be Christians living by biblical principles, including abstaining from the use of tobacco and the illegal use of drugs (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), following biblical teaching on the use of alcohol, and attending group worship regularly if health permits (Hebrews 10:25). There are no restrictions based on age, weight, geographic location or health history.

CHM is something that those who are planning a possible move to the US or those in the US who are looking for a more affordable program should check out. Their address on the web is:

http://www.chministries.org/whocanbeamember.aspx

Your Pastor & Friend,

John Fraser

THROW IT OUT OR-

SAVE IT

Well, just yesterday I started to houseclean! I am referring to my office at the manse. Why was I housecleaning? I was housecleaning because in two and a half months Jill and I will be leaving Bermuda. Where the past six years went I will never know. I will be retiring the end of July and providing our US Green Cards will arrive before that date we will be moving to our house in Florida by mid July! HOWEVER, prior to the move there is the packing and prior to the packing there is the sorting through of all of one's belonging. You have heard it said I'm certain that, “you never know how much you have until you move!” Well, I started this Saturday past to sort through all of my belongings in my home office. I keep a file for almost everything and I went through almost everything. “Should I throw this out or should I save it?” I went through letters, through sermons, looked at books, cds and dvds. I decided that for some items it had to be a time to go but for other items I just didn't have the heart to throw them out. It's a difficult decision what to keep and what not to keep. Sometimes it is not just difficult it is painful. Then there are those decisions that are easy to make; “I can't throw this picture out that my daughter drew for me of our dog Gypsy even though Gypsy hasn't been with us for a long long time and even though our little girl just got married three months ago!” Neither could I throw out a birthday card that our oldest daughter sent me a few years ago reminding me of our family vacations when we were all so young. Then there was the special picture that our daughter in California drew for me of a bright sun which shone so beautiful from the heaven's above reminding me of Bermuda! I did make a start and at the moment as I look around my office I see three little piles of keep these, throw these out and put these in the yard sale! When I finish with my office in the house then I have to start all over again with my office at the church. When I finish with my office at the church then I have to come back to the house and go through my closet, the basement and the yard beyond! When will it ever stop? It will only stop when we reach our house in Florida and then I will have to decide where will I put everything.

We all have to make decisions in life and some will be easier to make then others. Jill and I have reached a major milestone in our life (my retirement) and it only seems like yesterday that I started out in the little three point charge in Nova Scotia. I know that once we reach our new home in Florida that one of my major projects after I unpack and find a place for everything will be to pick up on the writing of my book. I started my book some time ago and when it is complete I will be certain to let you know! Thank the good Lord that He always has something for us to do!

Your Pastor & Friend,

John Fraser

Christ Has Risen

Easter Sunday

April 5, 2015

In the early days of the church believers in Jesus would greet each other with the words.

“He has Risen!”

The other believer would reply,

“He has risen indeed!”

Sadly, almost 2000 years later we celebrate the greatest miracle in the history of the world by saying, “Happy Easter.”

Why do we believe in the Resurrection?

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the Christian faith is a foolish fantasy. However, if the resurrection of Christ did occur, it confirms His life, message, and atoning work. It is the basis of our hope of life beyond the grave. Christ is alive, and the evidence is overwhelming. Here are some of the reasons we can be so sure.

1. Jesus predicted His resurrection (Matt 16:21)
   
   From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
2. The Old Testament prophesied it (Psalm 16:10)
   
   For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow your Holy One to see corruption.
3. The tomb was empty and the grave clothes vacant. if those who opposed Christ wished to silence His disciples, all they had to do was produce a body, but they could not (John 20:3-9).
   
   So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

4. Many people saw the resurrected Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.


5. The lives of the disciples were radically transformed. (Acts 4:33)

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 
 
6. People today testify that the power of the risen Christ has transformed their lives. We know that Jesus is alive not only because of the historical and biblical evidence but also because He has miraculously touched our lives. 

