Taber Christian Reformed Church, Taber, Alberta, Canada

Personal message by Pastor Jim Zondervan:

A Point to Ponder (from the August 1 2010 Bulletin)

“How are you feeling today?” is a rather common question, especially if someone has been unwell for a while. Feelings and emotions can change from day to day, and at times it might seem as though we are on an emotional roller coaster. One thing is certain, no matter how we might feel on any given day, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). As an Afro-American spiritual puts it: “Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, but still I know I’m heavenward bound”. Whether we’re feeling up or down, feeling well or not, faith confesses: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. I am at peace with God, and I’m heavenward bound.” May God bless us as we prepare to celebrate those truths in Communion next Sunday morning.

Pastor Jim.

A Point to Ponder (from the July 25 2010 Bulletin)

Today a vast amount of knowledge is available to us via the internet. With the touch of a few keys, the answers to many questions can be found. Much information is at our fingertips. Yet many mysteries remain. This morning we will sing a hymn (No. 495) that recognizes the limits of human understanding. For example, we cannot comprehend God’s saving grace to us (Stanza 1). We cannot explain our spiritual birth (Stanza 2). We cannot understand the work of God’s Spirit (Stanza 3). We cannot predict the future (Stanza 4). All we know for certain is that the Lord is with us, in good times and in difficult moments, in “weary ways” as well as in “golden days” (Stanza 4). Thank God for that!

Pastor Jim.

A Point to Ponder (from the July 18 2010 Bulletin)

It has been said that a friend is someone who knows all about you, and loves you anyway. Joseph M. Scriven was a man who needed a true friend. His life was filled with personal tragedy, grief, and trials. An immigrant to Canada, Scriven wrote some words to accompany a letter to his mother, who was ill in far-off Ireland. Those words comprise the hymn known today as “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord and gracious Savior. If we respond to Him in faith and obedience, He is also our Friend (John 15:13-15), who knows all about us, and loves us anyway. Thank God for this Friend, and for all other good friends. May we in turn be good friends--friends who look for the good in others; friends who point people to our mutual Friend, Jesus; friends who bring the concerns and problems of others to Christ (Mark 2:1-5. Read the comment on Mark 2:5 in the NIV Study Bible.)

Pastor Jim.

A Point to Ponder (from the July 11 2010 Bulletin)

Many members of our congregation will be cheering for Holland today. I have roots in Friesland and Groningen, so I too hope that the World Cup will soon be in “orange” hands. Even though we do not live there, our loyalty (when it comes to soccer) lies with that country. Spiritually speaking, our ultimate loyalty, our ultimate allegiance, is to “a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). The Apostle Paul wrote: “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20. Also see Hebrews 12:22-24). Because we are “strangers in the world” (I Peter 1:1), we strive to follow God’s will: “Set your hearts on things above…Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). World Cup tournaments are enjoyable, but not crucial. Earthly life will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.

Pastor Jim.

A Point to Ponder (from the July 4 2010 Bulletin)

F.B. Meyer wrote: “Earthly prosperity is no sign of the special love of heaven; nor are sorrow and care any mark of God’s disfavour.” In both prosperity and adversity, sickness and health, success and failure, God loves us, and provides what we need. Mr Meyer urges us to be “pupils in the school of God’s love”: “Let us be prepared for any lessons that may be given from the blackboard of sorrow; let us be so assured of the inexhaustible tenacity of His love as to dare to trust Him though He slay us” (see Job 13:15). The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that because we are aware of God’s creation and providence “we can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from His love” (Answer 28).

Pastor Jim.

Welcome
		Pastor Jim