I appreciated the Nov. 24 editorial. I concur that we seem much more concerned with the physical/material than the spiritual. We fail to recognize that the more we are concerned about the one, the less we are interested in the other.
I was surprised Jim didn't mention materialism as one of those things which are "absolute poison to the soul". Jesus often warned about the dangers of riches (Matthew 13:22, 19:23; Mark 10:25; Luke 6:24; James 5).
Waldo Thiessen's "Are we missing something?" and his quote from Mary Stewart (Nov. 24) were right on. God generally does not force Himself on people. He allows us to choose to open ourselves to His moving. If we choose to pray at our convenience, we are not really pouring out ourselves in prayer for His pouring out of His spirit.
If prayer is really important to us, we will make time for it. As Joel Coppieters suggests (Nov. 24), we need to set apart priority time for our communion with God--a time that we will be able to keep regularly. For me, this is from 6:00-7:00 a.m.--when I am least likely to be interrupted. To help me be more alert, I go for a half-hour walk as I pray. After my walk, I am awake to read what God will want to say to me in the Scriptures.
How important is a time for prayer? Is it as important as leisure time? Family time? Work time? Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Our hearts will be fixed on those things for which we make the most time. I realize that we can pray as we do other things. But do we?
Let's "pray without ceasing". If God seems to not be hearing, He simply wants to draw us closer. Perseverance in prayer will never go unrewarded, although the reward may be quite different from what we were expecting.
"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land" (II Chronicles 7:14). Notice the do words, the conditions of God's forgiveness and healing. Let's covenant together to be more diligent and fervent in prayer (James 5:16).
Thanks for the many encouraging articles.
Martin Penner,
New Hazelton, B.C.
I wonder what my evaluation would look like if Wally Unger gave me a report card? Would he give me an "A" for heart and a failure on hand? What kind of report would our pastor give me based on my church attendance and on my performance in touching the lives of the needy and the lonely? What kind of report card would my non-Christian business associates, customers and friends give me on the hand performance?
I need to know when I have walked the first mile, so that I can touch lives by walking the second. The second mile is the tough one, because I have spent so much time on the first.
I hope that the pilgrimage Wally speaks of in the last paragraph becomes a part of my spiritually balanced life. I can't do everything, but what I can do, I must do.
J. Klippenstein,
Langley, B.C.
I loved the Dec. 8 editorial. It takes a big person to poke fun at him or herself.
Re the recent changes to layout: Please don't do away with the baptismal pictures. If anything has to go in the new layout, I think you can cut out the marriages and births--but I'd like to see you keep the obituaries. Perhaps this opinion is a sign of an aging baby boomer.
Larry S. Schmidt
Surrey, B.C.
The concept that our conference be concerned only with its internal growth is prevalent in many of our more progressive churches. I know of one church where the missions fund was referred to as a slush fund--a fund you dipped into when funds were inadequate to cover "more important" local programs. Many of the older members discontinued giving to that church; they diverted their giving to their favourite mission projects by sending their tithes and offerings direct.
I realize that the face of missions has changed. The need to "go out into all the world" has not. There should be a balance in monies spent on the home and foreign fronts--a healthy division would be 50-50.
Peter Hamm,
Kelowna, B.C.
To those involved with planning these events: Are you aware of your responsibility to convey the right message to these impressionable young lives? Only God can give you the divine guidance; please do not neglect seeking it. Our youth, as never before, need nurturing to prepare them to become salt in a needy and hurting society. God will hold us responsible if we compromise the guidelines for Christian living and cause them to stray.
Wilma Isaak,
Medstead, Sask.
Michelle Cook,
Kelowna, B.C.