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Exodus 5:1-22 Bricks Without Straw 5 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” 2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!” 5 Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.” 6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Make the work harder for them so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.” 10 Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’” 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” 14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?” 15 Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” 17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.” 19 The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” God Promises Deliverance 22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? The setting of the Israelites ..... the civil right movement.........symbol of the needs of the world!?  Mr Hugh Wallis July 22nd, second part of his talk on the civil right movemement. His encounter with some of the activists (Excerps)
Exodus leads very well into the spirituality of the civil right movement. Martin Luther King followed in his father's and grandfather's foot steps. His grandfather, the Reverend Adam Daniel Williams, at Ebenezer Baptist Church was quite an example as the following text indicates. (to help us with the comprehension of this very special time in history please find here : excerps from http://chuck.hubpages.com/hub/Martin_Luther_Kings_Grandfather_the_Reverend_Adam_Daniel_Williams ) When the Reverend Williams assumed his duties on March 14, 1894 the congregation had seventeen members officially listed on its membership roll. Like his grandson, Martin Luther King Jr., after him, Williams was a charismatic speaker whose preaching attracted and inspired people. Utilizing his speaking and other talents, Williams was able to attract sixty-five new people to the congregation during his first year as pastor. Under his leadership the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church continued to grow steadily as evidenced by the fact they twice had to build and move into larger churches to accommodate their growing numbers. The second move was to the present Ebenezer Baptist Church at 407 Auburn Ave. the building of which was completed in 1922. It was at the present church on Auburn Ave. that Reverend Williams' son-in-law, Martin Luther King Sr., joined him as assistant pastor in 1927......Martin Luther King Jr Carried on His Grandfather's Work and Legacy. Role of Church in the Civil Rights Movement Dates Back to End of Civil War Throughout its history the Christian Church, like its counter parts in some other religions, has had to deal with people's material as well as spiritual needs. Many of today's institutions – schools, libraries, hospitals, orphanages, social service organizations like the YMCA, etc. - were started by the Christian Church. The message of the Church – love of neighbor, equality of all before God, etc. - has also served through the centuries to restrain tyrants and advance the cause of human freedom. Williams Concerned With Material, as Well as Spiritual Needs of His Flock When the institution of slavery was abolished following the Civil War, some of the first leaders to emerge among the newly freed slaves were those who had assumed the duties of preachers during the era of slavery. The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution (which was added in July 1868) along with various post Civil War Federal Civil Rights laws guaranteed the basic rights to all citizens including blacks. Passing laws is one thing, actual enforcement is another. If officials elect not to enforce a law, then the law is nothing more than a piece of paper with writing on it. When government officials, at the Federal, state and local levels, choose not to enforce laws guaranteeing the rights of former black slaves, it was local black churches that stepped forward to help the former slaves. Black churches became the center around which were built the communities necessary for blacks in the South to survive and prosper within the discriminatory environment in which they found themselves. In the post Civil War era of segregation and Jim Crow laws in the South, black churches became the center of black community life. Like other black pastors, the Rev. Adam Daniel Williams worked tirelessly to enhance the material as well as the spiritual lives of both his flock and the black community as a whole. Reverend Adam Daniel Williams Use Strategies of Both Washington and DuBois Using the strategies of both Washington and DuBois, Williams encouraged the formation and growth of black businesses as well as urging his congregation and other members of the black community to save and purchase their own homes. Reverend Williams led the black community in political fights to obtain schools and other public accommodations for blacks. In 1917 Williams joined other community leaders to form the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP. In his first five months as leader of the local NAACP he increased the chapter's membership by 1,400. As leader, he also launched a major effort to register blacks to vote. Upon Reverend Williams' death in 1931, Martin Luther King Sr. became the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Twenty-nine years later, in 1960, Reverend King's son, Martin Luther King Jr. joined his father as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. By this time Martin Luther King Jr. was already known throughout the world as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. As a result of