The fact that a large number of the worshippers in the 10:00 am service at City Mission are believers that are “less mature” than those at the 11.00 a.m. service does not count them out as being of the church of Jesus Christ! 

Paul spoke to the Corinthian church as “brothers,” yet they arguably had more problems than what many of the “street people” suffer from. These were believers who had been saved for some years, yet Paul berates them in 1 Cor. 3:3 [as being] yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  Where could you find a church today where this does not occur?    Yet God sees through all that; He sees the heart.  The fact is that even in buildings that are considered “established mature churches,” the vast majority of the believers aren’t there to give but to take or be entertained.

On any given Sunday morning, at around 9:30 a.m., Albert and Isobel Johnston or Kay Kerr arrive to find some people already lined up for the 10:00 a.m. service, willing to help if anything is to be carried in.  The side doors are opened and everyone files in, the men respectfully removing their assortment of caps in respect to the sanctuary where week after week the gospel is proclaimed.  There is a definite aura of peace in this place!

By 9:40, volunteer greeters at the entrance hand out hymnbooks, also acting as ushers and enforcers if ever an incident were to occur, which has been very rare.  At the front, Dave Robertson, the song leader is contemplating the selection of songs and chorus to be sung.  In the kitchen, workers led by Kay Kerr, our City Mission matron, are busy separating and sorting sandwiches and treats to make sure every needy one who comes gets an equal share.  It’s apparent they enjoy and take their ministry seriously.

By 9:55 Kay will have found her place at the piano, a thing she first did  65 years ago when she was 14 in 1939.  A very talented musician, her life-long commitment and faithfulness to her Saviour is very evident.

At 10:00 the assembled are greeted and the opening prayer offered.  Next we sing a chorus from an assortment of bristol board placards.  After this, three hymns are sung often with lively gusto by almost everyone!  More prayer is presented to God, and then the speaker (a different one every week) presents God’s Living Word!  The service finishes with a closing prayer at between 10:30 and 10:35 a.m.

Immediately,workers spring into action bringing the prepared food and drinks out to be distributed to attendees first followed by those waiting outside for handouts.  On the three occasions in the past two years when sandwiches had not been prepared, all assembled stayed to listen to the message, although given the chance to leave!  Many of the attendees often linger outside and discuss what they’d heard with workers. Many apparent decisions for Christ have been made this way!
So far this year, 10 requests for baptism were voiced.  Albert Johnston is anxious to baptize them soon, preferably at Philpott.  Some have also asked to do chores in an attempt to repay  what God has performed in their lives through both City Mission and Albert Johnston’s “Mount of Olives” ministry.

City Mission is decidedly non-denominational and non-partisan.

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Congratulations to [private name], Aaron Smith & Deanna Wu being baptized on August 15 during the first service.

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On Sunday afternoons from February to November I enjoy being in our family room, watching  NASCAR.  My favorite driver is Mark Martin, driving the number 6 Pfizer Ford.  I also enjoy going to my boys’ sports events with my wife.  My younger son, Joel, and I fished together over 200 hours last summer.  At home, my wife and I had to do some minor repairs to our bathroom floor and my older son will be re-doing our kitchen floor with ceramic tile.  I support my family by selling automotive replacements parts.  So…, that’s me.  Now what about you?  Do you have similar stories or other interests?

At work each day, I answer the phone at least 100 times.  Every phone call has at least one thing in common! That “thing” is contact between two people who depend on each other to help provide for themselves.

Recently I have been reading the stories of  Eli, Saul, Samuel and David in the Book of Samuel.  These men worked with people to help develop a nation for God.  The point that I’ve noticed, is that they were with other men who were heading in the same “life’s direction”.  At times mistakes were made and some lessons learned the hard way.

At Philpott, I have noticed many men tend to stand on the outside of the events of the church;  I was one of them.  Men have the tendency to lead at home and be quiet and passive about their lives at church.  I have often thought “how neat it would be to have a group of men helping each other” to become the men that God intends us to be.  I for one am looking for others to help me along my journey.  I did not come from a Christian home and so I do not have an example of one to follow; I often just “fly by the seat of my pants”.  I know of other men who are in the same boat as me, and others who were raised in Christian homes.  Regardless of our up bringing, as men we face tests and temptations everyday that threaten to tear our lives apart.

I was speaking with an acquaintance some time ago.  I was telling him of a particular struggle that I was facing.  We met together a number of times to specifically talk about this struggle.  It felt so good to be able to speak with someone who was not only willing to take the time to listen, but to provide the practical help that I so desperately needed.   We are now friends who are helping each other in our “life’s direction”.

Where am I going with this letter?  I know many would say “YES” if  the “magical key to a better life” were offered to them.  I am not offering that! We as men of Philpott Church  have the opportunity to help overselves, and each other  to become what God intends men to be,  regardless of age or  station in life.  Eli, Samuel, Saul and David helped themselves when they went to God for help. Our church has a group of men who are interested in helping each other in all areas of life.  They would like to include you and your friends as well.

Pastor Lane and I are planning a 1-1/2 hour time slot once a week where men will meet for a time of teaching/instructing, table discussion and food.  I am asking you to think about this, talk to your family and friends or me about your involvement in this. The material to be presented is not only practically proven for the issues WE face today, but is applicable for those who regualrly attend church,  AND  those who almost never enter its doors.

Lane and I would like to interact with you about the launch of our MEN’S COMMUNITY in November, as a followup to our 40 Days of Purpose.

Gerald L’Abbe
Men’s Community Administrator
gerald_labbe@yahoo.ca

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A friend of mine has written a tongue-in-cheek song about a certain reluctance to go home for Christmas due to the strained relationships that always seem to characterize these once-a-year family get-togethers. I have witnessed his performance of this song numerous times, and every time it receives a boisterous response from the audience. If the perfect family exists somewhere, I haven’t found it yet, and I would venture to guess you haven’t either. It stands to reason, therefore, that our spiritual families will be plagued by the same limitations that characterize our physical families. There is no perfect small group, no perfect church, no perfect community.

The issue for our fellowship, therefore, is not to be free of problems, but to be free of pretense. Conflict, disagreements or differences of opinion are not the enemy of good relationships—dishonesty is. We can go through anything together if we are committed to two things—the truth about ourselves, and the permanency of our relationships in the Body of Christ.

These two things are absolutely necessary for a good relationship: telling the truth, and a tenacious refusal to walk away. My wife and I have a joke about this. We tell people that we have simply decided that divorce is out of the question as a solution to our problems: “Murder maybe, but not divorce!”

Imagine if we had the same tenacity towards each other in the Body of Christ What would happen if the ending or the avoidance of any relationship in Christ were simply not an option.

If you think about it, even if we make it an option, it has to be only temporary, because we are all headed to our eternal home in heaven where all differences, factions and grudges will be erased forever. Like we used to say in the Jesus movement: We’re going to be together forever, so we might as well start getting used to each other now. There are no exit doors in the family of God.  
 
Contributed by Bill Tufts

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