Land of my Sojourn

It's official. I'm OLD!!!

2007-03-31T07:18:00.000-04:00

Our COG pastor, Lane Fusilier recently completed a 3-wek message series on creation vs. evolution. Lane posted a huge number of links and articles on his blog (click on his name to get to them) which show the depth to which he is fascinated by this. Apparently, based on the comments, so are a number of COG attenders. As he points out in one post, many of the high-school and university students attending COG struggle with creation and its fit to post-modernism.

I am not someone who struggles with this.

By way of contrast, Al put up two excellent posts, one courtesy of Darryl Dash and one from the Hamilton Spec that resonated a lot more with me. The questions of church attendance/relevance and poverty/need seem to hit me a lot harder than evolutionary/creationist discourse. Perhaps that has to do with the fact I am geting older and busier and, with less free time on my hands, I find myself wanting to invest more in relationships that matter and less in high theological issues that have little to no bearing on living day-to-day.

We haven't been going to church very much lately. In fact, I think we have been at Sunday service maybe 5 times all year. There just isn't much that hits us lately. It's hard to get motivated enough to not only get myself out the door when I feel ambivalent about where I'm going, but that motivation is tougher when there's two kids in the mix. I am really worried that my home church and I are growing apart. It's a difficult issue to place in God's hands, but as He reminds me during prayer times, these are EXACTLY the issues He wants us to turn over to Him, so that's where it is now.

I guess the subject matter being discussed lately doesn't much feel like "Kingdom" business, although the question of "how did we get here?" is one that is fundamental to Christianity. I guess I just take it on faith that I was created by God, and that's good enough for me. No insult intended, but the last three weeks of lessons felt a bit elitist to me. I consider myself a pretty intelligent guy and everything I read and heard sailed right on over me.

I am really deep into the book of Romans right now and, reading it, I am learning so much about God's grace and how to live a strong Christian life. I intend to start blogging about my readings and learnings soon. I would love it if others who read this blog would share their thoughts on the chapters as I post. The Bible is an interpretative text, read through the lens of the individual heart and, I believe, each person will get different, yet relevant, value out of the reading.

I put together a ministry proposal involving practical applications to reach out to our community and establish deeper connections within the church, which I shared with a number of people. Everybody thinks it's great, which is encouraging, but I have not had time to develop it further. The reason for this is because of work and family commitments, which is tough enough, but also because the people I shared it with haven't challenged me or encouraged me to go forward with it, because they're too busy too. Come June, when my current work project ends, I am going to aggressively pursue this plan and see where it goes.

Community

2007-02-26T22:40:00.000-05:00

So tired.

2007 has NOT gotten off to a good start. Lots of work issues, problems at home (fridge died, furnace crapped out), dissatisfied with lots of things......

Whine, whine, whine....

It's funny how life gets in the way of living sometimes. I'm sitting in a meeting room at work right now, babysitting a series of system tests that will carry into the wee hours of morning. My poor wife had to dig out the remnants of today's snow and is now nursing a sore back and dealing with two kids on her own. Who knows what's happening in the lives of those I care about (outside my wife and boys)? I mean, it's not like I'm the type to go and seek out others just to chat. More often than not, life tires me out to the point that, when I get a free minute, I just want to sit in the recliner and catch up this week's TV episodes.

Some community, eh?

So it's time to do something about it, right? I'm happy to say that I renewed an old friendship this week and, during our hour together, we recommitted to spending some real time together, talking about important things (our marriages, our walk with God), praying together, and holding each other accountable for growing in our faith.

I've been restless for a long time. It's time to shake free of the routine, move in new directions pointed by God. Directions that will strengthen my family, create stronger friendships rooted in more than "let's get together sometime soon", create opportunities to serve God in powerful ways. Directions that can only be interpreted through God's roadmap.

Anything else will soud trite or cliche, so let's leave it there. Hope to see you down the road.

The Whole Relationship Thing

2006-06-25T21:55:00.000-04:00

I've been quite amused by the amount of "relationship discourse" in the news lately. Lively debate around the age of consent, gay marriage, divorce law and others combined with a great new series on Family and Relationships at church have really gotten me thinking about one point:

God has an answer for all of this.

I cannot believe that there are people actually arguing AGAINST raising the age of consent from 14 to 16. Heck, make it 18, sez I. I cannot imagine ANYONE under 18 wanting to get married and there are so many Biblical references describing sex as something that God intended to be limited to married couples. Proverbs 5:18-20 reads as follows:

"May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a gaceful deer-
may her breasts satisfy you always
may you ever be captivated by her love.
Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress?
Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?"

1 Corinthians 6 and 7 is all about sexual sin and 1 Cor.7 verses 3-5 state specifically that the mariage relationship is the only place God intends sexual relation to occur. Now, I am not going to claim I am puritanical. I struggled and lost prior to marriage many times, but I'm darn sure going to try to teach my kids not only God's plan for sex, but also the risks and dangers of sex outside marriage. If I have laws of the land to help support me, so much the better.

As far as gay marriage goes, I see it the same as common-law marriage. Marriage is a Biblical institution and involves one man and one wife united under God until death do they part. THAT'S marriage. Anything else is, at most, a civil union. See, here's the problem I have with gay marriage: it is called "detestable" (Leviticus 18:22) and "perversion" (Romans 1:27). That's the New AND the Old Testaments bringing it under fire. To marry someone of the same sex implies a lifetime commitment to that person. That is a public announcement that you are rejecting God's instruction not just for today, but for the duration of your life on Earth. Therefore, you are willingly (and publicly) choosing a lifetime of sin. Common-law marriage is, at its heart, a marriage without God, so I don't see it any better.

Now, divorce IS allowable, but I think the fact that the Christian community has a divorce rate similar to the non-Christian community is just shameful. Nobody said this would be easy. By simply getting married, we are opening ourselves up to another person in ways we would never open up to most anyone else. Having said that, if God is in the relationship, then He had a hand in putting that person in your life and, by being accountable to your husband or wife, so are you being accountable to God. Sure, there will be cases of poor judgement, but in a Christian community, we would show forgiveness to our spouse and work through God to heal the relationship. I would even say that the only way for a marriage focused on God to fall apart is if either the husband or the wife chose to renounce God through seeking a relationship or lifestyle change that was entirely sin-based (e.g. an adulterous affair, a life of crime, etc.). The trinity relationship is then shattered and the bonds broken beyond repair. Then, divorce is an option, so the spouse whose path has not strayed can preserve and protect his or her relationship with God.

