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