BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
212th Edition – October 13, 2024
THANKSGIVING
May we take this opportunity to wish our readers a very happy Thanksgiving. As Christians we have so much for which to thank the Lord. We live in a land that has been greatly blessed of God. We can echo the words of Moses “It is a good land that the Lord our God doth give us.”[Deuteronomy 1:25].
Many in the world today live in a world of war, or where great natural disasters take place. Canada is bereft of most of these problems. It is not perfect, but any troubles it has are mostly man made.
Every time we enter a grocery store, and look at the shelves stocked with the best of food, we should quietly say, “Thank you Lord for Thy great goodness.” We have an abundance of fresh and clean water, and a plethora of natural minerals.
We are good at complaining when things don’t seem to be going our way. Time would be better spent in thanking God for His multiplied blessings. As the hymn reminds us, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” At this thanksgiving period may we spend just a little extra time thanking the Lord for His loving care and tender mercies, for “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” [Psalm 92:1].
A SAD ANNIVERSARY
On Monday past Jewish people all over the world remembered the first anniversary of the dastardly attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas. They murdered over 1200 Jewish citizens and took several hundred hostages.
Since that time there has been attack and counter-attack involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Lebanon and Iran. Iran released 180 rockets against Israel, but the western nations had little real condemnation for Iran and saved most of their invective for Israel.
The situation in the middle east is very like what was prophesied by Zechariah.
Over 2,500 years ago Zechariah foretold that the Lord would “Gather all nations together to battle” against Jerusalem. [Zechariah 14:1]. Israel has stated they are fighting a war on “seven fronts.” That sounds a bit like Zechariah’s prophecy.
Israel, that was made a nation in 1948, has been fighting for survival ever since. Its enemies from childhood are taught to hate the Jews and deny Israel’s very existence.
However, Zechariah speaks of a day when the Lord will step in to help unbelieving Israel and will fight for them. Their enemies shall die in what seems like nuclear radiation [Zechariah 14:12]. The result will be that “Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” [Zechariah 14:11].
It seems the Jews will recognize Jesus as their Messiah, and a “remnant according to the election of grace” [Romans 11:5] shall be “graffed into their own olive tree” [Romans 11:24]. There is much for sober thought here.
As believers we should familiarize ourselves with the latter chapters of Zechariah.
THE MINISTERS’ WEEK OF PRAYER
The semi-annual week of prayer for our Free Presbyterian ministers, missionaries, and elders was held in Cloverdale B.C. last week. It is held each May and October.
Each day one of the brethren brings a message from God’s Word, followed by prayer from 10am to 1pm. There is a break for lunch and at 2pm the presbytery business sessions commence. These are led by the current Moderator of Presbytery, who this year is our own minister, Dr. Larry Saunders. Moderators serve for two years. He is assisted by the Clerk of Presbytery, currently Dr. Stephen Pollock of Malvern in Philadelphia.
Those who are unable to be present in person can join prayer and business sessions on Zoom. This is a great help, especially for those on far-off mission fields.
The first week of prayer was held nearly 40 years ago in Greenville SC with just seven men present. Those early days were great times of prayer. The only one who was at the inaugural meeting, and also in Cloverdale in person this week, was Rev. Geoff Bannister, of Indianapolis, who was a student minister then. Time makes great changes, and as they say, prayer changes things.