All of this is laid out in the Bible and, while it has been through numerous translations by imperfect human hands, I think the basic foundations of how to live, create and grow relationships and develop real community are right on. I see no reason to doubt this. I know that this is going to come down on the wrong side of the scale for some, but I have spent a great deal of time worrying these matters in my heart, because my spirituality is more relational and less doctrinal. God has provided us with a relationship roadmap in the Bible that, if we follow it, will allow us to have deep relationships with others that will allow us to encounter real, authentic community within a body of believers. We can have strong marriages, relationally healthy families, true and loyal friends and neighbors. We can call each other "brother" and "sister" and appreciate what it really means to use such words. Underage sex, sex outside of marriage, gay/common-law relationships, divorce, even such things as lies, "false faces", gossip and behind-the-back talk all work to undermine these things and, in God's eyes, are sins as egregious as murder.

Pretty heavy stuff, I know. This is why I don't post much anymore. I have tons of this stuff rolling around in my heart and mind. Thank you God, for challenging me.

So much stress

2006-05-08T10:36:00.000-04:00

I really want to post more often, but I'm under so much pressure lately there's barely time to do the little bit I do. Pray for me, please.

Greatest Lyric Ever

2006-04-11T22:39:00.000-04:00

Sittin' here with my kids and my wife
Everything I hold dear in my life
We say Grace and thank the Lord
Got so much to be thankful for
Then it's up the stairs and off to bed
And my little (boy) says:
"I haven't had my story yet"
And everything weighing on my mind
Disappears just like that
(He) lifts (his) head off (his) pillow and (he) says
"I love you Dad"

And I don't know why they say grown men don't cry

"Grown Men Don't Cry" - Tim McGraw (I changed the pronouns from girl to boy because it resonates more with me).

I first heard this song Monday. I wept openly during that verse. Still do.

Thank you God, for my beautiful, amazing wife and my wonderful boys. No greater earthly gift have I (nor will I) received from you.

Wandering around the blogosphere

2006-03-19T06:47:00.000-05:00

I have a link to Erin Wilson's blog on the right hand side of this page. I found my way to her blog through the comments she posted on Pernell Goodyear's old blog. I have found my way to numerous other blogs with interesting posts by following the link lists on other folks' blogs (Dave Hamilton, who I found through Al Baker, has one of the most interesting blogs). What I have found on many of these blogs is a real openness about their lives. In a number of cases, I haven't met these folks, but I know if I ever meet them, I'll go in knowing a fair bit about them.

This is something I am not good at. The transparency presented by some of these folks (Erin in general and, of late, Pernell and Margie Goodyear) impresses me. I know there are some who would think of it as a cry for attention (oh, look at me, I've had problems!!), or maybe they're making some stuff up to get attention, but I like to think of myself as being not QUITE that cynical. However, I am really not that good at sharing things with others, and here's the reason why....not many bad things have ever happened to me. Most of the pain (and there isn't much) has usually been inflicted by me on others.

I am not easy to live with. Short-tempered, hyperactive, opinionated. Always focused on getting what I want, regardless of how my wants affect others. God has done a LOT of work on me to get me where I am today.

More later (maybe).

A question of faith

2006-03-01T08:31:00.000-05:00

A month or so ago, I read this post on Tim Bailey's blog. It really got my mind moving and I have spent a lot of thought time chewing on it.

A long time ago, I heard a speaker (I want to attribute it to Steve Baldry, my first Pastor at Philpott) talk about the dangers of blind faith. When things happen that make us question our faith, we should be unafraid to go to God and ask why. Why does AIDS exist, why do tsunamis and earthquakes happen, why was so-and-so's child stillborn? For that matter, why did my children spend a combined 17 weeks in NICU wards when others, who have no love for/belief in/hatred of God have healthy children, strong marriages, great friendships, all the trappings of a good life?

Each Christian has to find the answers to this in their own way, so I thought I'd share my position.

I once heard that it was easy to praise God when things are going well, but it's difficult to entirely trust things to Him when the struggles happen. I find it's the opposite with me. I get really complacent when things are going well. In fact, it's those times, I find, where I rely more on myself and my abilities rather than trusting God. This is where it all falls down and God gives me a stark reminder (whether deeply personal or something happening elsewhere that affects me) that I need to go to Him EVERY DAY for solace and sufficiency.

I do believe that God is loving and benevolent. He HAS to be. He created me. He blessed me with a beautiful wife, awesome children, great friends and family and a good job that allows us to live comfortably. This doesn't even take into account the other amazing, simpler things He has provided in His Creation (a sunset, a rainbow, all of nature, the stars in the sky, clouds). However, He has also proven, time and again, that He is a jealous God (read the First Commandment) whose disappointment over our failures as humans is so great He allows none to approach Him except through His Son, whose sacrifice pays for our failings (sin).

I liken it to when, as a child, something bad happens to a friend. We don't understand what happened, but we instinctively know that we can go to our parents (or some other trusted person) to both discuss things with them and be comforted by them. Same thing here. We don't understand why God allows bad things to happen to people who, we think, have done nothing to deserve the fate visited upon them. But we can go to God in prayer and through the Bible and cry out that we don't understand. But God will reveal His will and reasons for what happened (in His own time, of course) and will give us immediate comfort.

You see, God, I believe, wants to be my sufficiency, the first place I go to every day. He wants to be first in every decision I make, everything I say and do. When I begin to rely on myself, trust to my own thinking, my own ideas, my own interpretation of right and wrong, God eventually does something to shake me up.

Perhaps, when God sees His children getting further and further astray, maybe not being sensitive to His call in specific lives, He allows something massive to happen, the enormity of which is sometimes beyond us. This could be God's way of telling us "You're drifting away from Me. Come back to Me and I will give you comfort". Or, maybe, God's intent in impacting individual(s) through specific events is to help clarify how He is calling them to serve Him in this world.

It should be no secret to anyone that evil exists here and will, until Christ's return. I believe that God is using the evil to remind us to keep Him first, stay by His side, keep serving Him while we are here running the race of Life and keep our eyes on the finish line, where He waits to take us to a place where there are no disasters, no illnesses, no stress and no temptations.

Conversation is welcome and encouraged. I love to read/discuss other's points of views.

John Fischer again....

2006-02-21T08:13:00.000-05:00

This is the best devotional series ever...

Hungry for God
by John Fischer

Our ministry is to serve the needs of believers; our mission is to serve the needs of those who are not presently Christians. The latter can present a problem. You can’t really serve someone if you don’t know them, but being in relationship with those who aren’t Christians can be dangerous. Old habits and old ways of life can come back to haunt us when we are around people who don’t share our desire to follow Christ.

For this reason it may be necessary to keep only Christian friends for a season, but the goal for us all is to be stronger than this. God didn’t save us and leave us on earth to band together and live nice, safe little Christian lives until He returns or we die, whichever comes first. We are here to share the good news of God’s forgiveness with those who don’t know about it yet, and we can’t do that without getting close to people who need it. We need to be close enough to people to know them, love them, identify with their need, and serve them without judging them or losing our own hold on Christ.

How will we do this? A couple suggestions to think about today:

1) don’t ever forget we are all sinners in need of salvation. This will help keep us from a self-righteous and judgmental attitude. We never have a perfect day; we encounter our own need to be saved all the time, because we all sin and fall short of God’s glory. We lead people to Christ, not by reaching down to them from a place of invulnerable perfection, but as one hungry person showing another where the food is.

