Dear friends,
My interest in the city of Chicago began when I met a professional hockey player who played there and returned to Montreal in the summers to visit his parents, who lived on the same street as I did. Reggie Fleming died a number of years ago, never having seen a World Series victory by the Chicago Cubs. Earlier this morning, the 108-year-drought ended, as a Christian, Ben Zobrist, helped his team to victory in what was one of the most exciting baseball games ever played. When Karen and I were in Phoenix in March, we went to a church where we saw an interview with Ben. A few days later, I went to a spring training game between the Cubs and the Royals, the team with which Zobrist won the World Series in 2015. Today he became the fourth player in baseball history to win consecutive championships with teams in both leagues.
Although Ben Zobrist was chosen as the Most Valuable Player in the World Series, I am sure that he would rather talk about the accomplishment of his team, rather than individual achievements. The church should reflect this attitude as well. The Bible teaches that believers in Christ are members of the body of Christ. We need each other. Sadly, as we visit people in various places, we hear of disunity and friction in many churches.
Last week, Pastor Michel Martel recorded a series of messages entitled “La joie de vivre” (“The joy of living”) which will be aired on the broadcasts of “La Voix de l’Évangile” in the coming months, Lord willing. In these messages, Michel discusses the sad situation of Christians who are not displaying the joy of the Lord. Sometimes, believers disobey the Word of God by staying at home, instead of worshipping God with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).
October was Clergy Appreciation Month. Our pastor and his wife spent a week in Florida, enjoying a well-deserved rest. Just as a shepherd works hard to care for sheep that have different needs, so, too, a pastor and his wife have a huge responsibility in caring for the spiritual needs of people.
One brother in Christ who ministered to many people across North America was Billy Speer. We were saddened to learn that Billy’s voice was stilled last week, after a long battle with dementia. Our prayers are with his wife, Paula, and their son, BJ, as they grieve. Photos and more information about this wonderful servant of the Lord are online at: www.billyspeer.com
Thought for the weekend: “The Bible tells us Satan loses and we win in the end. But in the interim, he is on the attack. All we have to do is be alert and wear the armor God has provided in order to make it safely through.” – Dr. David Jeremiah (from his study guide “Spiritual Warfare: Terms of Engagement”)
By His grace,
Steve