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WIIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1981, PAGE 19 The Church Speaks ç~ç LA> Will this year be different? By THE REV. KEITH A. ELFORD Pastor Whitby Free Methodist Church What's going to be different about 1981? In fact, how was 1980 for you? It's that time to evaluate the year that has just past and chart out the changes for the future. But where do we begin? How can we tell how well we've done and where we should go with what's ahead? It's liek the predicament that surveyors always face when they prepare topographies. They can see the dips and moun- ds in the lay of the land but they can't interpret that on to paper until they have established a fixed point called a "ben- ch mark." What could we choose for our 1981 "bench mark"? One possibility is to use a parable that Jesus gave, found in St. Matthew 25. It's the story about the wealthy man who cose to entrust all his possessions to three servants while he went away on a lenghty journey. Each received according to his ability to manage. The first got five talents, the second two talents, and the third one. Upon his return, the master required each to give an ac- count as to how he had managed what he had received. (You see why it's a good "bench mark"?) The first two had done very well. They showed a hundred percent gain in assets. Of course the master was very please, commended them for their faithfulness, and promised them greater opportunities in the future. As for the third, one.can't help but feel sorry for him. He was the last to receive anything. He got the least of the three, and often the master had heard his report, he got a seathing rebuke and was literally thrown out of the place - all because he "played it safe". He said that he was afraid and had hid- den the talent in a secure place so that he could return it in tact. Piece by piece the master dismembers his excuses. He had no reason to fear his master so long aà he had tried. He wouldn't have entrusted a penny to the servant if he hadn't believed in him. So it wasn't fear that moved him to bury the talent. His master reminds him that the bank could have done as much, and there would have at least been interest on his money. It was laziness. It was selfishness. It was looking out for "number one" that madehim dig that hole. With his respon- sibility buried, his days were carefree - that is, until the day of reckoning. 1980 has just entrusted us with 365 days. If God, the giver of days, were to ask for an accounting of the use of what has been given, how would you say that you have done managing the resources of your life for this past year? Are there buried responsibilities? A woeful list of excuses? Has the thrust been to get more of bigger and better for me and mine? Line up your life with one of the Lord's "bench marks". It may make you painfully aware of the dips, but it may also help you set your course as you strike out for December 31, 1981. EDITOR'S NOTE: Rev. Elford also serves as the president nf the Whitby Ministerial Association. Here's to a new, great YOU!r ...come on n for an n vidual hair design just right for you and your lifestyle! We've expert stylists ready to please you! LA CONTESSA BEAUTY LOUNGE 119 GREEN STREET CWY start their 10th year Canada World Youth has launched its 1981 recruit- ment campaign saying that 800 young people would be participating in this year's youth exchange program. CWY, funded in part by the Canadian International Development Agency and now i its loth consecutive year, is looking for workers and students between the ages of 17 and 20 who are in- terested in learning about development and cross- cultural communications in both Canada and a developing country. These young Canadians, joined by an equal number of exchange country par- ticipants, will spend 7 mon- ths living and working in vastly different cultures and communities. Small teams of CWY participants, each with a Canadian and ex- change country Group Leader, integrate them- selves into communities, fir- st in Canada then overseas, through volunteer work in fields such as agriculture, co-operatives, environ- ment/conservation, social services small businesses, recreation and community groups. All costs during the program - food, lodging and transportation are covered by CWY. Even some pocket money is provided. Canada World Youth's fir- st program starts in July, and the second program starts in September. Deadline for receipt of ap- plications for both programs is March 13. Application forms and more information are available at Canada Em- ployment Centres, sc.ools, and CWY Regional Offices. o All SkyLark Holidays are subject to the terms and conditions of the General information Section of the SkyLark Holidays Winter 1981 brochure. SkyLrk.