2) Remember that sin entraps everyone. Our friends who are resistant to Christianity may very well have a soft heart to God and the truth but it’s covered up by a host of things that blind us all like fear, failure, addictions and all sorts of false coping mechanisms. Success, power and wealth can blind us just as easily. We need to ask God for the ability to look past all these distractions to the heart, because at the heart, everyone is hungry for God. We were created that way.

Lord, teach us to see people as you see them. May we not give in to the things that once entrapped us. Make us keen to the lie and hungering for the truth today, and help us to find it even in those who don’t know you. Remind us that we are all children when it comes to you, even the toughest among us. Show us how to love everyone and stay true to you.

John Fischer again.....

2006-02-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

Loved this devotional. I intend to comment more on the third paragraph when time permits:

“The Things I Did With You”
by John Fischer

One of the benefits of having a third child this late in life is getting to hear Sesame Street again while I’m getting ready in the morning. I’ve missed those little critters. Last week, I overheard a sweet little song from Bert and Ernie: "Things that I remember are the things I did with you."

I found my thoughts straying to an old friend with whom I worked for over ten years in the 1970s. Because it was a spiritual relationship as well as a professional one, I got close to his family as well. I was single at the time, and for all practical purposes, they adopted me when we were working on a project.

While Bert and Ernie were singing about the things they did together, I thought about the things I did with Clark. Professionally, he arranged and recorded six albums with me that started the singer/songwriter part of my career. But as time has passed, those albums have taken a second place in my memory to a myriad of things we did together. The professional relationship, in other words, was just an excuse for that other relationship we share -- the real one.

I remember both houses he’s lived in since I’ve known him, because I’ve spent so much time in both of them. I remember getting my first instructions operating a motorcycle. I remember bringing my girlfriends by for inspection -- the thumbs down, and then the thumbs up (way up!) for Marti. I remember long discussions over spiritual questions posed by his colleagues in the music business. (He was a new Christian when I met him and still treats me as the "expert" Bible guy.) I remember performing the ceremonies for both of his daughter’s weddings. I remember the time our 18-month-old son threw a ping-pong paddle at his large aquarium and the horror of watching the glass shatter, releasing gallons of water and flopping tropical fish on his family room floor. And, of course, I remember working together over my music, amazed that I got to benefit from the wealth of his talent and versatility. And as these things flashed in my mind, I realized it wasn’t the things we did, but the fact that we did them together that really mattered.

But Clark was already on my mind for other reasons. He is currently caught in a grueling battle with cancer. There is a method in my telling you a few things about us. I hope they lead you to think of someone in your life, and how important that person for the things you have done together. But I hope, too, that you will say a prayer for Clark. He really needs it right now.

I'm a technology freak

2006-02-08T09:04:00.000-05:00

I am always into the latest stuff. When I was in my twenties, I was very close to what they called in my MBA studies an early adopter. I had a laserdisc player in 1990, my first CD player in 1986 and I've always had a walkman going back as far as I can remember. Today, we have a full-service media setup in the family room, complete with home theater (with 5-disc DVD), two VCR's (one of which will soon be replaced by a DVD recorder) and a video game system for the boys.

And yet......

Despite this apparent need to always keep on (or near) the cutting edge of technology/media, I go every Sunday to a building that is nearly 100 years old, occasionally pull out hymns that are (lyrically, at least) centuries old and learn from a Bible that is millennia old about a God that has existed since before the beginning of time.

I appreciate how people want to redefine worship or religion or ritual. All of these acts are God-based, but human-defined. Like technology or anything else worldly, we are always looking for the next great worship idea, the next new way to improve the quality of our Sunday service, etc. By way of example, we celebrate Communion in an effort to restore our relationship to/refresh our relationship with God. However, we use crushed unsalted crackers and grape juice to represent the bread and wine. Others use saltines, or bread, or fruit punch. We celebrate communion the first Sunday of the month, others celebrate it every Sunday, or after prayer meeting, or whenever. The meaning is constant, the method is different.

This is the great thing about God. No matter how much (or how rapidly) our world around us is changing, God is constant. I remember the first time my Dad told me about how God is a rock we can stand on, and to put our faith in anything else is to put it on a base of ever-shifting sand. I understand that now. My faith is not in the acts/rituals/events/schedule of my church's (or any other church's) worship program. It is in God and, as long as I see, hear, feel and experience God through my church, I know He is there and faith is renewed.

As long as God is at the centre, the methods are entirely up to the individual.

If you have no plans for Superbowl Sunday

2006-02-03T13:26:00.000-05:00

Come join us:

Tickets are $15 and available Sunday morning and at the door. Food menu includes:

Roast pig
Hot Roast Beef sandwiches
Sausage on a Bun
Lasagna
Salads

A licensed cardiologist will be on site. Dietitians are not invited.

Great prizes including official NFL jerseys, t-shirts, caps and footballs, all sorts of hardware and a great grand prize that will be revealed at game time.

E-mail philpottmen@gmail.com for more information.

If you cannot attend, your prayers for this event are coveted.

What it's REALLY all about

2005-12-22T07:34:00.000-05:00

The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

As the craziness of the Christmas season descends, never lose sight of the real meaning of the season. Keep it all in perspective and savour the blessings you have received from our almighty creator God and his loving son, Jesus Christ.

Peace and blessings from my family to yours.

Reading Matthew

2005-12-06T09:21:00.000-05:00

I'm almost finished the book of Matthew and I have found it so enlightening. I can honestly say that it is speaking to me like it has never spoken to me before.

Matthew 24:29-31 gave me chills. It's so awesome. I had to stop reading and offer a prayer for Jesus to return right then.

Just thought I'd share.

Health update

2005-11-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

First, the good news.....the MRI revealed no problems, so no tumours. Next step is a 2nd hearing test on Wednesday and then, I hope, a program to treat what looks like Meniere's Disease. If any readers out there have Meniere's or know someone who has it, invite them e-mail me (bjbenallick@hotmail.com) and share their experiences.

More good news.....today marks 17 days without dizziness attacks of any degree, which is the longest run yet.

Not so good news.....Christine has bronchial pneumonia and is on antibiotics. We thought Aidan might have the same thing, but his cough is apparently viral and should pass without drug assistance. Aaron's the only healthy one in the house.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. Please don't stop.

Just when I think God's not listening........

2005-11-14T08:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's post worried about the vertigo problems I have. Today, I was worrying about not being around to watch my kids grow up if the MRI returns bad news. All of this is, of course, stuff I have no control over. In the midst of this worrying, this devotional winds up in my inbox:

Why Worry When You Can Meditate?
by John Fischer

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

I’m a chronic worrier. I come from a long line of worriers. A good deal of my conscious time is taken up with the act of worrying. According to Rick Warren, this means I would be good at meditation.