Leader says: HE HAS RISEN

The People Say: HE HAS RISEN INDEED

Lord Give Me More

Patience! Where would we be without the gift of patience? Have you ever prayed, “Lord give me the patience of Job?” When we think of Job from the Bible we recall a man who was tested in many ways. Satan believed that Job would forsake God if he were stripped of his health and wealth. God believed that Job would remain faithful to Him even if he were to loose everything. Job was put to the test and often in this life you will find that we are put to the test as well. Job embarked on a loosing streak in his life. He lost his wealth in the form of cattle. He went from being the Bill Gates of his day as far as wealth was concerned to being one who was on the verge of applying for social assistance. Then, he lost his family who were wiped out in a violent storm. If that weren't enough to discourage him Job's health began to suffer as well. His body was clothed in sores and the only comfort in all of his distress came from friends. It's nice to have friends but Job's friends weren't really of any help. Then there was Job's wife surely she would be able to lift him out of his pain. What was her advice? “Job, why don't you just curse God and die?” Small comfort she was! Job refused to blame God for any of his problems. He told his friends and any who were close enough to listen that God will always be in control of life and that God had the right to alter life as God saw fit. Job believed that man never had the right to debate God's wisdom. Through life's conflicts Job remained faithful to God and we are told in Job 42:12 that; “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.”

We are all tested in life's journey. Sometimes our tests are minor and at other times they are major. We are even tested at times by those who are closest to us. In my 39 years in ministry I have been tested many times. I have complained; “this is not fair God I'm one of your servants why should this happen to me?” It makes no difference who we are (Job was a man precious in God's sight) our faith will be tested. SO, when you pray; “God give me more patience, always remember that the only way for you to know if God has given you more patience is to present you with another test! Remember Job who was tested, who remained faithful and who was blessed for his faithfulness. Through all your trials look up and not down and then move forward not backward.

Your pastor & friend,

John Fraser

Have you ever?

Had your finger prints taken lately? In 2013 while Jill and I were crossing the border from Canada into the US we were stopped by custom officers. I reported in a previous blog our experience. It was the first time I ever had my finger prints taken! The officer doing the prints paid me a compliment after doing a “palm print” saying; “that was very good, most people have a problem doing it correctly the first time.” I'm not certain if I thanked her for the compliment or not! Maybe it was because I was so good at it that I had no problems being finger printed again just a couple of weeks ago! Once again Jill was with me and had her prints taken as well!

So what was the occasion? No, we were not accused of any crime. This time we requested the prints and had to pay a $100 each for them! We are in the midst of our Green Card application which will allow us a permanent residency in the US. The papers and forms that we have to submit are endless; birth certificates (the long forms not the short ones), marriage licenses (a problem for Jill and I as we were married in Quebec which requires banns and does not issue a license). We need to supply the birth place of each of our parents, our daughters names and their place of birth etc. etc. We also have to have a medical exam which includes a chest x-ray. Now we come to the request for a police certificate for any place where we lived for three years or more! The police check from Canada must be made through the RCMP. When I contacted the RCMP they told me that because I was out of country and could not drop into their office for a form that we must have our finger prints taken here in Bermuda and forward them to Canada. Following receipt of our prints a check would be made based on our prints and not our names. I was informed that this was the more thorough check of the two! The prints were taken the fees were paid and very shortly we will be forwarding them to Canada to a “private company” who will digitize the prints and forward them to the RCMP. The RCMP and the company digitizing the prints each have their fee. Canada is taken care of and now we must apply for a police check from Bermuda. No problem with that as we were able to go into their office and pick up a form after paying a further $100 each! But we are not through yet because there is still the Bahamas! I have a very good friend there who went to the local police station and asked on my behalf what I had to do to get a police certificate. All that was required was to write them a letter, tell them why I needed a certificate, send them a certified copy of our passports and “oh yes” send them a certified copy of our finger prints! No mention of a fee as yet but I know that it will come. SO, if you are ever required to give your finger prints come to me and I will show you exactly how to do it for a fee of course!

Your Friendly Pastor,

John

TIME FLIES OR DOES IT?

TIME FLIES OR DOES IT?

