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COMMITTED TO SEEING GOD’S KINGDOM FURTHERED THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL PARISHES, MINISTRIES AND INDIVIDUALS THRESHOLD MINISTRIES STANDING TOGETHER, SHARING THE HOPE Inside: MARCH 2012 Revisiting the Story so Far Meet Our Team Street Hope: Helping Hands Kenya: Church Army Africa Spilling Bowls Auditors Report Love and Lent

"The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

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Threshold Ministries Newsletter, "The Candle", Spring/Summer 2012 Edition.

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Page 1: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

COMMITTED TO SEEING

GOD’S KINGDOM FURTHERED

THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH

LOCAL PARISHES, MINISTRIES

AND INDIVIDUALS

THRESHOLD MINISTRIESSTANDING TOGETHER,

SHARING THE HOPE

Inside:

MARCH 2012

Revisiting the Story so FarMeet Our Team

Street Hope: Helping Hands Kenya: Church Army Africa

Spilling BowlsAuditors Report

Love and Lent

Page 2: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

Shawn has been involved in Christian ministry for over a decade and was commissioned as an Evangelist in 2004. He has worked at the National Office for Threshold Ministries since 2007, first as Communications Officer and then as Assistant National Director. Shawn has experience in training and equipping individuals and churches to fulfill their missionary potential. His passion is helping people to recognize their gifts, be confident in them and thrive. He is married to Hilary and is pursuing his Masters in Ministry degree through St Stephen’s University.

Shawn C. BranchAssistant National DirectorDip.E.S. (Taylor College), M.Min Candidate (SSU)

WELCOMERevisiting the Story So Far...Recently, I was reading N.T. Wright’s book, Simply Christian. Wright bril-liantly captures the struggle and tension that those who are questioning Chris-tian faith have to balance. It called to mind a conversation that I had with someone recently, who considered herself to be “Christian friendly”, but had not made a commitment for herself.

In our conversation, I asked her what was holding her back from having a relationship with Christ. She indicated that we shared the same values but that there were parts of what she saw in the Church and in other Christians that she couldn’t agree with. I pressed a bit further and found out some specifics of what she struggled with, and she was surprised to find out that I actually had the same concerns and issues.

She asked how I was able to have faith while having these questions. The reality is that this struggle is part of our faith – we maintain our faith, while questioning, and while knowing the beauty that is awaiting us.

In Simply Christian, Wright says that the church is “a place of welcome and laughter, of healing and hope, of friends and family and justice and new life. It’s where the homeless drop in for a bowl of soup and the elderly stop by for a chat. It’s where one group is working to help drug addicts and another is campaigning for global justice. It’s where you’ll find people learning to pray, coming to faith, struggling with temptation, finding new purpose, and getting

in with a new power to carry that purpose out…No church is like this all the time. But a remarkable number of churches are partly like that for a quite a lot of the time.”

This has been a similar experience for our Evangelists in the past year. As you read through this update, you’ll find stories of hope being restored and how broken lives have been transformed. As a ministry, we were incredibly blessed by the opportunities that we had been given. Many supporters gave over and above their normal gifts. This meant that we were able to invest further into areas of ministry that we likely would not have been able to.

Whether on the street, in the church, in a coffee shop, a nursing home or correctional fa-cility – Threshold evangelists are bringing the Good News of Jesus to those in need. Thank you for joining with us and for partnering with us. There are many opportunities that are in development for ministry and training, as well as strengthening the Church.

Would you join with me in praying for blessing and God’s provision for the year ahead? As individuals and as a ministry, may we experience and see others come to be part of the “place of welcome and laughing, of heal-ing and hope…of justice and new life.” A nobody, trying to tell everybody about Somebody,

Shawn C. Branch

Board of Directors: John W. Irwin - Chair Ian Grant - Treasurer Peter Bloom - Past-Chair Andrew Barker Kathy Bell Terry Buckle

Help UsSpread the Word

Word of mouth has always been our best point of con-nection with new supporters and candidates for ministry. Perhaps you know of an individual who shares the same passion for sharing the Love of Jesus that we do. Start a conversation in person or online or pass on a copy of this newsletter; you may be pleasantly surprised to find out someone has an interest or faith that you had no idea about. Get up to date news and share God’s love with all your friends and support-ers instantly and across the Country:

A registered Canadian charity. Affiliated with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the

Canadian Council of Christian Charities.