Meditation is focused thinking. It is not just for monks and clerics. David said that he loved to meditate day and night on the word of God. Now this was also while he was running a kingdom, fighting a perpetual enemy on the battlefield, and at times, running for his life. He didn’t have a lot of time to sit with his legs crossed and go “Ommmmmm.” That kind of meditation is meant to clear the mind of all thoughts. Biblical meditation is thinking focused on a particular aspect of God, a part of God’s word, or a reminder of what He has done for you.

Worry is focused thinking as well. It’s focused on what I can’t answer or solve about my situation. Worry, at least for me, is returning over and over again to a place where I am stuck. I must somehow negatively feed on that little flutter of panic each time I follow a path of worry to the same hopeless conclusion. These are thoughts that accompany me throughout the day. I don’t sit down to worry. Worry is nagging negativity.

It would stand to reason that if I can do this kind of professional worrying while I go about my tasks for the day, then I could choose to meditate on God’s word instead. Worry is usually all about what you can’t do anything about anyway. It’s never productive. Imagine all that attention turned to God and His truth.

I have a feeling that if I learned to turn my chronic worrying into meditation, then when I did actually sit down to do something about those things I’m tempted to worry about, I might be in a much better frame of mind to find a solution.

Try it today. If you catch yourself worrying, turn your thoughts instead to God and His word. Take a portion of scripture and turn it over and over in your mind. Remember what God has done for you. Be thankful. Why worry when you can meditate?

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship you
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what you hear
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

Amen.

Been a while....

2005-11-13T22:48:00.000-05:00

....so why don't y'all set a spell and I'll catch ya up.

Well, the whole vertigo thing (read all about it at Pops 'n' Buzzes) hasn't gotten any better. I had another attack on Wednesday, at least as severe as the one that put me in the ER a few weeks back. Only problem this time was Christine was at work, so I had to ride it out at home while the in-laws watched the boys (neither of whom would, you know, NAP or anything). So there I was, full barfed out laying on the bathroom floor waiting for Christine the Gravol Queen to save me. Which, of course, she did.

Why is this here instead of Pops? Well, in the course of this ongoing vertigo war, I have come to appreciate something about my walk with God. I need to stop talking about God, spend less time reading/listening to others tell me what God is doing in their lives and pay more attention to how God wants to use ME. I had an MRI on my head on Thursday night (moved up from January 2006 after one of Christine's co-workers marched her down to X-ray on Wednesday to change the date) and the one thought that keeps coming back to me is...what if there's a growth in the ear? There's a history of cancer in my family. It killed my Dad (at 58), my Nana and my Grandpa and may have had a hand in killing my Papa and Grandma. I've already lived longer than my Mom (I think she was 34 when she passed away. Leigh, if you read this, correct me if I'm wrong) and this series of episodes the past 3 weeks has brought mortality to mind more than once.

Welcome to my latest personal Spiritual revival.

The Ministry of Mercy book is really a gift from God, brought to me at the right time. I am really motivated to start doing things, in my church, my family, my community and anywhere else God calls me. I dusted off my Promise Keepers' New Testament, which I haven't cracked in 3 years, and am committed to reading it twice in the next 12 months. My brain is percolating with new ministry ideas and I am prayerfully seeking ways to "fight a few fights" at my church that may be unpopular with some folks. I am also excited, at the smae time, about deepening my, and my family's, involvement in serving God and our church family at the ol' Fortress.

So, what else led to my own personal revival?

I recently sent an invitation to Steve Calverley, Al Baker and Pernell Goodyear to have coffee and swap stories and ideas. I am more and more impressed with some of the thinking of these three guys and, while I don't agree with all things postmodern, I can, through some of their (and others') commentaries, see some of the concerns postmoderns have when it comes to the modern church. I also see their deep love of Jesus and their desire to live their lives like him. I am also looking forward to building stronger relationships with some of my Philpott brothers and sisters and having opportunity to talk about stuff that runs far below the surface.

My revival also stems from the devotionals I get from Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life and some of the reading I have done on my own of late (for example, Bibby's Restless Churches and McLaren's Story We Find Ourselves In books. With McLaren, though, I caution that for every good point McLaren makes in these books, I think there are two or three that are absolute drivel). It also stems from a challenge from my stepmother, who told me that, instead of reading other's interpretations of the Bible, maybe I should go back and re-read it myself and let God open my heart to His teaching. Smart, Godly woman.

The next 12 months should be exciting.

Another great deveotional

2005-10-28T09:16:00.000-04:00

By the way, if you stop by and find these devotionals to your liking, click on the Purpose Driven Life link on the right and you can have a devotional e-mailed to you every day.

More On Religion and Spirituality
by John Fischer

When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. (Matthew 6:2 NLT)

I don't know how many of these sayings are floating around out there, but I may have uncovered something significant. Earlier this week I quoted one of our readers as saying that a religious person sits in church thinking about fishing while a spiritual person goes fishing thinking about God. (Not at all meaning to imply that the spiritual person is fishing in place of going to church, by the way. The point is simply that spiritual people worship God with a heart that permeates everything they do, while religious people may look holy, but not have their heart in it.)

Now someone has sent me this: “A religious person is trying to avoid hell; a spiritual person has already been there.”

Religion is the nemesis of Christianity, and these types of contrasts point that out. Religious people are stuck in a religious points system that keeps track of everything. They are actually pretty confident that hell can be avoided based on their own point tally. By contrast, keeping track is the last thing spiritual people want to do, because their track record condemns them. They believe that they deserve hell and get heaven by God's grace. Spiritual people are constantly pinching themselves because they can't believe their good fortune. The last thing they want to do is tally up points, because that will only confirm what they already know: they don't have enough. Never will.

I think I'll try my own hand at this:

Religion is a system; spirituality is a state of being, made possible by a relationship. Religion is trying to please God; spirituality is enjoying God. Religion is Martha fussing in the kitchen; spirituality is Mary listening at the feet of Jesus. Religion keeps the score; spirituality keeps the faith.

And yes, spiritual people have been to hell and back, because that is how they came to know God in the first place. They all came to the end of their rope in some way, calling out desperately to God and finding Him there, eager to listen and respond. It's the hellish kinds of experiences that have brought them to realize their need.

No one can be found unless they are lost; no one can be saved unless they are drowning. Spiritual people realize this because they have been rescued. By contrast, “Jesus saves” means nothing to the religious because they have nothing in their determination from which they need to be saved. Religious people have too tight a hold on their own lives to ever let go. Spiritual people let go and find that God is always there to catch them.

Consequently, when spiritual people serve, they do it out of full hearts of gratitude. When religious people serve, they do it for points, and as Jesus said, they already have their reward (Matthew 6:2).

You can see how religion has kept a lot of people from Christianity. It's a shame, because there couldn't be anything farther from the truth of what it means to know God.