   Do you remember as a child saying; "I wish Christmas would get here." Perhaps you expressed the sentiment; "I wish summer vacation would come." Maybe you were anxious for the arrival of your birthday; "I wish my birthday was tomorrow." What we are really expressing in all three requests is the frustration that time is passing ever so slowly. Sometimes we use to say, "I'm bored there is nothing to do I wish it was tomorrow!" One thing I remember growing up (among many other things of course) was that we never said to our mom, "I'm bored there is nothing to do." If we ever said that in hearing distance of our mom she always had a standard reply; "There is a big woodpile in the back yard that has to go into the basement before winter." Time always seems to pass quickly when you are busy doing something. On the other hand time seems to drag by when we are sitting down twiddling our thumbs. The reality is that the passing of time never changes. It takes as long for an hour, a day, a month or a year to go by when we were 12 years old as it does when we are in our retirement years.
   One of the big reasons that women dread the retirement of their husband is that with nothing to do he will forever be in the house following her around asking endless questions. "What are you doing?" Can I help?" "Is there anything you would like me to do?" "What's for dinner?" She is bombarded with so many questions that she can't get her work done! So what is the solution for the couple when the husband is about to retire? "Guys, we have to keep busy." If  we don't keep busy doing something when we retire than we will find ourselves as frustrated as we were when we were 12 years old complaining that we were bored. Perhaps the ideal solution would be to get rid of oil, gas and electric heat and go back to wood stoves and coal furnaces. Why is this the ideal solution? When we are bored and following our wife around the house she could always turn to us and say; "Dear! there is a big woodpile in the backyard that needs to go into the basement before winter." Think of how busy we will keep ourselves by stacking wood, splitting kindling, stocking the furnace and carrying out the ashes!
Have a great day!
Your friend Pastor John
  

The Empty Nest Syndrom

We All Go Through It

   All parents that is! The Lord blessed Jill and I with three beautiful daughters. You remember the TV program, My Three Sons?" Well, we were blessed with, "Our Three Daughters." We went through the stages of raising children that all parents go through. You remember those stages; the troublesome twos, the frustrating threes and on and on and on! Having girls we also went through the boyfriends calling and I told our girls that I wanted to meet everyone of them and I did! I had each of our girls come to me while in school saying; "daaaad." I would say; "Stop right there and tell me how much you want." They always promised to pay me back and I will be a rich man when they do. I remember when our oldest daughter went to university. We dropped her off on campus and after saying good-bye we proceeded to return home. Jill protested saying; "We can't leave her there." I consoled her  with words like; "Honey, we have to we've already paid the tuition." Actually I'm just kidding because silently I shed tears as well. Shortly thereafter it was time for our second daughter and our third daughter to leave for university as well and the parting was just as tough. The house was really quiet when they left but there were lots of phone calls home and of course weekend visits.
   University days passed by rather quickly and it was shortly thereafter that I became suspicious of certain guys they were keeping company with. I asked the regular fatherly questions like; "How long is his hair?" "Does he wear ear rings?" "Any tattoos?" "Does he go to church?" I mean I was concerned! Well, the day came when the first daughter said that her boyfriend was going to speak to me about asking for her hand in marriage. YES, each of my son-in-laws actually spoke with me about marrying one of my daughters isn't that great? Now, when I knew that they were going to come and speak with me I asked each of my daughters in turn the same question, "is he nervous?" My daughters replied "yes, please be very gentle." I told each of them in turn; "Don't say anything to him that would lessen his fears I want him to be nervous." In one way I was just joking but in another way I was deadly serious. You see, my daughters (next to my wife) are thee most important people in the world to me. Here was some guy who was going to step into my life and become to her the most important man in her life. It wasn't that I feared loosing their love because I was always assured of their love it was well, "you know this other man." I don't think that I gave any of them a hard time and I am so pleased to hear them calling me, "dad."
   Actually, as I write this only two of them refer to me as dad. Why is this? Well it's due to the fact that our third daughter will not be married until Friday of this coming week! The day after tomorrow Jill and I are leaving for Vancouver where the wedding is to take place on the 9th of January. I was blessed to be able to conduct the weddings of our first two daughters and this Friday I will again have the opportunity of conducting the wedding service for our youngest daughter. In retirement Jill and I will be able to visit our oldest daughter just outside of Chatham Ontario, then there is the middle daughter who lives in Berkeley California and our youngest, well we will have to travel to a place called Rose Prairie in northern BC to visit her.
  The house is truly empty now. This past Christmas Jill and I celebrated by ourselves. BUT, the good Lord willing next Christmas the whole family will be coming to spend Christmas with Jill and I in our new home in Florida! The grand kids are coming as well (all five of them and maybe another one or two)! So you see the house will not be empty for long! This Christmas there was Jill and I around the table next Christmas the way I see it we should have eight adults and five children at least!
I am so proud of each of my daughters and Jill and I consider ourelves to be truly blessed.

Your Friend,
Rev. John

Do You Remember When?

Do You Remember When?

   Do you remember when as a child a dollar would buy four Christmas gifts? Do you remember buying your mom a comb and your dad a package of razor blades, your sister some bobby pins and perhaps your brother a jackknife? Do you remember Sunday School Christmas Concerts when recitations were memorized? Do you remember hanging old woolen stockings for Santa to fill? Do you remember hard rock ribbon candy? Do you remember bubble lights on your Christmas tree with an angel on the top? Do you remember when family members would take turns reading verses from the Christmas Story? If you are like me you will remember most of these things and it means you were probably born in the 1940’s or close thereof!

   Christmas holds a lot of memories for each of us. But times change and with changing times we find that traditions may also change. The stockings we hang are much fancier today. Presents are far more expensive. There may be bowls of fruit instead of ribbon candy. Sunday school or Community Christmas Concerts are not as common today as they were when we were growing up. Bubble lights are a thing of the past on most trees! Is the Bible Story still read by the family before opening presents under the tree? Perhaps you may have started some new traditions and have passed them on to your children and dare I say grandchildren! Since moving to Bermuda we have had to drop one tradition and that is taking our daughters out coasting on snow covered hills Christmas Day afternoon!

   There is one thing that has not changed and will never change no matter how hard some may try. Christmas is the celebration of our Lord’s entry into his world in human form. Christmas is the re-celebration of our Savior’s birth. Christmas is all about God’s giving to his children. Other religions have man striving to climb up the walls of heaven. Christmas has God coming down from heaven.

   Enjoy your Christmas and watch that ribbon candy!

Essential In My Ministry

PRIORITIES

   I want to very briefly share with you my priorities in ministry. During my 38+ years in ministry these priorities have not changed. Sometimes they have got me into trouble but then again our Lord never promised popularity.

   1.) My first priority in ministry is preaching. I love to preach and the majority of my time is taken up with sermon preparation.

   2.) My second priority is visitation; in homes, hospitals and even places of employment. I have been told by one of my former parishioners that I had an open invitation to join him at his place of work at any time but that I was not to come wearing clerical shirt etc. You see, he was a farmer and his office was a barn where I would find him mucking out the cows!

   3.) My third priority is to always have my office door open for people to come in and talk about anything.

   4.) My fourth priority is conducting Bible Studies and sharing sessions which give people an even greater opportunity to explore and grow within the Christian faith.

   Those are my priorities which I have promised to every congregation where I have served. What I don’t promise people are the following.

1.) I don’t promise to have the answer for why you don’t have more young people in church.

2.) Although I will always listen to you that does not mean that I will always agree with you and when I don’t agree with you that doesn’t mean that I’m not listening to you.

3.) I don’t promise to fill church pews and offering plates. God has not called me to fill pews and plates but He has called me to preach his word.

4.) I will not agree with you when you say of my preaching, “But that’s just your opinion.” Opinions are cheap and you didn’t call me and God didn’t send me to give my opinion but to share with you God’s word.

Your friend Rev. John

                                                                                               

A Storm By Any Other Name

Is Still a Storm!

   Well, as you have rightfully guessed, it has been some time since we have last updated this site! I would like to place the fault on two individuals named Fay and Gonzalo! Fay was a tropical storm that was suppose to "brush Bermuda" on Saturday October 11th. It not only "brushed" Bermuda it struck us with a wallop! Anything under 75 mph is supposed to be a tropical storm. Fay hit us with wind bursts that some measured at 125mph. Needless to say come Sunday morning the power was out and the majority of roads on the Island were impassable. I tried to drive from my home to the church and finally had to turn back. Thankfully, the telephone was still working and so calls went out notifying people that they were to stay at home "no  church today." We were very fortunate at the manse in that the power came back on later Sunday afternoon! Most of the following week government crews and private contractors were kept busy clearing the Island's roadways. St Andrews Church was fortunate in that besides branches and debri on the lawn the only other damage was that we lost our church sign (multiplied into several pieces).

   Following Fay the local weather service warned us that one named Gonzalo was on the way. Gonzalo was listed as a Hurricane category 4 (right up there at the top). The word was out that Bermuda was in its direct line of approach with winds that could easily top 125 mph and higher. Jill and I like every other resident in Bermuda closed our shutters and stocked up on all the essentials. Gonzalo arrived Friday afternoon and our power promptly went out (again). The eye of the storm settled right over Bermuda. Now in the eye of a storm (as we all know) there is a great calm. The winds stopped and the sea was calm but only for an hour. On the other side of the eye the winds can get far worse and Gonzalo was not about to disappoint us! On more than one occasion the house would shake. We had an electric shutter that we closed over our living room window well before the storm's arrival. Other windows in the home were closed with manual shutters. By 3:30 in the morning Gonzalo had left our shores on a course north east of the Island.

