Remember When?

Someone gave me an article entitled, "Remember When?”

Do you remember when?

• the only hazard presented by insecticides was running into flypaper?
• a marriage outlasted all three wedding present toasters?
• a drug problem was trying to get a prescription filled on a Sunday?
• bicycles and chickens came fully assembled?
• paperbacks had more passion on the cover than in the contents?
• a whole family could go to the movies for what it now costs for a bag of popcorn?

Someone gave me a beautiful wall hanging which reads:

Change is all about us, and sometimes it can be frightening. Some people find change challenging; even exciting! Some find change puzzling as they wonder how they will adjust. Times change and people change with the times. Very few things remain as they once were. How many of us have returned to the places of our childhood and marveled at all the changes that have taken place? A lot of changes that have taken place over the years have been for our benefit. Think for a moment of all the changes that have taken place in the field of medicine, transportation and housing! How many of us would want to live as our ancestors did a hundred years ago?

There is a movement within society, and even within some church circles, that proclaims that God has changed. He no longer has rules - only suggestions. He is no longer a jealous God when it comes to worship - just believe in something nice. That Jesus went to the synagogue to worship as his custom was on the Sabbath is no longer an example for others to follow. Salvation is given to everyone, so forget any mention in the Bible of false prophets. Sin is a word that is intolerant of other lifestyles, so let’s drop it from our religious vocabulary. Hey, we could go on but I think you get the point!

Allow me to share with you Hebrews 13:8.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Look at 1 Peter 1:23,

“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

God has not changed but for some people their perception of Him has changed. Rather than find it frustrating that there are still rules and expectations to live by, should we not celebrate that in the Lord there is stability?

Children of God, let us celebrate that the Lord of creation, the God of the prophets, the Saviour who died and rose again and the light of the early church is the very same God we worship today. God has not changed when it comes to the expectations He has for his children and neither has his love for his children changed.

Your Pastor & Friend,
John Fraser

Holiness

Within Church circles we make frequent use of the word "holy". We refer to the Bible as being a holy book. We speak of Sunday as being a holy day. It should go without saying that our God is a holy God. So, what does the word holy mean? Holy means set apart from, different from and above that which surrounds it.

The Bible is different from all other books. The Scriptures have been set aside by God for a unique purpose, and that is to convey God’s will and God’s way to God’s people. No other book written or printed was designed with this divine purpose in mind. The Bible is God’s Word breathed by the Almighty to spirit filled individuals who recorded it in printed form.

We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16 that; “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” It is when we treat the Bible as man’s word, man’s opinion and of man’s design that we run into all sorts of problems. In many homes and in many churches the Bible is seen only as a good book a nice book but not a holy book. The Bible needs to be returned to the top shelf.

Sunday is a holy day because Sunday is different from all other days of the week. The Sabbath commemorated God’s day of rest following creation while Sunday commemorated the resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Early Christians worshipped on both the Sabbath as well as the first day of the week (Sunday). In time, Christians felt led to set aside Sunday as their holy day and they honored that day by resting from their labors. God’s people need one day of the week that is different from all other days. We need one day specifically set aside for worship, for rest, for meditation and for fellowship. That is not to say that we cannot do these things on any other day of the week but that we need one day free from the distractions of the pace that we set for ourselves during the week.

What happens when we take the holiness out of Sunday and treat it as just another day is that we forget the intended purpose for which the day was given to us. Churches now have to compete with stores, sport gatherings and other venues because such places no longer see Sunday as holy. God’s Word declares; “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy,” (Exodus 20:8).

The world in which we live is full of gods. We place people, things, events, our jobs, our toys, and other deities as the most important thing, object or desire on which to focus our attention. When we do this we no longer see God as holy but simply as one of many objects on which we can (providing we have the time) focus our attention. We live in a culture that says it really doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you believe in something. Such an attitude has stripped God from his place of prominence and placed him on cultural shelves for people to pick and choose from. We no longer agree with the prophet of old who declared; “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory,” (Isaiah 6:3).