Another great devotional

2005-10-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

A Promise Kept
by John Fischer

In today's crowded marketplace, few people have the time or inclination to bother with claims, Christian, or otherwise. Words are not enough. People have seen and heard it all. Relationships that mean anything are made on promises that transcend thinking or words. These promises are rooted in trust because they become promises kept. What does that mean to keep a promise?

I have a friend who will shut the door on his office and bear his heart to me. This is a huge privilege and not anything to take lightly. This man has trusted me with his deepest inner feelings and frustrations; what am I going to do about that? Say I'll pray for him and walk away? Offer some advice and a few scripture verses? No, I'm going to try and do something about it. I'm going to look into whatever resources I have that might be able to shed some light on his situation. Yes, I'm going to pray about it, but I will also agonize over it, as if it were my own problem. In fact that is an important part of fellowship. What is his becomes mine in some way. If it doesn't I haven't given up anything for anybody. Isn't that what it means to bear someone else's burdens?

What is true fellowship if it isn't this? We stand inside each other's shoes. We look at the world through someone else's eyes. We see them and we see ourselves in the same situation.

Look at Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. He got inside her shoes and saw someone well aware of her own guilt. She didn't need to hear she was a sinner -- she already knew that -- she needed to be forgiven. In contrast, the guys standing around ready to stone her never had a clue about her because they never got out of their own holy shoes to even give her a second thought. Elated that they had caught a sinner red-handed, they knew they were right on this one. And of course you know Christ's response to them. Since they could not see their own sin when they looked at her, they had His permission to stone her to death.

If I look at someone else and see only their sin, I have Christ's permission to do the same. (I know of what I speak. You should see my rock collection!) But if I look at someone and see my own sin, my need, my frustration, because I have identified my need in theirs, then I have no stones to throw. My hands are free. I can help.

You can, too. And isn't this the kind of help we all want: Help from someone who understands and passes no judgment?

Dont miss it

2005-10-07T17:12:00.000-04:00

Another great post from Tim Bailey

2005-09-30T12:13:00.000-04:00

Go to Tim's blog and read this.

Do it now. You'll be glad you did.

Ministries of Mercy

2005-09-27T07:58:00.000-04:00

Click on the book cover to get ordering information from amazon.com.

My home church, Philpott, is going to use this book as a basis for a church-wide study called "40 Days of Mercy". I have decided that, as I read each chapter, I'm going to journal a few thoughts here on Sojourn.

So, the introduction....

Titled "Who Is My Neighbour", we begin with an extensive definition of poverty and need as well as a definition of various demographic groups considered poor and/or in need in today's society (homeless, working poor, children of poverty, youthful poor, new ethnics, blue-collar poor, gray america, the sick and prisoners). Each group is analyzed briefly and arguments are made as to how difficult it is for these groups to either a) rise above their circumstance and/or b) live comfortably in a North American society that has seen many market forces (technology, globalization, etc.)eliminate opportunities whereby these groups could make a comfortable living.

The author moves from this to the conclusion that our society is at a crossroads that only the Church can bridge, and the argument makes a lot of sense. Here are some excerpts from Keller's conclusions in this chapter that particularly resonated with me.

...there are many people in need, their needs are deepening, and the needy are a diverse group. All this is more than most evangelicals are seeing.

This is very true. It's so easy to become calloused looking at those sitting on street corners and dismiss them and many evangelicals are in affluent churches/neighborhoods, so it's hard to appreciate the losses being suffered by what was once the "working" class.

North American evangelicals once perceived the ministry of mercy as an optional kind of work. But times are changing, demanding us to respond

I'm not entirely sold on the idea that ministry of mercy was considered optional. I do think the church has to decrease its global missions focus and invest more money and resources in local mercy missions.

Just the explosion of the elderly population alone could spell a breakdown of the present welfare system. But add the possibility of an AIDS holocaust, the impoverishing of the working class and the growth of low-income immigrants and female single-parent homes and we have a virtual certainty that current government programs will be completely inadequate. No (social institution) will escape the impact of heavy new social problems.

This is an American book, but Canada will also experience much of the same problems over the next 20 years.

Regardless of our political views, it is indisputable that millions of people who once looked to the government will now need service and aid from churches and other agencies. The church will be forced by demographics to see what the Bible has always said. Love cannot be only expressed through talk, but through word AND deed (1 John 3:17) (emphasis mine).

Totally agree. Churches (especially those in inner-city areas) and their members will need to be prepared to open their doors, hearts, wallets and schedules to needs that will only increase in the coming years.

And now, the crux of the argument. Get comfy, this will take a minute (emphases mine):

When accomplishing this task, Francis Schaeffer said, Christians may be, at times, "cobelligerents" with the Left or the Right, but never allies. "If there is social injustice, say there is social injustice. If we need order, say we need order....But do not align yourself as though you are in either of these camps: You are an ally of neither. The church of Jesus Christ is different, totally different."

The ideology of the Left believes big government and social reform will solve social ills, while the Right believes big business and economic growth will do it. The Left expects a citizen to be held legally accountable for the use of his wealth, but totally autonomous in other areas, such as sexual morality. The Right expects a citizen to be held legally accountable in areas of personal morality, but totally autonomous in the use of wealth. The North American "idol" - radical individualism - lies beneath both ideologies. A Christian sees either "solution" as fundamentally humanistic and simplistic.

The causes of our worsening social problems are far more complex than either the secularists of the Right or Left understand. We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with powers and principalities! We have seen there is great social injustice - racial prejudice, greed, avarice - by those with the greatest wealth in the country (and, sadly, within the evagelical church itself). At the same time, there is a general breakdown of order - of the family and the morals of the nation. There is more premarital sex (and, thus, there are more unwed mothers), more divorce, child neglect and abuse, more crime. Neither a simple redistribution of wealth nor simple economic growth and prosperity can mend broken families; nor can they turn low-skilled mothers into engineers or technicians.

Only the ministry of the church of Jesus Christ, and the millions of "mini-churches" (Christian homes) throughout the country can attack the roots of social problems. Only the church can minister to the whole person. Only the gospel understands that sin has ruined us both individually and socially. We cannot be viewed individualistically (as the capitalists do) or collectively (as the communists do) but as related to God. Only Christians, armed with the Word and Spirit, planning and working to spread the kingdom and righteousness of Christ, can transform a nation as well as a neighbourhood as well as a broken heart.

I so TOTALLY love this passage. We, as a society, can be so bloody selfish. Mom and Dad both need to work full-time to afford the $350,000 house, two cars and all the toys. So what if the kids spend their day at a daycare? Hubby isn't getting what he wants out of the marriage, so he goes and gets a little on the side. Things are too stressful, so Mom spends all day every Saturday on the golf course instead of spending time doing family activities. We have become so lax in modelling and teaching our children family values and simple respect and then try to hide behind bluster and arrogance when things go wrong at school or home or work.