Martin Luther King Junior's fame and his association with Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church had become world famous as many of King's speeches were delivered from the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Like other great leaders in history, Martin Luther King Jr. did not appear from nowhere. His father and grandfather were obviously role models. Like his father and grandfather, King was a great orator and used his preaching skills to rally people to his cause. Also, like his father and grandfather, he organized, encouraged and agitated to keep advancing the cause. The stage was set, the time was ripe and Martin Luther King Jr. willingly accepted the torch from his predecessors and led the movement forward to victory.) (Note to the reader : To help me with the details , I have copied some text that contained a lot of what Mr Wallis had mentionned in his talk) In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He received the B. A.degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In December, 1955, he accepted the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott . The boycott lasted 382 days, the longuest demonstration in Alabama. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, the Freedom riders, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. They all went to meetings to sessions to be thought to be peacefull. They were arrested as I described in my talk last time and sent to Parchman Farm, Mississipi state penitentiary. Do not want to go there then or even now! During these days of boycott, King emerged as a Negro leader as he took a big part in that process. In 1957 Martin Luther King was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to bring more organization to the civil rights movement. In 1961 the was a special program on PBS (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/) talking about the music, the background. I admire those people so much because they are peacefull and because of their Christianity. As stated in another PBS program : Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent movement to free India from British colonial rule inspired American civil rights activists who had immersed themselves in Ghandi's teachings and viewed non-violence as an effective way to challenge the tyranny of the Jim Crow South. Slaves owners
Christianity, cohesion, hope, strength .. all that was in their songs Song : Keep you eyes on the prize Paul and Silas bound in jail Had no money for to go their bail Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Paul and Silas thought they was lost Dungeon shook and the chains fell off Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Hold on, hold on Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on The only thing that we did was wrong Was staying' in the wilderness too long Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on The only thing we did was right Was the day we begun to fight Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Hold on, hold on Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Freedom's name is mighty sweet One day soon we're gonna meet Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Got my hand on the gospel plow Won't take nothing for my journey now Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Hold on, hold on Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Only chain that a man can stand Is that chain o'hand on hand Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on Alternative verses demonstrate the fact they were using their songs to pass the message : We're gonna board that big Greyhound, Carryin’ love from town to town. Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on We're gonna ride for civil rights, We’re gonna ride both black and white. Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on We've met jail and violence too, But God's love has seen us through. Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on, hold on ( note to the reader: the lyrics have been copied to demonstrate the point Mr Wallis was making not to detail exactly what he sang) Now picture this : somebody goes in a big city for the first time, for business in Chicago. The next thing he knows, he is in a car with strange people. I was that dumb guy. I could never understand why people are the way they are, about black Jewish people. I was in Chicago on business to meet people. I asked people on the street if they new where Muddy Watters was playing. This one person believed in me. There were Blacks, White into a car. I got into the car. .... innocence in an intelligent face: this is OK. " This is FAITH" We headed South, I had a little apprehension . We got to this appartment, put Muddy Watters record on.... Friendship around his music. He says you are going to play guitar. He loaned me his guitar. We went to this Club. shabby looking, where Otis Rush was playing. He asked me questions, I replied: I loved the blues. He asked me enough questions to make sure. He presented me as HUGH WALLIS from CANADA. They were the most gracious people I ever saw, the nicest people. Not drunk, no fights. Never heard music and applause like that. People came up from Alabama to see this. I went back to Chicago in 1963. he would have a party for me. I made a lot of friends. "I can't like you because you are white.... If you knew what the white people did to my family! " It is alright. I understand. It was an epiphany moment for me and hopefully for him. Every time I went to Chicago, I went to see him. " FAITH" not stupidity Song : Wade in the Water Wade in the water Wade in the water, children Wade in the water God's