@thresholdmin

/thresholdministries

Page 3: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

Mike HughesAccountant

B Comm (Dalhousie)

Amy StewartCommunications Officer

Photography and Visual Arts (NBCCD)

Shauna HooperAdministrative Assistant

BA Sociology (UNB)

Bruce SmithNational Director

Jacqueline Ervin-YeomansFundraising Officer

MEET OUR TEAM

National OfficeSaint John, New Brunswick

Jacqueline has a diversified background in administration, management of residential properties, fundraising and event planning. Her experience includes volunteering her time towards many different entities. She has helped with events including the Children’s Wish Foundation annual Wish Parade as well as working annually with the Salvation Army on their Christmas Kettle Campaign and Gift Placement Program. Jacqueline and her husband have 2 children and have just welcomed their 5th grandchild into their lives. Her commitment to her family embraces strong family values, as she is a Christian dedicated to Christ. Jacqueline oversees all fundraising initiatives and activities for Threshold Ministries and its projects.

Commissioned in 1976, Bruce has been privileged to serve in prison, seafarer’s and hospital chaplaincy, with congregational and regional youth ministry, church-based and regional missions and occasional mission events in Australia, Kenya, Great Britain, Jamaica and Barbados. Bruce began serving in the National Office in 1987, spent seven years as Assistant National Director and in 1994, was appointed as National Director. He is married to Carol with two sons - Dan (& Heather) and Steven. Bruce is responsible for the overall oversight for the ministry and personnel support.

Shauna comes to us with a strong background in customer service and administration. She is keenly interested in Sociology and studied at the University of New Brunswick. Shauna volunteers at the local hospital and helps with leading the children’s ministry at All Saints; where she is joined by her children, Kayden and Dominic. While pursuing her studies, she gave some of her time to AIDS Saint John. It was during this time that she developed the AIDS Walk program, which continues to this day raising awareness and funds for AIDS Saint John. Shauna is providing administrative support to the National Office and is the first contact with visitors and supporters in the office.

Mike has spent most of his professional career as an external auditor with CRA, as an internal auditor with federal and provincial governments, and as owner/operator of several accounting/payroll companies specializing in financial management services to small and medium size businesses. Mike has a strong commitment to community, and has a long history of volunteering with organizations that focus on children and sports, for which he has won numerous awards. He also volunteers his time and financial expertise with various non-profit community groups. Over the last 25 years, Mike has lived in Halifax NS and recently he and his wife moved to Saint John to be closer to family

Amy has a strong background in Photography, Design and Digital Editing/Imaging. A graduate of the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design specializing in visual arts and photography, Amy has worked with many photographers, artists and has 6 years with an IT firm under her belt. She comes equipped with experience in communications through advertising, print, web and social media. Amy lives in a little yellow house beside the ocean on the west side of Saint John with her husband, Jordan and their dog, Dexter. She is an accomplished musician, playing in a number of different bands and is on the worship team at Saint John Vineyard. Amy oversees all communications and media for Threshold Ministries and its projects.

Page 4: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

CANADAHelping Hands Across

As I have an opportunity to review the past few months of ministry in Street Hope Peterborough, I give praise to Jesus for all of His faithfulness in touching the lives of many people who need His mercy and grace and love so desperately in their lives. I am also very thankful to God for all of His wonderful pro-visions for this important work in this city. In my praise to our wonderful, faithful God, who provides for our every need, I rejoice in all of the faithful supporters who pray for this work and support it with your financial gifts. It is your commitment and Christian love that con-tinues to sustain this ministry that is offering

STREET HOPE OUTREACH ACROSS CANADADEDICATED TO HELPING ADDICTS, PROSTITUTES, CONVICTS, HOMELESS, AND RUNAWAYS

STAY TUNED NEXT TIME FOR A LOOK INTO ANOTHER STREET HOPE IN CANADA

those we are serving an opportunity to find eter-nal hope in Jesus Christ.Jesus has been working in many ways in the lives of people through the out-reach we are offering. He is touching hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit as He works to trans-form broken hopeless lives with His grace and mercy. The accomplishments we are achieving would not be possible without the com-passionate help of a team of people who just want to make a difference in the lives of others because of

what Jesus has done in their lives! I am so thankful to God for the whole-hearted commitment of every person who gives their time and talents to this ministry that is making an investment, for an eternity, in the lives of people who have so many struggles. Without the gracious help that these people are making this ministry would not be assisting so many hurting individuals.Would you continue to join me in praising Jesus for all of the great work He is accomplishing in the lives of people through this minis-try at this time and pray with me that God will enable us to contin-ue to expand this outreach to touch more lives with His great love?