The reason? Simple. SIN. The sin of self-centredness. A successful marriage is one where the husband and wife each give up some of their personal needs/wants to the betterment of the relationship. A successful family is not one that is always laughing and joking around, but one that models respect for one another based on deep bonds of love that can only come from investing our time, energy and attention in one another. A successful church is built on a God-focus that leads them to want to love and serve one another and their community at large. We seek God's leadership in our moral, ethical, financial and spiritual stewardship. We desire to model Jesus' earthly example of humility and self-sacrifice and we never stop reaching for more of our heavenly Father. If we want to successfully evangelize our community (and I've said this before), we need to meet them on their terms and serve their needs. This ability comes through conversation and fellowship with those around us, NOT by sitting on numerous committees within the walls of a building.

Dear God, I pray you will use this 40 Days of Mercy to change me, transform me into a servant seeking to serve my community and, through that service, glorify Your Name. Amen.

Here's another interesting devotional

2005-09-15T10:47:00.000-04:00

I don't quite know how to take this. This strikes me as highly postmodern/emergent, but I think that this is where the church has to get in order to reach the much more cynical/doubtful folks in today's world. Seems to fit with something Pernell wrote to me a while back about how one must take the journey before reaching the destination. Anyways, please do read it and share your thoughts without fear:

Dana’s Point
by John Fischer (for The Purpose Driven Life)

I have established periodic contact with a graduate from a university I visited a couple years ago in Minnesota. Her name is Dana, and she is a bright, articulate African-American woman who went to college on a music scholarship but is multi-talented in ways that I hope will put her somewhere in the public eye as an influential leader.

In an email recently, she told me of her experience attending a “church without walls” in Los Angeles – a new model for church that relies primarily on small groups meeting in various locations around the city. It’s a model uniquely suitable to the Purpose Driven Life message in that Rick Warren’s book has been read and experienced primarily in small groups as opposed to being read privately or taught strictly from the pulpit. (A current article in New Yorker magazine points out that Ashley Smith and fugitive Brian Nichols were, in essence, a small group, as she read and they grappled with the realities of Chapter 33 while he held her captive in her apartment.)

Dana tells of a guy who has been coming to their small group for about 4 months. He’s a regular, reliable part of the group, and in her words, “[his] joy is in full swing when he is serving other people.” She goes on and on about him in her email, purposely holding the surprise until the end: he isn’t a believer. “He is in the process of weighing what he believes and he is worried that he will not, as he puts it, ‘land where we have landed.’” And yet he continues to come and even contributes.

Our old model of church would not allow for something like this to take place. The unbeliever would be too suspect, and he would feel too out of place to want to come back. But in a small group, a person like this can be accepted and allowed to wrestle with his or her own process (go back to Ashley and Brian if you want another example). As Dana says, “I am just catching on. True Christ community is where there are believers and non-believers coexisting, serving, loving.”

And why not? Every believer was a non-believer once. Do we wait until a person is a professing Christian to accept and care for them? Does love have a start and stop button? Is friendship conditional upon belief?

Dana concludes that she is experiencing a different part of faith, “not always just believing God for something I want, but believing that my God, The Living God, is big enough to finish what He has started concerning my friend. And how wonderful it is for me, and the rest of my small group community, to be able to REALLY say, no matter where you ‘land’ we are your friends.”

And isn’t it worth reflecting on the fact that this person who hasn’t “landed” yet, is a vital, contributing part of the whole?

"Restless Churches"

2005-09-08T08:23:00.000-04:00

I have been reading this book, by Reginald Bibby, a sociologist/pastor from Alberta (click on the post title to see book info on Amazon.ca). It is a very detailed investigation into what I call Canada's "State of the Religious Nation". I will be pulling more from this book to share with readers as I finish it, but I wanted to share this passage, which I think is highly valid in today's increasingly insular and skeptical age:

It may well be that churches have to be healthy in order to look outward-much like a person has to be personally healthy, physically and emotionally, before he or she can turn outward to help others. Clerly, healthy churches have positive things to offer to the people with whom they come into contact.

However, I think that caution needs to be used in assuming that congregational health measured by five or eight or twelve criteria will inevitably result in focused ministry to outsiders. Programs like NCD (National Church Development), if they help to build healthy congregations, are to be commended and used.

But, on the surface, the frequent claims that healthy churches will become growing churches comes precariously close to another "magic potion". Jeff Berrie points out that the survey is grounded in Mark 4:28-29, where Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a partnership between man, who scatters the seed, and God, who somehow causes it to grow to maturity. He adds, "We have a responsibility in growing the church, and so does God". What makes me nervous is when he adds, "Our responsibility is to make sure the church is healthy. God's responsibility is to then grow the church".

Does church health all by itself produce growth in the form of outreach to people requiring ministry? Is it solely up to God? Or does God call healthy churches to go out and "grow the church"? I'm inclined to think the latter. In fact, I have no doubt about it.

This is all a preamble to the payoff:

If so, what's needed in Canada today is not merely healthy churches. That takes us back to the parable about drill bits and holes and to means-end inversion. So what if churches are healthy and people still aren't receiving the ministry they require? The drill bits might be great but the companies will still be floundering?

What's needed so badly today is a commitment on the part of churches - which, perhaps like the rest of us, are experiencing varying degrees of health - to do what they can by moving beyond ministries that are turned inward, and reaching out to Canadians who need ministry. Preoccupation with church health per se can result in narcissistic mirror-gazing at a time when God seems to be calling churches to get out of the dressing room and get on the stage.

This resonated so strongly with me on so many levels. I have recently felt a strong calling to reach out to the community around my church, and I am a great admirer of the ability of small church communities like the FRWY to coordinate fairly large-scale efforts on a shoestring with the goal of meeting their community. This is something I think churches need to be doing. It is critical, however, and Bibby mentions this too, that there be an end goal of evangelization always in mind. However, in today's overly defensive society, the effort must be made to reach out in a non-confrontational fashion. This starts with, I believe, formulating relationships and addressing physical and emotional needs, leading to deeper spiritual discussions.

It is also important that churches continue to look after themselves internally, maintaining spiritual health, but I think a better balance needs to be struck. This is why I am so thrilled with some of the great things happening at Philpott. I really feel a sense that we are getting ready to really step out into the downtown core and begin building relationships with some of the folks in the community. This is also an effort that we are starting in conjunction with other downtown churches and that makes it doubly exciting.

Thank you, God, for all that you have done and will do in not only my heart and spirit, but within my church and our city.

Amen

Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

Please be in prayer for all those struggling from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Also, here is a devotional that speaks volumes (at least, to me) about where God is in a mess like this:

Acts of God; Tears of God

Hard to think of anything else right now but to feel for the people in the southern United States whose homes and virtual lives lie under feet of water, mud and rubble. My neighbor was out on her porch late last night talking about how she couldn't stop watching CNN. She knows friends and relatives in or near some of the flooded areas and there's no way to get through to them. I'm sure that is a very common dilemma right now. It's hard to pull yourself away because it is so hard to imagine this happening to anybody, much less someone you know. It's moments like this when we feel so frail and helpless as human beings. We are victims of forces way beyond our control.

