P.M. Arg#40005401 $1.50 For the promotion of NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publication Assistance Program towards our mailing costs. Vol. 74, No. 8 TORONTO, ONTARIO August 2009 Winnipeg: Central congregation’s new location at 170 St. Mary’s Road—a short distance from Winnipeg’s downtown (See report on page 17). FROM: Gospel Herald Foundation Telephone: 416-461-7406 • FAX: 416-424-1850 5 Lankin Blvd., Toronto, ON M4J 4W7 www.gospelherald.org Seeing the Picture Richard Kruse en Words totally changed and tribulations that may be neces- else that does not look like a lotus”. Pierre’s life. He remembered sary to arrive at their goal. He used Pierre began to understand that Tthe exact time ten years ago the following example: “Suppose you success comes from knowing what when he heard something that bought a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle he wants. For things to change, he changed his way of thinking and with no picture on the box showing must have a picture of what he wants living. Until that day he had been what the final result should look like. them to change to. If he wished to struggling through life. It seemed You could, perhaps assemble the be successful in school or business, to him that he was doing everything puzzle without the picture. However, he must begin to picture that suc- the hard way. He was discouraged it would be a difficult task. On the cess. Then, he will picture himself that his life was so difficult. He knew other hand those who have a clear as a success. Now he focuses on the other people who lived life with less picture of what the end result looks actions he must take to complete his effort, less tension, less frustration, like will be more likely to complete journey to success. less debt. It seemed that he could not the puzzle. The clearer the picture, “But remember” Maurice said, successfully complete anything. He the greater the desire to complete “in many ways the journey will be thought he could never have what he the puzzle”. more important than the goal itself, believed to be a satisfying, abundant, The people who have a clear and because in the journey you will rewarding life. specific picture of the outcome are become the person you must be in On that special day he was lis- simply working the way the brain order to arrive finally at your goal. tening to Maurice, a teacher who works. The brain moves people Therefore, when you reach your was talking about dreams, goals, toward the pictures they hold in their goal, you will see a new person, the and success. Pierre had listened to mind. These people (a) clearly know person you have become. Then you many teachers, but it seemed as if their goal, (b) begin doing things that can set a new goal so that you can nothing worked for him. Maurice’s lead toward that goal, (c) stop doing continue to grow and develop.” life-changing statement was simple; things that will not take them to the Ten years later, Maurice’s words to he thought he had heard it before. goal, (d) keep their goal clearly in Pierre continue to ring true: “Things But this time, Pierre really heard it mind, (e) are attracted to the people will change when you clearly picture and he wrote down the ten words. He and situations that move them closer the desired result”. read them over and over again. He to the mental picture they keep in couldn’t believe it was so basic and mind. Spiritual Maturity simple. Yet the ten words affirm the Maurice continued, “If you wish to Our “desired result” is spiritual same basic principle that successful make a wooden sculpture of a lotus maturity. Our Most Gracious God is people have been using throughout plant, yet you hold clearly in your willing to help us to achieve it, if we the ages: “Things will change when mind a picture of the purple grapes, surrender our lives to him and let him you clearly picture the desired what will be the result? To make lead us. Remember that for things result.” It is that simple. Change the sculpture out of wood, will you to change, we must have a picture begins when you clearly picture what spend your time, money and energy of what we want them to change to. you desire the change to look like. gathering metal or plastic? Rather, As well, the stronger our desires to you will focus on finding the best become spiritually mature, the more Solving the Puzzle piece of wood. A true artist ‘sees’ likely we will achieve it. People who view themselves as the lotus in the block of wood and The Bible, through teaching and failures frequently fail. Successful then begins to remove everything examples, helps people develop a people may fail at times - but picture of spiritual matu- they do not see themselves as rity. Yet, people can learn failures. Maurice pointed out NOTICE the facts and doctrines con- that to be successful, people This is the second issue of the Gospel Herald to tained in the Bible and not must know exactly what be mailed from Toronto. With the closing of the grow spiritually. Therefore, they want to achieve. They it is important to study and move toward the pictures bookstore, volunteers from Strathmore have taken meditate on the Scripture, they constantly hold in their on this responsibility and must learn the Canada allowing a picture of spiritual minds. Therefore, the clearer Post requirements for preparing the magazine for maturity to develop within the picture the better will be mailing. Therefore, if this issue is late in arriving us. It is important to remem- the results. This will enable to you, please be patient with us as we master the ber that the life-changing them to go through the trials mailing process. mec story presented in the Bible Page 2 Gospel Herald begins with the picture of a loving Consider the principle of purity. God There will likely be setbacks and God who desires a close relationship purifies us when we surrender our occasional self-doubts on the road to with people. This is the relationship will and lives to Him. God, who is our maturity. We will need patience Adam and Eve had with God until pure, also “purifies us from all sin” as and persistence. But it’s important sin separated them (Genesis 1-3). we walk in his fellowship (1 John 1:7; to keep moving toward our personal Spiritual maturity is the way for 3:3). Therefore, those who desire to goal by practising the principles people to develop a closer relation- become spiritually mature, practise given in the Holy Scriptures. If we ship with God. being pure. This is not easy in our keep growing, refusing to give up, Everyone who wants to grow cultures. Suppose we face temptation and staying as positive as we can, learns to change. But what evi- and have impure thoughts. We can we will reach our goal. dences are there that a person has practise being pure and not surren- Begin your morning with this changed? The book of James urges der to the impure action. If we can simple prayer: “Holy God, let my eyes us to become spiritually mature so strongly picture ourselves being pure be open to your presence and your that we will not be “like a wave of the and act like a pure person, God will will throughout this day. Work in and sea, blown and tossed by the wind” change our lives to become a picture through me.” Picture yourself hon- (James 1:6). He helps us develop of purity. ouring God in all you do: Exercising a clear and practical picture. For We must understand that our thankfulness, turning frustrations example, peace, patience and stabil- strength comes from God who into learning patience, serving others ity are evident in the changed lives of enables us to picture what we want as service to God, celebrating their the spiritually mature (James 3:17). to be. Keeping the picture of spiritual successes, being a friend to those Once we have this picture in mind, maturity firmly in mind during our discouraged or in distress. Commit we need to know how to reach that activities today will move us closer yourself to practise spiritual maturity. goal. The simple answer is, depend and closer to the spiritual maturity End your day thanking God for on God to work in us. According to we desire. It will enable us to go the times when your actions moved the Apostle Paul, “it is God who works through the necessary trials and you closer to the picture of spiritual in you to will and to act according to tribulations so that we can reach maturity. his good purpose” (Philippians 2:15). our goal. Toronto, ON We Want to Advertise Your Congregation on… • We need pictures of the outside of your meeting place (four or five different shots would be useful) • Picture of your sign • If possible, a picture of a sign showing service times (or just print out the information you wish given on the programme) • We need contact information (address of the meeting place, phone #s etc) For best display, pictures need to be 800 X 600 pixel size and at least 172 dpi Email pictures and information to: [email protected] OR Mail prints and information to Key To The Kingdom, Strathmore Blvd Church of Christ, 346 Strathmore Blvd., Toronto, ON M4C 1N3 August 2009 Page 3 We worship another King.