It is exciting to see Jesus working in the hearts of people in this city and to know that He is able to accomplish more then we could ever hope for in our lives. Thank you again for your faithfulness in supporting the ministry of Street Hope Peterborough. You are a great blessing to me and to those we are serving!

by Darrin Gaudreau

GIVING THEM HOPE IN PETERBOUROUGH

• monthly hair cutting program at The Brock Mission• movie and meal twice a month at The Mercy of God Church• The Mercy Centre that offers furniture and food to help rebuild troubled lives• individual support to people who need housing, government assis-tance, substance abuse programs and other resources for their lives• ongoing support and ministry to people who are growing in their relationships with Christ

Our current outreaches include:

Page 5: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

When I first decided to make a trip to visit Church Army Africa in Kenya, I was not sure what to expect. Most of the ideas I had about Africa were formed from TV advertising by various aid organizations which showed utter poverty. I was surprised to find Nairobi to be a very modern city. While being a modern city; it still has problems of poverty as more and more people come flooding to the city in hopes of a better life, and end up living in small temporary dwellings with entire families living in one or

two rooms. In the midst of these conditions, I was overjoyed to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ going forward. On my first day in Nairobi, I visited the Headquarters for Church Army Africa, where I learned about many of the exciting projects they are undertaking including running schools and colleges, as well as creating special context focused training to better equip their staff for various ministries.

The rest of the time was spent working alongside two Church

Army Africa officers, doing a lot of home visits where we had many opportunities to share the Gospel. This was in St. Jerome Parish within Kibera, one of the slums of Nairobi, working with some of the poorest people in the city. Each day we had many home visits during which we saw several people make the decision to start following Jesus. During my time there I also was able to preach at St. Andrews Church, one of four churches in St. Jerome parish. Another highlight was helping out in the parish youth ministry including a sports day at a local field. Besides sports we held a youth forum where we discussed various spiritual issues the youth were dealing with. I greatly enjoyed my time with Church Army Africa and would recommend it to anyone looking for a chance to see what God in doing in another culture.

Rob Langmaid serves as the Youth Coordinator in the Diocese of Yukon and oversees a parish that is 500 km wide by 400 km long. The densely packed housing and hot African sun were a dramatic change from the frigid tundra of the Yukon, but Rob, Godfrey, and Moses (pictured below) bonded during a week of intensive door-to-door evangelism and youth meetings. Several residents gave their lives to Christ during the outreach and the team organized a gathering of 25 Anglican youth leaders from throughout Kibera to discuss issues relating to youth lifestyles in the city.

A Trip to Church ArmyAFRICA by

Rob Langmaid

For more info on Carlile College check out their site

www.churcharmyafrica.net

Rob withGodfreyand Moses at Carlile Collegein Nairobi

Page 6: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

HOW HAS GOD WORKED THROUGH YOU THIS PAST YEAR?

Stories from Some Threshold Staff Across the Country

God has worked through us in Moncton during 2011 to reach out to and bring us in contact with young addicts, prosti-tutes, convicts, homeless, runaways and the lost, helping provide answers and alternatives and care.

God has worked through me in 2011 in doing the soup kitchen, church services, running the church office, jail ministry and Christian book store.

By sharing my own testimony, God has built faith and healed bodies. I’ve also been used to teach others about God, His nature and His ways, through the Healing Room, and to bring them to a place of deeper intimacy with Him, as well as a higher level of understanding and even revelation. That sounds like an arrogant statement, but it’s not meant to be. As God teaches me through my own circumstances and experiences, and my study of His Word, I am eager to pass on to others what I have learned. Many are hungry and eager to learn what I have to teach.I believe He’s also used me to encourage and build up the saints in Sliammon, our native community, who have eagerly come on board as members of our Healing Room team as we minister there. I am grateful for their love and their trust, and have such a deep love for them too.God has truly blessed me by bringing me here to Powell River. I have been warmly welcomed into this community of believers and my gifts have been acknowledged and greatly appreciated. It’s wonderful to be able to operate and grow in them.

God has been using the ministry of Street Hope Peterborough to touchthe lives of many people over the past year. It has been wonderful tosee His hand of salvation bringing hope into the lives of people whooften experience much hopelessness in their lives. Recently, 3 men Ihave been reaching out to took the step of being baptized. All of these men have made personal commitments to Christ in the past year and are continuing to walk with their Saviour in a new way of life!The movie and meal outreach that we offer to individuals from thedowntown area is continuing to gain momentum as we develop thisprogram that has been running for over a year. People are simplycoming to watch a good Christian movie followed by a home cooked meal and a great time of fellowship where many people ask questions about Jesus. We have an opportunity to share His wonderful love with them. Dan, who was recently living at the Brock Mission, is beginning to come to the church services and he too wants to be baptized. He is a recovering addict who is finding new hope for his life in JesusChrist!I praise God for the volunteers who assist me in the outreach programs and also the many faithful supporters who pray for this work and finan-cially support it. They are a tremendous blessing in my life as this minis-try continues to move forward to touch lives with the love of Christ.

I give thanks for relationships that are being formed that are giving me an ear to the heartbeat of the needs of the community. Pray for wisdom and guid-ance as to how I can best come along-side those with physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as a friend and counselor and help them connect with the church family.

Over the past year I have been involved with the Cursillo Secretariat, and have organized the Moon-light, and Grand Ultreyas, and saw God change lives at an Alpha Course, beginning at a Holy Spirit weekend. I worked alongside three other denomi-nations for combined services for Holy Week. I have worked with youth and am really amazed to see how God has brought them from a small child-like faith to grown up teens, they truly are amazing. I taught kids Confirmation classes and saw how God transformed lives. Every Thursday night our group meets for Bible Study and over the past year many new people have joined us and because of that a few more people are now attending church on Sunday. Our God is an awesome God and I thank Him for all He has done for me and for these Parishes.

Eden McAuleyMoncton, NB

Rus BlanchetIqaluit, NU

Grahme SpearCarmen, MB

Rose Steeves - Mirimichi, NB

Darrin Gaudreau - Peterborough, ON

Catherine Morris - Powell River, BC

Page 7: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

Revelation paints this ex-traordinary picture of ‘bowls of wrath’ being poured out. I think I saw an im-age of that recently. One of the guys you would have to call ‘a core mem-ber’ of our community at Saint John Community Chap-laincy, died. While the autopsy results aren’t yet in we all know that his lifestyle contributed to this 42 year old man’s death significantly. The chapel was crowded this week with grieving people and as they physically and emotionally jostled with one another, they often poured out “enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy…” (Galatians 5:19 the works of the flesh). In the most fragile of times when we experience brokenness it is

what is inside that spills out and when we bump into others we spill it on them. This furor gave me an opportunity to spill out on oth-ers, as well! I had the opportunity to spill: love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. By myself, I know I am incapable of spilling such vir-tue, but the Good News is “Christ in me the hope of glory!” I am glad that I was not alone in this spilling of good. In the dark time we are passing through the stark differ-ence between those who have hope in Jesus and those who are like

sheep without a shepherd, could not be more evi-dent.

The same day I was dealing with this death, I re-ceived a call telling me about an-other death. This was the death of the daughter of a friend of mine. She died suddenly and seemingly unfairly. My friend from chap-laincy knew the risks of his choices but here was a death that made no earthly sense. Her family are natu-

rally devastated by this, but in the midst of this there has been a tidal wave of love and support, particularly from the Christian community.

Those who know me well know that I have extremely clumsy fingers. I resonate with the idea of spilling bowls. I think we are always spilling and that what we spill is what is inside us, for good or evil. I’m reminded of the story of a little boy who was explaining to his dad the inner struggles he felt. “I feel like I have two big dogs pulling me in either direc-tion.” said the boy. “Which dog wins?” said the father. “The one I feed.” replied the boy.

What am I storing up in my bowl which I will inevitably spill? Or another way, which dog am I feeding. God is either glorified or besmirched by my choice. I have a lot of friends who need the hope that comes from having Jesus. I can’t afford not to spill virtues that come from the Holy Spirit. There is a world to be told and a world to be shown. I’m glad I’m not in this alone.

SPILLINGBOWLS

byReed Fleming

WHAT ARE YOU STORING IN YOUR BOWL?

Taken from Reed’s Blog:

www.REED FLEMING.com

“I suggest everyone go to Reed’s Blog often on the in-ternet. It is the most inspir-ing thing to read and more it causes you to think. Try

it you will like it”Walter Marshall

Director Emeritus

Page 8: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

It all started back in September 2011 when a few people got together to make plans to go and help the people in Haiti by building a family home and doing other tasks. We had people join the group at different times and ended up with 16 men and women from Miramichi who actually went on the trip known as “Miramichi4Haiti” Many other people were helping in other ways such as banking, travel arrangements, prayers, fund raising and other things here at home. On January 10, we boarded a large bus with all our luggage plus 16 extra suitcases full of supplies for Haiti, and headed to Moncton airport where we boarded an Air Canada flight at 6am. We arrived in Montreal at 8:25 am, tired but excited and waited for our next flight to Port-Au-Prince (Capital of Haiti). We arrived in Port-Au-Prince around 1pm and stayed the night at Walls Guest House. The next day we headed out to the community of Mizak,Haiti over very rough and dusty roads and on up through the mountains for 4 hours on a vehicle called a “TAP-TAP”. The smells and sights on our way were overwhelming. Many tears were shed and emotions were mixed. The devastation was unexplainable.

We arrived in Mizak in the early evening and were greeted by Paul Prevost and family where we all stayed for two weeks.On Thursday our team had a short memorial service of prayer and songs for the victims of the 2010 earthquake. We flew our Canadian flag for the duration of our stay and left it there. The people of Mizak were very friendly and spoke Creole which is similar to French.

We started building the house on Monday, with an hours drive to the site, over extremely rough mountainous trails up hill and down. The vehicle could not make the hills with everyone on the truck so we all got off and walked very steep hills to get to the work site. The average temp. daily was 30°C and we had to drink lots of water. By Saturday the house was completed inside and out and we were pleased with it.

We also visited 2 orphanages, a school and a clinic where we left supplies for each place.We did get two days of fun time for the group. One day we hiked through the mountains for 4 hours to a water falls

called “BASIN BLEU” and we had a refreshing swim. It was beautiful there. On Sunday after church, (which was 2 hours long , but good); we headed off to the beach in Jac Mel. It was absolutely beautiful and the water was very warm.

Our meals there were very good but not much variety. We ate a lot of beans and rice and chicken. Mandarins were plentiful as were plantains and papaya. We had bread and peanut butter and eggs occasionally. We drank bottled watetr. Showers were scarce and bathroom facilities were not very pleasant. A few members of our team got sick with diarrhea but it only lasted a day or so.

On Saturdays we got together with members of the community to welcome kids to four hours of songs, prayers, craft, games, dance and food. There were about 200 children who attended. Our team brought bean bags, skipping ropes, and prizes for the children. They were very excited.

At night we were entertained with music and song by local teens who played keyboard, guitar and drums, thanks to the generator that came on around 6pm and went off at 9pm. We tried to be in bed every night before 9 because that’s when the lights went

out and it was very dark.

This trip was an eye opener for me. I’ve come to realize that we are so spoiled here in Canada. We have so much where the people in Mizak have nothing, yet they are happy. I noticed that no matter where they go or what they do, it’s all done on foot, no vehicles. The women haul buckets of water on their heads, the children walk sometimes for 4 hours uphill and down to get to school.

Laundry is all done by hand, all cooking is done outdoors and no radio or TV. I did see a few cell phones. I really felt God’s presence daily as we relied on Him for our safety and health. We had daily devotions plus prayers at mealtimes and on our travels. Its a trip I’ll never forget, I know I will have the sweet faces of the children etched in my memory forever. I’m so thankful for everyone who made donations either for my expenses or toward the house and mission. Without your donations, prayers and support this would not have been possible. I’m so thankful that we could make a difference in the lives of this one very poor family in Mizak, Haiti.

HAITIMy Mission Trip to

byRose Steeves

Before

After

Page 9: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

Audited

Year End September 30, 2011

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTSWe are grateful for every contribution that has been made to this min-stry. As you can see in this newsletter alone, lives really are being changed across the country, and even around the world! Men and women, young and old are hearing the Good News of Jesus and are crossing the Thresh-old... into a relationship with Him. 100% of our finances come from indi-viduals and churches who are passionate about sharing the LOVE of Jesus in Canada. A most heartfelt thank you for your continued contribution and prayers.

There is so much more to do; the ideas are flowing like a river in this place. 2012 is a year of renewal and the Lord has provided creative hands and minds to really focus on the tasks at hand - better equpping the saints.