going to trouble the water. See that host all dressed in white God's going to trouble the water The leader looks like the Israelite God's going to trouble the water. See that band all dressed in red God's going to trouble the water Looks like the band that Moses led God's going to trouble the water. Look over yonder, what do you see? God's going to trouble the water The Holy Ghost a-coming on me God's going to trouble the water. If you don't believe I've been redeemed God's going to trouble the water Just follow me down to the Jordan's stream God's going to trouble the water. (note to the reader, I am not sure this is the version Mr Wallis sang, but it is a version to give us an idea of what was in it) Refers to the Exodus as well. A lot of their songs were messages. The song asks escaping slaves to cross rivers so the Sherrifs dogs would lose their scent. ( note to the reader: I have added materials from searches on the Internet to help with the comprehension only, because my notes were not complete since I go caugth listening more than writting... as it was too interesting)
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Scripture reading by Debbie Baxter My thoughts before reading: Letters from Paul to Churches answered questions they had asked him or addressed problems they were having to the Thessalonians, it addressed moral and theological problems. This is a letter Paul has written to the Church of Thessalonia. My guess is because of the difficulties of being accepted or even tolerated by an existing Religious groups, he wants to make sure they are not abandoning their beliefs. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 New International Version (NIV) Final Instructions 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idleand disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, souland body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. After reading todays scripture, I came away with a different view. Paul a head guy in the Church knows his stuff. Paul head of a large and growing organization giving an annual performance report to those in charge of th Church of Thessalonia.In Thessalonians 1 to 4, he tells them they are doing in their words and their actions, a good job. Not only that they are building a great reputation for the Church for doing good over and over. Wow, Timothy brought him a great report of how thet are staying firm, steady in their beliefs & faith. He shows the higher ups do care. He would have liked to have come in person. He, Paul Silas and Timothy all pray for them. (5)Then the pep talk, the moral booster, he wants them to keep up this good work. God's work. (5) He encourages them to continue to live in joyful expectancy for what God will do next through Jesus. Jesus is completely dependable, if he said it, he'll do it! He reminds them of the way God through Jesus teachings wants to live. Paul encourages them to keep up the good reputation of their Church by continuing to live according to the examples set by Jesus. To live with what we call today integrity. Living consistently in wholeness and truth in all aspects of their relations with others. To live with strong moral principals, be upright, be honest, be trustworthy, be fair, be strong, whole unbroken. Paul tells them he prays that God make them whole, spirit , soul and body. (23-24) (12-13) (19-22) Honour their leaders. The Church leaders do have a big responsability and will consistently help them in any way they can. But not to be gullible. To think for themselves and make informed decisions. Still problems? Turn to prayer, Jesus told us in John 14:6 we must pray through him. 1Timothy 2:5 calls Jesus "The mediator between God and me". Use God's name when you pray, then end the prayer saying you are praying through Jesus. True followers believe that God the divine will take care of the problems as long as the prayer request is somethins for good according to the will and purpose of God. Of course God won't listen or act on some strictly selfich desire. True followers also believe that God will answer their prayers through the Holy Spirit giving them courage, strength, assistance, inspiration and solutions. (16-18) But don't stop there pray incessantly. Keep an open line of communication with God, so that his will can flow through you. His work can be accomplished through you. Paul reminds them like Jesus to treat everyone with courtesy, generosity, respect, understanding, empathy and compassion. No wonder Jesus had good relations with everyone. He was a great communicator and so is Paul. (13-15) He encourages them to bring out the beat in themselves, look for the best in each other, reassure each other, then bring out the best in each other. To live with kindness and goodwill towards other, in harmony, peace and calmness, joy and happiness, and good health and wholeness hopefully will follow. It is easy to lose hope and never have lived fully. Paul gives those in charge great advice for everyday living. Being attentive to individual need having patience and not scapping at each other. Joyful living in spite ot their problems and differences. Go for the ideas and thoughts that heal, inspire, raise up, bless and honour your soul. When you are Happy you are more enthousiastic and then it becomes easier to reassure others. (Harley's sermon below!)  Beautifull bouquet by Linda. Thank you Linda! Meditation on Prayer by Harley Bye
Scripture 1 Thessalonians ( see above) How and when do we pray? I. 1-Prayer is personal- " go to your closet and there pray in secret." ( wherever you are) 2- Our schedule of prayer is nevertheless often a public exercise, examples
3- Views and explanations of Prayers
II. Does God Answer prayers? The answer may depens on the prayer.
III Contents of your prayers (personal and different ) 1. People who need you help! ( Actions not words) Example : Food grain bank U 139, 440$ X4=1600$ 71$ in 3 days, pennies,nickels,dimes.Nelson and the kids= bags of coins every day that is prayer. 2. Annoying situations God says "Let not the sun go down in anger! You have had a disagreement? The person you live with? Spouse? person in the community? in Church? Our Church mission statement : "Reaching out....Personnal Growth...Community" -In reconciliation, you take the first step -communicate means TALK IT OVER! 3. Guidance for the days ahead a) Ernie Laudi sings " lead me, guide me... Elvis Presley : Lead Me, Guide Me Songwriters: AKERS, DORIS Lead me oh Lord, won't you lead me I am tired and I need Thy strength and power To guide me over my darkest hour For just open my eyes that I may see Lead me oh Lord, won't you lead me Lead me, guide me along the way For if you lead me I cannot stray Or just open my eyes that I may see Lead me oh Lord, won't you lead me I am lost if you take your hand from me I am blind without try light to see Lord just always let me Thy servant be Lead me oh Lord, won't you lead me Lead me, guide me along the way For if you lead me I cannot stray Lord just open my eyes that I may see Lead me oh Lord, won't you lead me Personal testemony "Looking back in spite of excommunication and suicide in the family." b) Purify your intentions ( parent of decision) -Even in the court of Law, the judge considers the intention of the offender before judging. In closing : 1) "reach out and Touch somebody Today" 2) "let words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable to you God" 3) The greatest prayer you can even pray is to tell someone how much they mean and that you love them!     Who held the rope?
From the text of Act 9: 19b-31 cts 9:19-31 New International Version (NIV) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. What bring us to this topic now? This has been a 14 months season of big events:
I am certainly not the first person to study all the dynamics behind an event. I do not claim originality.
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the message was lost. For want of a message the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. This theme is ever new because the fact is ever new..... For an endeavor to succeed, whether a business, an orchestra, a hospital or a church, there must be a network of supporters, visible and invisible.
a) a disciple who always stayed backstage was Peter's brother , Andrew. Andrew played behind the curtain, was a "second fiddle" in the orchestra. He is a shining example for all of us, for sooner or later everyone must play the second fiddle do a backstage job. (escuse my overlapping metaphors) Andrew a) never preached a sermon. b) never wrote a gospel. c) never did a miracle. d) is never mentionned oustside the gospels Yet it was Andre who a) introduced his brother, brought Peter( imagine Christianity without Peter) b) introduced a Tourist from Ethiopia ( First example of the international characteristic of Christianity c)at the Outdoor stadium beside the sea, 5,000 people, Andrew brought the boywith the 2 dried fish and the 5 loaves. Everyone followed that example of Sharing. That is what Christians do. "Thank you Andrew" Miracle : everyone will follow a good example " Ratio b) Support troops: the seven needed to keep one fightingman at the battle front.Such a ratio is probably similar in any worth while human entreprise, and a second look at the 3 year campaign of Christ uncovers another example of support personnel. A few are mentionned, most are not. Matthews 27:55 comes close to the point : "Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs." Some are named Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. These amongs others unnamed to care for his/their needs. Support troops, behind the curtain, playing second fiddle, a piece of John Donne's continent. You are indispensible, destined to live at their time to fulfill the role that is your to play.