We need a return to the Holiness of God, the Holiness of our day of worship and the Holiness of the Bible.

Where Are the Youth?

The number one question most often asked of a minister being interviewed for a church vacancy is; “What are your gifts when it comes to youth ministry?” Congregations want to know where the youth have disappeared to and what can the new minister do to bring them back.

We would all love to have our churches full of young people and we wonder what it is going to take to get them there. Congregations will try a multiplicity of things to get youth into the church. Some churches will hire a youth director. Some will install the latest of audio tech equipment in their church hoping that it will appeal to the youth. What about a Praise Band with drums, guitars, horns, singers and the most up-to-date praise songs? What about involving young people in the life and work of the church (greeters, equipment techs, readers and Board Members)? Completely revolutionize the format of the worship service or at least have a contemporary service along with your traditional service. I am certain that you can think of a number of other options to try and you probably have, and you probably have met with limited success. I really don’t have anything against some of the above mentioned suggestions, but I don’t believe that they are the answer to the problem; “Where are the Youth?”

I believe there are two very important areas that we must look into when tackling the problem of dwindling youth. The first is that we must ask ourselves the question, “Why do we want young people in the church?” Sounds strange? You have never asked this question, correct? Churches should start asking the question, and they should ask it honestly. We don’t bring about true growth - God does. The Bible tells us that, “GOD added to the church daily.” God is not going to add numbers if the congregation’s only reason for desiring young people is to fill the spots vacated by seniors! Haven’t we all said; “if we don’t get youth into the church then this church is going to die in a few short years.” Well, maybe the church deserves to die if their only reason for wanting young people is to enable seniors to retire!! We must have a real spiritual concern for our youth that they might come to know God as the Lord and Savior of their life. When a young person knows Christ as their Lord and Savior you will not be able to keep them out of the church! Congregations must become more involved in the field of evangelism of youth.

The second important area when it comes to adding youth to the congregational roll is to target parents! You cannot get young people into the church if their parents don’t take them. You cannot get young people into the church unless they see that the church is also important to mom and dad. You cannot get young people into the church unless from day one (age of baptism) mom and dad said, “You are coming with us.”

Where are the youth? The youth are all around us waiting for someone to plant the seed of faith that will lead to conversion. Where are the youth? The youth are at home and they need more than a taxi to take them to church.

Youth need mom and dad to say; “I’m going and so are you.”

Humor in the Scriptures

Is it disrespectful to say that there is humor in the Scriptures? The Bible was not written to make us laugh but to show us the way of life. However, in showing humans how God has called them to live you can bet that we mere mortals will say and do things in less than a divine way! Some day, I hope to write a book on my life in the ministry. My book will not be a serious theological epistle (there are plenty of those), but rather an account that shows the humorous side of my calling. Perhaps this blog will give me the incentive to pursue my goal as I look at the humorous side of the Holy Scriptures.

Did you know that Job in the Old Testament could have used what we use everyday? Job needed mouthwash or at least some breath mints! How do I know this? Job’s wife is mentioned only twice in the book that bears his name. First, she urges her husband to “curse God and die.” Secondly, she complains about his “repulsive breath”. Check out Job 19:17 and thank God the next time you reach for your Listerine.

What is probably the most ridiculous piece of legal advice ever is found in Matthew 28:13. Don’t worry it doesn’t come from the disciples - and certainly not from the mouth of our Lord - but rather from the mouth of the Chief Priests. The body of Jesus had disappeared from the tomb. What were the soldiers supposed to do now? The advice given to them was; “You must say, His disciples came by night and stole him away while you were asleep.” Now I ask you, “How would they know who stole the body if they were asleep?”

Did you know that there was a knock knock joke in the Bible? Read the story of Peter’s escape from prison in Acts 18. There was a prayer meeting being held at the home of Mary. No doubt they were praying about many things not the least for Peter’s release from prison. In the midst of their prayers they heard a knocking at the gate. Who would be disturbing their prayer time? A servant girl by the name of Rhoda was sent to the gate. Who was standing at the gate but Peter (God had miraculously delivered him from prison 12:6-11). Poor Rhoda was so excited that she left Peter standing at the gate and rushed in to tell the others. The group of earnest prayer seekers found it difficult to believe that God had answered their prayers and claimed that Rhoda had seen a ghost. Meanwhile poor Peter kept on knocking!

Jill (my wife) and I had a good chuckle over this one. We had just read as our evening devotions the story of Paul writing to his good friend Philemon. Apparently, Paul’s friend had a slave who had run away (a very very serious crime). The slave’s name was Onesimus. The path of Onesimus and Paul crossed and they had become not only good friends but Onesimus had also become a Christian. The apostle urged his young friend to return to his owner. Paul then wrote Philemon and interceded on behalf of Onesimus. Philemon could have his slave thrown into jail or even worse put to death. But, by the grace of God Philemon was also a believer and Paul urged him to take his slave back and treat him not as a runaway slave but as a brother in Christ. Paul tells Philemon how helpful Onesimus has been and that he is a changed man and then (here’s the chuckle line) so as to press his point home Paul says to Philemon in v: 19 “I’m not going to remind you that you owe me your very life. One thing more, prepare a guest room for me.” How could poor old Philemon say no?

Were these guys serious? The disciples of Jesus had gone into a Samaritan town to pick up some food supplies. Now Samaritans and Jews didn’t always get along with each other. The Samaritans refused to sell any supplies to the disciples. To say that the disciples were “ticked off” is an understatement. Two of the most outspoken of the disciples (James and John) went to Jesus with their solution; “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them (Luke 9:54).” Remember this one the next time a sales clerk gives you a hard time.

Did Jesus ever laugh? Although the Bible does not specifically state that Jesus laughed I am certain that He did. How can I be so certain? Take children on your knee or in your arms as He did in Mark 10:13-16 and look at them with a straight face. Jesus laughed!

The Bible is a very serious book, the Bible is a Holy Book but the Bible also is a book that describes people who can and who do laugh.

(drawings by Jean Keaton)

Getting Our Hands Dirty!

Isn’t it fantastic! I love it! Working in the garden getting my hands dirty! A member of the congregation (Donald) and me split the cost of a little roto-tiler. Gardening means work but fresh veggies from your own garden taste fantastic!

It is my prayer that all of us will allow the good Lord to work away at our life in much the same manner as we work away in our yards and gardens. Sometimes we find people who are discouraged, little hope, few goals and in far too many cases their “get up and go” has got up and went! These people go through the motions but there is little joy in their life and they look like a garden during the hot dry summer months (weather-beaten) or in the case of those from the north (winterkill)!

I have good news for you or for someone you know who needs a good pick-me-up! There is life within that old body it just needs a little help. God the Creator is able to breathe new life into his children as surely as He turns seeds into carrots, blossoms into fruit and tired looking flowers into a radiant bouquet. What is needed in order to receive new life is a little water, weeding and fertilizing.


First, with the help of the Holy Spirit go through your life and get rid of all those sins that spoil your image. Gather up your sins and turn them over to the Lord and He will take care of them for you. It’s like taking your garbage to the curb, in the morning it’s gone!

Second, listen and worship with renewed interest at church. Apply to your life as much as possible what you hear and experience. Keep in mind that the message is not always for someone else it’s for you and it’s for me. Garden fertilizer will nourish the soil only if it is taken out of the bag and spread around. Perhaps it is time that we started to apply what for so many years has simply gone in one ear and out the other.

Third, read your Bibles with eager anticipation. God has a word that He would like to share with you but like any letter it has to be opened. I enjoy reading books on how to garden and the Bible is to my life what a gardening book is to my garden. Do not allow God’s book to gather dust on your book shelf.

Fourth, don’t forget to pray. We can go through all the motions and seemingly do all the right things but unless we then turn it all over to God for his showers of blessing, growth will not materialize.

There you have it! Time to get your hands dirty. “Impossible, nothing will happen,” you say? Hey, who would have thought at the beginning of gardening season that there was any life left in the ground but just the other day I saw my potato plants pop up, miracles never cease!

Blessings,

Your Pastor, Friend & Fellow Gardener!

John

My Call to Ministry

I have been a minister in the Presbyterian Church for 34 years. How did I happen to land in this type of a career? Ministers talk about a call to ministry & others wonder what a call is? A call to ministry is not the same for all ministers.

I didn’t hear voices in the middle of the night.

I didn’t see handwriting on the wall.

I didn’t come from a family of ministers.

I grew up in a Christian family (9 of us). We were all used to going to church. Two of my brothers were bankers. I decided to become one as well. I worked for a short period of time with the Bank of Nova Scotia. However, banking wasn’t meant for me. I quit the bank and began looking for another job. There weren’t a lot available! I picked up what used to be a part-time job. I worked at a grocery store (packed groceries, stocked shelves).

One day a friend came in (he was a minister). He told me about three little churches in a rural area that needed a minister. Would I consider serving them as a student minister for a yr. and then begin univ. studies & become a minister? I thought of all the excuses; I’m not a good student, it takes too long, I don’t like speaking in front of people. However, I did agree to serve the churches for a year. When the year was up I looked seriously at university. Lord, I’ll never get through! If I didn’t make it through my first year I knew God didn’t want me (in ministry)! Well I made it through my first year and six more years thereafter.

Since then I have pastured churches in Nova Scotia, Calgary Alberta, Barrie Ontario, the Bahamas, St Marys On. and now here I am in Bermuda!

I believe God not only called me into ministry, but that He called me to all the churches where I have been privileged to serve.

God called me through my family who supported me.

He called me through my friend who said, “John there are these churches.”

He called me through some great teachers while I was at University.

He called me through some wonderful people who loved, accepted & supported me in the churches where I have served.

He called me through a loving a supportive wife and three beautiful daughters.

I never heard a voice, no handwriting on the wall, no flashes of lighting. BUT I know, I have a conviction, a certainty that I am where God always meant me to be. Did I and do I ever experience problems in my ministry in my calling? Absolutely, but a further assurance that I am where God meant me to be is that the good Lord has put up with my weaknesses and has shepherded me through my valleys and pit falls.

Blessings,

John

First Impressions

It’s hard to believe but I have been here now for nine months! Where has the time gone??? So what are my impressions of Island life and of ministry here at St Andrews?

First, let me say that I enjoy Island living. Even though Bermuda is only 21 miles long I do as much driving here as I did in many of my former parishes! There is lots to see on the Island, great places to eat and some fantastic shopping. Jill has become quite a tour guide having transported her parents around the Island also our daughter Diana and son-in-law Jeremy plus two staff people along with their children from the ship Logos Hope. SO, if you plan to come for a visit Jill will be happy to show you the sights. Don’t worry after nine months we know what side of the road to drive on! The only catch is that you have to come to church with us on Sunday! Seriously, the Island is a beautiful place to visit, live and explore.

If you were to ask for our church by name (St. Andrews Presbyterian) the locals might have a problem giving you directions. HOWEVER, if you ask for the little pink church they will smile and give you details how to find us. The church is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm for visitors and Sunday at 11:00am for worship. Presently St Andrews is going for quality as opposed to quantity. Our numbers don’t shake the rafters (not yet anyway) but we more than make up for that with lots of smiles and warm hearts. We offer meaningful worship, bible studies, small group meetings, church fun nights, Sunday School, Junior Youth, updated website and a local radio ministry.

I find that there is lots to keep me busy on the Island and at the “little pink church.” I invite you to drop by and pay us a visit.

John