Hi, my name is Pastor
John Thompson (the church family just call me Pastor John). My wife Doris
and I have four children: Lindsay, lives and works in the insurance business
in London. Deeann and Derrick Kniss and our two beautiful grandchildren,
Julianna and Katelynn make their home in Calgary where Derrick is a finish
carpenter. Jillian and Caleb live at home. Jillian is training through
Fanshawe/Western to be a nurse. Caleb is in the middle of his high school
career at Banting Secondary School where his Mom is the Attendance
Secretary.
I am a graduate of Central
Baptist Seminary in Toronto and served previously in pastorates in Peterborough,
Orillia, Owen Sound, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta.
I would consider it a privilege
to share with you and your family the truths of the Word of God. We believe
that God does address the problems and needs facing us all in these days.
At Forest City Bible Church
we try to minister to families and individuals on the social, intellectual,
physical and spiritual levels. Regarding any questions or concerns you
may have on spiritual matters, I would be glad to hear from you.
Today's
"skippies" (school kids with income and purchasing power) are less concerned
with making lots of money and more concerned about the environment and world
affairs than ever before. But still, money, brand names, and status "toys"
and clothes are very important to them. They should ask the "yuppies" (young
urban professionals) what they have learned. They looked to things like
electronic equipment, expensive cars, and designer drugs to provide their
lives with meaning and excitement, but ended up disappointed when those
things failed to satisfy. Many people have chosen to live primarily for
themselves. They are pursuing materialism - living for money and the things
it can buy. Jesus Christ confronted the problem of materialism in His day
too. He showed how greed can warp values by telling a story about a wealthy
farmer who didn't know what to do with his huge harvest. His decisions
revealed his materialistic values. He had false security. He decided to tear
down his barns and build bigger ones in which to store his grain and other
crops. He figured he had so much stored up, he'd be able to take life easy
and enjoy himself for years. Like many people today, he thought his
possessions guaranteed his security. But his big mistake was, that night his
life was going to come to an end. He was selfish, but as Jesus told the
crowd, life is a lot more than what we own. He also lacked contentment.
Creating a lack of contentment fuels a lot of advertisers and sellers today.
People want everything, and they want it now. They need to know that only
God can satisfy their deepest longings. He came to meet our real needs.
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