   The aftermath of Gonzalo meant that Island cleanups had to begin all over again! It is now over a week following the storm and trucks can still be seen moving trees, branches etc. etc. to the local landfill site. Once again we are thankful that our church, our home and the homes of many of our friends were spared. But guess what? WE ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER! We are one home of about 3000 that still remains without the luxury of power. Because we have no power our generator has been powering our fridge and Jill and I are eating still by candlelight. Our electric shutter remains in the down position because we don't have the power to reverse it. The latest word is that we may remain without power for another week. I am fortunate in being able to update our website from the church which never lost its power. There has got to be a sermon in that!

Blessings
Rev. John

Prayer Full of Tears

Prayer Full of Tears

  Prayer Full of Tears sounds rather strange doesn’t it? We have heard of a “Bucket Full of Tears” perhaps but what is a “Prayer Full of Tears?” Allow me to elaborate. Just a little over a week ago I attended the monthly meeting of the Bermuda Bible Society where two years ago they made me vice chair! Following our meeting a few of us began chatting about the terrible conditions in Iraq and Syria. The radical group Isis who claim Northern Syria and also a large segment of northern Iraq are on the move for yet more territory. They hate the West and anything to do with the West. They hate Christianity and any Christians they capture are given the ultimatum, “Renounce Christ or die.” Christians are being persecuted like never before. Christians and many others are being shot, beheaded and crucified! Captured women and young girls are being sold and exchanged as sex slaves. We cannot begin to imagine the stress that the people here are under. Getting back to our Bible Society meeting one member shared with the rest of us about a message that had been received by a Christian missionary in northern Syria. He could apply for evacuation (possibly) but he said, “How can I leave my people in such a great time of need?” He went on to say that he spends all of his days on his knees shedding tears in prayer.” I suspect that many buckets full of tears have been shed for our brothers and sister in Christ who live in Syria, Iraq and Iran.

   So what are we to do? Well, we can certainly pray for them that God will give strength for his children to stand firm. The report is that they are standing firm even as they are being slaughtered. As important as it is to pray for them I would also pray that President Obama along with leaders of other nations would send their armies in to destroy this terrorist group which is none other than an army of Satan. We need boots on the ground not just planes in the air and we need it to take place now.

   God loves to hear our prayers but there are times when “army boots” can be the answer to the prayers offered and I firmly believe that this is one such time.

Rev. John Fraser

What About Your Book?

What About Your Book?

   Just recently I was asked; "Are you still working on your book?" I replied in the affirmative but that

 sometimes progress is slow because, "I have to be in the mood to write." As I contemplate my retirement

 which is now less than a year away I say to myself; "I will have more time to write when I am retired." 

However, I hear many people say that when you are retired that you often find yourself busier than ever

before! So, I don't want to wait for retirement to continue my writing I must set aside time now to write. 

I have a story that I want to share with people. I hope my story will encourage some, cause others to laugh, 

some to shed a tear and a few to take warning. Encouragement, laughter and tears are all part of a story but

what do I mean by, "take warning."

   Someone told me while I was still in training for the ministry; "John, just because someday you will be a 

minister that does not mean that everyone will like you." I thought that was strange but then again I was young 

and naive Doesn't everyone like ministers? Almost ready for retirement the answer comes back to haunt me 

and it is a definite NO. The fact that not everyone likes ministers would be more easily understood if those who

 disliked you came primarily from outside the church but such is not the case. In my almost forty years in

 ministry I have found that my greatest hurt has come from those "inside the church" those who claim to be

 Christians and strangely enough those who occupy positions of leadership within the church. Please don't 

misunderstand me, the majority were certainly loving and accepting of me even with all my faults. Neither do I

mean by being hurt that people simply didn't appreciate my sermons! No, I mean by being hurt that some

would phone immigration authorities and report me for working unlawfully. Some would write you nasty little

notes and tell you and your wife to"go home." Perhaps the greatest hurt came from those who said; "We knew

 you were conservative before you came to us but we thought we could change you." Then, there was one of 

my peers who said; "John, they are a lynch mob and they are out to get you." My peer who warned me of the

 lynch mob refused to share his insight with others who belonged to the same church court as he and I were

 members of. I am not going into any details here but will save that for my book! My greatest comfort in all of

 this came from those who did support me including a 16 year old youth. Nothing of what I was accused of

 pertained in any way to my moral conduct but rather to the gospel I proclaimed. It was because of this that

 I received my greatest support from the Scriptures in John 15:18-19. 

Rev. John Fraser 

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

BAPTISM

   What is it and why do we do it? In a short space of print I will attempt with God’s help to answer not in full but in part.

   First, baptism is one of two sacraments recognized within the Reformed Faith. Sacrament comes from the Latin word “sacramentum” which was an oath that a Roman soldier took to show his allegiance to the emperor. The other sacrament that we recognize is the sacrament of Holy Communion sometimes referred to as “The Lord’s Supper.”

   Baptism, for people of the Reformed Faith is a continuation of the Old Testament rite of Circumcision. In the Old Testament circumcision was a sign given by God to Abraham indicating that the male infant was now marked as being a member of God’s family. Females were admitted to God’s family through the male. Christians within the Reformed faith see baptism as a carry over into a new covenant of the Old Testament rite of circumcision. Infants of course do not remember the day of their admission into God’s family. The vows taken at baptism are taken by the parents on behalf of the child. They promise to bring the child up in the nurture and love of the Lord. NOW, when a baptized child reaches an age of understanding (early teens) hopefully they will want to take ownership of their parents vows made at their baptism by making a profession of faith and joining a Christian Church. They do not have to be re-baptized. The Bible states quite clearly in Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” At the time of their profession of faith he/she should rejoice that the sign given at their baptism has come to fruition. 

   What about something called; “believers baptism?”  Believers baptism is the baptism of one who as a young person or adult has made a profession of faith and is then baptized. As an adult they were able to take responsibility for the vows themselves. However, believers baptism does negate infant baptism. In the Holy Scripture it states that whole households were baptized and we believe that in those households there were indeed children. Christians within the Reformed Faith believe in believers baptism and infant baptism. However, many outside the Reformed Faith believe only in Believers Baptism. Christian parents should not wait for their child to experience “believers baptism” but rather have the “sign and seal” that is offered in infant baptism bestowed upon their child while they are of a young age.

   With regard to the method of baptism being the “sprinkling of water” or “immersion” it makes no difference. As one of the early fathers of the Reformation said; “whether it be a thimble full or a bucket full it makes no difference. The importance lies not in the amount of water but what the water symbolizes.” The water in baptism symbolizes the blood of Christ which washes away our sins. All humans at birth came into the world carrying Adam’s fallen sinful nature with them.

Rev. John Fraser

Solid Rock

   The term “rock” is often used in Holy Scripture to describe; security, trustworthiness and dependability. When Jesus asked his disciples who others said He was they replied, “John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Jesus then asked them; “But who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who replied; “Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you but my father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Upon Peter’s confession as to who Jesus was, God would build his church. When God’s gathered people (the church) continue to confess the identity of Christ and when they live by that confession there is security, trustworthiness and dependability. God’s confessing church is like a solid rock upon which the gates of hell cannot prevail. BUT, what happens when people gathered do not confess and live by the identity of Christ as confessed by Peter?

   When Jill and I vacation in Florida we worship in a church called, Solid Rock Presbyterian Church. Solid Rock is located in Leesburg and worshippers meet in a community hall. The fellowship of believers is not large but they are faithful and they warmly welcome those who believe in and adhere to the confession of Peter. They belong to a larger branch of the Presbyterian Church known as Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Solid Rock does not have a long history but the faith upon which they stand does. You see, the good people of Solid Rock came out of a larger denomination when that denomination began to drift away from the confession of faith as lived and taught by the disciples. They don’t have the big building now, they don’t have the numbers and as John (their minister) will tell you; “we don’t have the high tech stereo recording equipment that we once enjoyed.” Yes, they had to give up a number of frills but the one thing they refused to give up was the faith confessed by Peter. They were willing to stand up for what was right even when the opposite was more popular. They would not allow the faith once and for all delivered to the saints to be compromised by the standards of a society that is trying desperately to be accommodating to all. Their stand has cost them but they will survive because their faith is built on the Solid Rock.  Should your travels ever take you near the Leesburg area of Florida please drop by and worship with them on a Sunday morning. The people of Solid Rock meet in the Leesburg Community Building, (9:30am) 109 East Dixie Avenue, next to the Pat Thomas Ball Field.

   Please remember and pray for this community of faith who are looking for a site upon which to build and expand their ministry.

By Rev. John Fraser