In legal terms disasters like this fall under the category: “Acts of God.” Doesn't bode too well for God's reputation, does it? Is it that God doesn't have anything better to do than devastate the lives of hundreds of thousands of people? To some it may seem like that. We call natural disasters “Acts of God” because there is no other way to explain them. I would prefer to believe God is in charge of even things like this, and accept the inconsistencies that come with that belief, rather than live in a world even God can't control, or worse, where there is no reason for our existence and no one there to hear our silent screams.

One thing we need to remember is that this is the same God who let the world and His human creation go bad, and then turned around and sacrificed His own Son in a brutal death in order to save it. Will we ever understand that? Probably not. But as a result of God's unique divine/human incarnation, He understands us. He is neither distant nor untouched by our human predicament. Believe me, He's got His arms around these flood zones right now eager to help and comfort. And just as God suffered over Jesus, His heart is breaking over these losses. Whatever you feel, you can be sure God feels also, and then some. The acts of God include the tears of God. And just as He will ultimately redeem the human race, He will also turn our lives and devastations into good somehow. Life will go on and God will still be God.

Yesterday the governor of Louisiana asked for everyone to spend the day in prayer. That's where we turn when things like this happen. To have no one there to pray to would be even more devastating.

"[Prayer] would be the best thing to calm our spirits and thank our Lord that we are survivors," said Governor Kathleen Blanco. "Slowly, gradually, we will recover; we will survive; we will rebuild.”

Amen.

A little bit about family

2005-06-18T09:55:00.000-04:00

I don't often talk about my family. Mainly because if anyone wants to know where my walks fails with God fails the most, they can tell you. However, I do believe that my beautiful wife Christine and my two amazing boys Aidan and Aaron are the greatest earthly gift God has, or will, ever give to me.

But my family doesn't stop there. I have a mother. I also have two brothers and a sister, all married (adding in two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law), and they have provided me with 7 great nieces and nephews. I also have a fantastic mother- and father-in-law, who have been there for us anytime we've ever needed them. I also have a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, neither of whom are married, but are very loving to Aidan and Aaron.

But my family doesn't end there. My Dad (now in Heaven with, I believe, my Mom), has two sister and a brother, adding 3 more aunts and uncles. They had, between them, 12 kids. One sadly passed away a few years ago, but I still have 11 living first cousins (all but one of them married) on my Dad's side. Between them, they have had 20 kids, so you can add in my second cousins. On my Mom's side, there's my aunt, who is my only living relative on Mom's side of the family, her husband and their two kids (first cousins). We even went so far to have a family genealogy done and the book is over 1000 pages of VERY small type. That's my family, too.

But my family doesn't end there. Christine and I have a number of close friends. Each of these people, and their families, mean a great deal to Christine and I and those relationships are familial to us.

But my family doesn't end there. My church has a weekly attendance across two services of about 350. Each of those people is a brother or sister of mine in the Lord.

But my family doesn't end there. My websphere has a number of people (some of whom I haven't even met) who I also consider brothers and sisters in the Lord and, while we may not worship/pray/evangelize in the same way, we all share a common heart for those around us who have not yet met God.

Quick math tells me that God has blessed me with a family of over 400 people that I can name. Each of them is different, each of them is special and each one of them means a great deal to me. I argue with them, I rejoice with them, I converse with them, I cry and laugh and celebrate and grieve and share every other emotion with them. I am blessed by every one of them. And how amazing is it to think that my family likely really numbers into the millions when you add in the consideration that we are ALL God's children.

Thank you God, for family. May you continue to bless me by making my family both bigger AND closer every day. Amen.

I'm Wesleyan

2005-06-17T21:36:00.000-04:00

In truth, though, my scores are so middle of the road, I could be just about any of 'em based on simply moving an answer or twoone spot to the left or right.

Anyone who can help with Sola Scriptura, Bishop Spong and Karl Barth, your willingness to share knowledge is appreciated. Might change my scores.

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

79%

Emergent/Postmodern

71%

Fundamentalist

68%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

61%

Neo orthodox

50%

Roman Catholic

50%

Modern Liberal

50%

Reformed Evangelical

46%

Classical Liberal

46%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

HatTip to Pernell Goodyear

Great Devotional (and oh, so true)

2005-06-15T14:45:00.000-04:00

From The Purpose Driven Life

Michael and Me
by John Fischer

I picked up my newspaper this morning and saw the headlines: “Jackson Acquitted on All 10 Counts,” and my immediate thought had nothing to do with Michael Jackson. Instead, for some reason I saw my name there. I saw the headline: “Fischer Acquitted on All Counts.” And here’s the deal: I know I’m guilty.

That’s the big difference between Michael and me. MJ will most likely now appear exonerated. I’m sure statements along the lines of justice being done will be prevalent from his camp. My acquittal is much different. I don’t want the subject of justice to even come up. Justice will not be in my best interest primarily because I know I’m guilty. My acquittal has little to do with fame, race, or any of the issues we will be hearing about in the next few days. My acquittal has everything to do with mercy. It was all the judge’s doing. I’m still pretty much baffled by the whole thing, to be honest. I didn’t even request it. He acquitted me because he convicted His Son in my place. And since justice was already done on the cross, I can now go free. Like Michael Jackson.

Every day we get to breathe is another day we don’t deserve. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve; mercy is not getting what we do deserve, and the incredible thing is: we get both. This is not only an important element to our relationship with God (we wouldn’t have one without this); it’s also an important part of our message to the world.

A big part of our mission in the world is to announce God’s mercy, along with an acute awareness of our own guilty verdict. Without both sides of this story, people quickly get the wrong idea about Christians — that they are people who are better than everyone else, or at least they think they are. We would do well never to talk about justice being done without accompanying statements of gratitude for our own undeserved acquittal.

This is why I do not want to look at the headlines about Michael Jackson and shake my head. Instead, I let out a sigh of relief, because that’s me, too, in that picture. That’s me, acquitted of my real guilt — an acquittal that makes me the most fortunate good-for-nothing on the face of the earth. And it’s the gospel that propels me to tell this story to everyone I meet, because, in reality, the world is merely full of other good-for-nothings like me for whom Christ died. The only real difference is who knows it, and who doesn’t.

Guess the gloves are off now

2005-06-12T22:31:00.000-04:00

OK. Everybody can now take a deep breath. Gloves are back on.

Good post to look at

2005-06-02T08:19:00.000-04:00

Check this out.....

The BolgBlog makes an interesting point of how to keep churches from being pushed out to the margins of the world.