      Together We are Canada Drama moment ; July 1st : Together We Are Canada Poem by Leanne Guenther My name is British Columbia The jewel of the West Coast. Forestry and fishing are The things that I do most. Hi, I am Alberta A wild west kind of place With cows and oil and mountains And lots of open space. I am Manitoba And I’m Saskatchewan We’re the golden prairies Where fields of wheat grow in the sun Hi, I am Ontario The home of government To me each year the leaders Of our democracy are sent. Bonjour, I am Quebec Here French is my language too When I want to ask “how are you?” I say, “comment allez vous?” Newfoundland, New Brunswick And Nova Scotia -- those are we, We are Atlantic Provinces The three musketeers of the sea. I’m Prince Edward Island And I know I may be small But without me all the rest of you Would have no potatoes at all. The Yukon, Nunavut and North West Territories are up north. Through ice and cold and polar bears Few brave souls venture forth. Together we are Canada One nation strong and free With sharing, friends and happiness Forever we will be! Sermon By Harley Bye : Confederation of LOVE!
Networking made Confederation Canada day 2012 , 145th anniversary Text Psalm 72 :3-14 Psalm 72:8 King James Version (KJV) 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Words : Confederation - defines the union of colonies into one federal state, at the same time, keeping certain powers locally. Networking. In 1864, the independant British colonies of North America were in great danger. The American Civil War had just ended and the victorious North had built a powerful Victorian Army,chafing at the bit for more battles to fight. There was a movement in Washington to have the army march North and force those colonies remianing with Britain,to be part of the U.S.A.. The policy became known as "Manifest Destiny". "These colonies in question would be easy picking", separated asthey wereby miles and miles. Fom Newfoundland in the East, to British Colombia in the West Yhey would fall faster than dominoes in a playpen!" It was the political genius of John A. MacDonald that forged at least four of these colonies into one state ( Ontario, Québec, N.B., N.S.) United, they would put up a better defense. MacDonald's biggest headach was to get agreement of even few, and the worst migrain was liberal leader George Brown of Ontario (Upper Canada). George Brown was a bachelor, lonely, cranky, humorless, dour and jealous. He knew full-wellm that if the Confederation deal went through, John A MacDonald would go down in history as Canada's first Prime Minister. George Brown wanted that spot. He fought MacDonald on every point- untill 1864 when something mysterious happened : He changed his mind and became pleasant and cooperative. He jumped on board the Confederation ship helped to out-vote the remaining "nay sayers", and on July 1st 1867, Canada was born. (Our official name was the "Dominion of Canada" Ps 72 Only four province at first, others came later.(Today, 11 provinces adn 2 territories) But it is July 1st 1867 that we celebrate. What happened in 1864 that caused a quantum leap in George Brown? A leap to a higher orbit, with no explanation? What broke the log jam? What could possibly take a dour, jealous leader of opposition and make him a teary man? It was not a religious conversion. He was born Presbyterian, and died Presbyterian. The explanation that best fits is that he fell in love with a women: During a trop to England the story goes. May be apocryphal? It is on record that John A MacDonald found his second wife on the same trip to London in 1864. (His first wife had died 9 years before) It was certainly a new happiness that made them work to the coalition. A program on CBC radio 2 weeks ago claimed that their new wives and their loving influence made Confederation happen! Not in text books but credible indeed. On the stage of life, it is behind the curtain, off-stage , out-of sight, where the real networking happens which leads to successful endavours.... building a church, or a nation, or one's family, even a solid friendship. What we don't read in the newspaper or watch on TV is that very often, the real heroes are usually unknown/unknowable. Real heroes are often lost in the network. Today July 1st 2012, we celebrate Confederation of British Noth America. We are also honouring our Rockburn church's past with the content of the memory post. Documents going back 100 years, and together with the music stand, we state our belief in the future. Certainly the church. Today is far different than 100 years back.... No tuning fork, no long prayers or 1hourand a half sermon..... One of the iron laws in "God's unchanging hand" is the iron law of change. We can hardly imagine the church 50 years from now, butit will be different than we know. Somethings will be the same= people sharing, networking, communicatations and joining ain a coalition of friends for the greater good of all. God-creative energy Jesus of Nazareth- historical prophet who really lived Salvation by God's love- universal Brotherhood of all persons Continuous growth of mind and soul |
