GBC Community Update: Answering the 'why' question

​Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week!  What are you reading right now?  We have some great books in our libraries (both for adults, teens and kids) that would make some excellent reading. Take advantage this summer of the opportunity to grow while on holidays by reading.
 
 
Welcome the Iles Family at a Dinner and Hymn Sing on July 23rd!
We are grateful to welcome Jamie, Emily and their family as part of the GBC congregation as Jamie takes on the role of Music Director.  Please plan to join us on the evening of Sunday, July 23rd for a pot-luck dinner and hymn sing.  Bring a salad, main course or dessert and join us at 5:30 p.m. for dinner.  Then stay around for a hymn sing at 6:30 p.m.  This will be an opportunity to introduce the Iles to the congregation, sing some favourite hymns and gospel songs, and more!  Please add your name to the sign up sheet in the foyer - you can indicate what you will bring and also include a favourite song request as well.  We hope to see you on the 23rd!
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we continue our series, “Firm Foundations”-a study of the book of Romans
The foundation of a building is critically important for the stability of the structure that sits on it. In many ways our faith and relationship with God needs the same thing.  How is your foundation? We continue to look at this idea as we study the book of Romans, perhaps the best book of the New Testament for this kind of thing. 
This Sunday Jacob will be continuing Romans 15 as we begin to wind this series down.
Want to prepare? Read the text for Sunday ahead of time: Romans 15:8-33.
If you can’t make it you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Summer thoughts to keep you on the journey: Answering the ‘why?’ question
You’ve likely heard this all before, you may even be tired of it by now. So please take this as a gentle reminder for those who may still be asking the ‘why?” question these days.  This is not just about the war in Ukraine, inflation or our government’s choices.  There is much uncertainty these days and its natural to ask ‘why’?  That’s a healthy thing to do in changing times like these but when this leads to more questions there are a couple of things we can remember as we go through tough times: 
First off, remember WHOSE you are. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. So, God isn’t surprised by what’s going on, He’s still in charge and He’s working things out for His glory.  As much as it’s nice to know we have purpose, our main purpose is not what we do but who we are in Jesus.  Times of testing show this to ourselves and the world around us, it’s part of our witness.
As we deal with the inevitable and very real ‘why?’ questions it’s good to remember that a disappointment can be God’s appointment based on what you do with it. He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4), He’s working things out.  Those classic words of Proverbs 3:5-6 come to mind: trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in everything you do remember He is the King of Kings and He’ll make your path straight.  Not easy, but straight, and it’ll lead you to a finish line where once crossed there are no more ‘why’ questions. Hope that helps!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris