Minister's Summer Letter 2013

"Hullo again”, in the words of the Reverend I M Jolly.

I cannot help but laugh every time I think of Rikki Fulton and his portrayal of a reverend that can be so typical of some minsters. A good burst of laughter is such a great stress reliever!

There are many times in my day where I cannot help but laugh either at myself or because of the things that     people tell me about life and things that have happened. I attended a conference recently which was quite serious but then someone made a remark that really relieved the tension in the whole room when everyone just started laughing.  He said that when he walks into some church buildings, he loses his will to live!

I think we can do with more laughter around without seeming shallow or ignoring reality. There is indeed “a time to laugh and a time to weep” according to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

This text is all about life and God’s control of time. The function of this section is to call us to a view of God’s sovereignty which both reassures and yet sobers the reader. It reassures because of God’s control; yet it sobers because God’s control remains mysterious. There is     purposefulness in life because of God’s oversight of its seasons. Time means here an ‘occasion’ or ‘season’; and an activity could be translated ‘purpose’ and pinpoints what one wishes to do.

Life is composed of joy and sorrow; building and destroying; and living and dying. Each comes at the    proper time. We are in God’s hands. It is only when death comes knocking on our doors that we realize how mortal and finite we are. It is then that we have to confess that God is the creator of heaven, earth and time. It is only He who will decide when our final hour comes.

But God is also a God of mercy and love. He knew that human beings would never find happiness and fulfillment in life without His help and guidance. Through Jesus Christ He made sure that everyone who believes in Him will not die but have eternal life with him forever and  ever.

There is indeed a time to enjoy life; to value time with family; and appreciate the summer. We must make the most of every moment so that when the hard times do appear, we can face them without sorrow, bitterness or guilt.

So when we cry, may we use all our vocal cords to express our sorrow and sense of loss, and when we laugh, may we do it with everyone around us!

All my blessings and a Blessèd summer,
André