If you would like to help our ministry, we encourage you to please re-member to make all cheques payable to: “Threshold Ministries”. We’ve included a donation card and envelope to make donating a breeze. If you’d prefer to give gifts by credit card or would like to save on paper and the cost of a stamp, you can safely and easily donate with the click of a button by visiting www.thresholdministreis.ca. In order to more effective stew-ards, unless otherwise requested, tax receipts will be issued at year end.

If you have questions about how you can support or where the need is greatest, please do not hesitate to contact our National Office - we’d be happy to speak with you - 1.888.316.8169.

Our financial records are reviewed and au-dited by professionals at GrantThornton, Saint John, NB. For further details and complete audited financial state-ments for the year end-ing September 30, 2011,

please contact ourfinancial office.

2009 2010 2011

Total Income

Total Expenditures

Net Deficit

$1,248,918

$1,608,166

-$201,956

$1,248,918

$1,488,225

-$78,193

$1,377,890

$1,345,046

$37,117

Page 10: "The Candle" Spring/Summer 2012 Edition

In other words, it is the motive that counts. There was once a young man named Saul of Tarsus, an excellent young man who had always “walked blameless”, but one day he wrote in a letter that he had come to see that all this righteousness had been worth just as much as “filthy rags” because it had all been practised to gratify his own self-esteem. Since those days, he had come to know Jesus Christ and now he was doing all that he did, simply for love of Him, and that changed everthing.

Our Lord described how people would come to Him in the last day and tell Him of all the good works that they had done, and how He would say “Yes, but ye did it not to ME.” There had been no love towards Him mixed up with it and therfore again, it was worth noth-ing. On the other hand, how rich the value of only a cup of cold water given

with love, in His name.

We need to watch our motives very carefully. Nothing could have been more exemplary than the life of a Pharisee, it was exemplary in ev-ery way - except one. There was no love behind it. He went to church, he prayed,he fasted, he gave alms, he kept the Sabbath, and all the com-mandments, but there was no love behind any of these doings. In con-sequence he was no better for doing them They brought him no nearer to God who is Love.

Jesus said unhesitat-ingly, God preferred a sinner who loved Him to a righteous man who did not. Men in His day had made religion into

an enormously complicated and dif-ficult dusiness. Jesus kept on saying that religion was an extremely simple thing - JUST LOVE - which is one of the simplest things in the world. If you ask what our Lord was doing while He was here on earth, one an-swer is that He wandered about Pal-estine trying to find out people who were prepared to love Him. In the end, it was an odd lot that He collect-ed. Some of them were well-known

sinners and people shook their heads over them. But our Lord knew exactly what He wanted; He wanted people who loved Him and that was abso-lutely ALL that mat-tered. Its the same now, He does not care what you are like as long as He has got your heart. The Saints have all been people in love with Christ: that is what made them Saints. It is what the Christian Religion really consists of: it is a life lived with the love of Christ constraining us.

People think that Christians go to Church because it is a pious habit. The real reason why they go is because Sunday is Christ’s resurrection day and they are keeping it for Him. If they give alms, they do it as a bit of love for Him, who loved them and give Himself for them. If they keep Lent, it is because it is His Lent they are keeping.

Religion becomes a perfectly useless thing without love for Christ at the heart of it, but it is always sound, no matter what outward form it takes, whenever there’s real love. Love for Christ can wear different dresses. A real

earnest Evangelical likes a bare church and a plain service, because he wants nothing to be there which might take his mind off Christ. The “Ritualistic Practic-

es” of the Anglo-Catholic are also, simply an expres-sion of his love for Christ. He is giving HIM the very best he can of rich and beau-tiful worship. As long as the real love is there it is difficult to sup-pose that Christ minds in which of these differen way s His people come to HIM. As far as they express love for Him, He val-ues both these ways of worship.

Only when they are made the ground and occasion of self-assertion do they both become perfectly valueless to Him.

It was characteristic of Him to do Him-self that which He had taught to others. Did He discern that all HIS doing s also without love, would be nothing worth and that therefore there was something He must do? Gethsemane, The Bloody Sweat, Calvary! Cannot you picture HIM setting His face towards it all, saying to Himself, “It is LOVE which counts” and so, drinking death, not as some men have drunk it, desparingly, from a phial, but triumphantly from a Chalice - A LOV-ING CUP. - A. Casey

A THOUGHT FOR LENT

byArthur Casey

“All our doings without LOVE are worthnothing”

TAKEN FROM 1929’S SPRING ISSUE OF

THE CHURCH ARMY CRUSADER

Arthur & Mildred Casey, 1926First Canadian Director