(HatTip (TM Austin Fusilier) to Pernell Goodyear)

More about Pernell's Post

2005-05-11T13:42:00.000-04:00

I am still finding the discussion around this post very interesting, but I think it's time I write something that's been spinning in my mind for quite some time.

I believe that God is an amazing individual. A being who encompasses every person on this earth (Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in his own image....male and female he created them") and who created the earth and every living creature inhabiting it in 6 days. A being who erased much of His creation through a tremendous flood because His children (whom He had created) had gone so far astray. A being who, in a final act of sacrifice, sent His Son to teach us and, ultimately, to die for us.

Yet I find, as is the case with some of the comments on the post on Pernell's log, we seem to want to fit God (and, really, the entire Holy Trinity) into a box that fits our specific ideas. See, Pernell, in a span of three days, made the post about pastors marrying homosexual couples and another lamenting the unwillingness of many churches to allow women to ascend to a pastoral role.

Now, let it be said here that I have no problem with women or men of any race, ethnic background or colour assuming a leadership role in the church. If that flies in the face of my brothers and sisters in Christ, get over it.

Back to my original point.....

This is one of the reasons I get so annoyed by theology. For centuries, mankind has made an incredible effort to get their heads around Scripture. As a result, we wind up with a church that is nothing more than an elaborate jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing. We have a Catholic and a Protestant church, each with countless offshoots that get totally hung up on interpreting Paul's letters, the Gospels, and all other parts of the Bible in an effort to create a theology within which a church can march in lockstep (although it is called structured learning).

We are missing so much.

While I agree that churches must have leadership, we should be focused on nothing more elaborate than serving and, through that service, sharing the message of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Saviour. I think this is, in a large part, where the Emergent and, to a lesser degree, AGC churches want to go, but we're not doing that right.

"So, Mr. Expert, how would you do it?"

Well, allow me to share.

My relationship with Jesus Christ was established through my own prayer, my reading of the Bible, talks with people who I felt were Godly (primarily, at the time, my Dad and my then-pastors Steve Baldry and Wayne Wright), and simply watching and listening to people around my church. These were people who, like me, knew hardly anything about the servant heart, but wanted God to teach us how to be a servant.

Point being, it is up to me spend the time with God in reading, prayer and worship in order to learn a) more about Him and b) what He wants me to do to serve Him in my time on earth. If I spend too much time reading and listening to other people's interpretation of how we should walk, then I am more likely to become like them and less like God wants me to be. That is a sure way to earn God's displeasure and, Dave, my God can be an Army major if I choose to follow the ways of men and stray from the path of God. God has the ability to wipe out this whole planet in a breath, and that is someone I DO NOT want to mess with. Yes, God is loving, giving and compassionate, but we must focus on doing His will, not reinterpreting His will to fit our needs.

Jesus was sent to Earth, I believe, not to be a nice person, but to show mankind how far they had strayed from God. If we had not allowed our own sinful natures to so horribly poison our relationship with Him, there may have been no need to send Christ. All Jesus is is God in human form. Basically, I believe that, as God in human form, Jesus came to show us what God can accomplish in us when He is placed at the centre of our lives as well as to restore the path to Heaven that we have destroyed through our constant sin and neglect. Being a giving, nice person who does good things for others is not enough. Whenever Jesus perfomed a miracle or drew a crowd, it was always followed by a time of teaching about God and His love for His created children.

So, here it is......

Women who feel led to preach, go get 'em. 1 Timothy 2:12 is a difficult passage, because it seems so clearly to state that women should not teach, but I have a hard time believing that God placed limits over ANY of His children.

Gay marriage....all pastors should read Romans 2. Verses 26 and 27 are a pretty clear statement that homosexuality is pretty close to Godlessness. And before you wind up the silly argument that we are all sinners and, as a result, none of us should be married, I believe that accepting Christ as your Saviour forgives the sins of the past, teaches you to deal with the sin of today and prepares you to recognize the sin of tomorrow. If you try to claim the name of Christ and still maintain the sinful relationships you had before that (and that can be homosexuality, common-law or being sexually active before marriage) you had better think twice before you enter into marriage.

Claiming the name of Christ without opening your heart to God's transforming Holy Spirit is an empty act, as far as I am concerned. The path to Glory is a narrow one and, as Jesus taught in Luke 18:24-25 "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". We, as a society, are not just materially rich, but we also think ourselves rich in knowledge, intelligence and wisdom. Often to the point where we think that we might just know God better than God.

And that is a dangerous place to be. I harbor a healthy fear of God because I know, on the day of Reckoning, I will be found wanting. I do not give change to every beggar on the street, I yell at my kids and my wife far too often, I have a tendency to swear too much and engage in occasionally bawdy/rough humour. I do enjoy the trappings of the world, I occasionally like to step beyond a two-drink limit, I am prone to gossip and I am often very selfish with my time and resources. Almost every one of these is justifiable in the eyes of the world (the beggar will just use the change for booze, everyone yells at their family, we all curse and the best humour is often politically incorrect, everybody should have the opportunity to enjoy this life while we are here and spend our time how we see fit) and it's all crap. In God's eyes, I'm just as big a disaster as Paul Bernardo. On my day of Judgement, I will come up WAY short and I will need Jesus to intercede to save me from God's wrath.

In the meantime, one day at a time.

More later. Sorry if this wandered. I warned y'all it would be stream-of-consciousness.

Bye.

Good discussion

2005-05-11T09:15:00.000-04:00

This simple post at Pernell Goodyear's blog is triggering some interesting discussion. Fascinating reading.

God, the Pope and Terri Schiavo

2005-04-06T23:28:00.000-04:00

Allow me to rant.

I have been wrestling with a lot of issues lately in the spiritual realm. I have been putting together a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith (and I'll share it one day) and I have been watching with great interest the coverage of the passing of Pope John Paul II and have occasionally watched with rising anger the final days of Terri Schiavo.

Before I get to Schiavo, let me say this about the Pope. He was a Man of God. His passion to see God's work done and His Name upheld has been a great example to me. There are ideological differences, but I had a great amount of respect for the man and his faith. Rest in Peace and God Bless you on your promotion to Glory.

Now, Schiavo.

I am so mad about this. This poor woman did NOTHING to warrant what happened to her, and while I am sure God had a plan here, I am furious at how things happened. Terri Schiavo was not a celebrity in her life and it was only the Jerry Springer-ization of her final weeks that moved the world to the door step of her hospice. There are, I'm sure, a number of people dying a slow death across North America today. There are, I'm sure, families wrestling with, and disagreeing over, the difficult question of whether or not to end their loved one's suffering. In all of these cases, CNN is not there, nor is Fox News or anybody else. Why? Because somehow, the husband who seemed to have the decision making power had gotten involved with another woman and had started a family with her. The parents wanted control back, yada, yada, yada. So the parents fight in court. Smelling an opportunity to exploit someone for ratings, here comes the TV. And of course right behind them we have the politicians and lawyers, who suddenly smell a photo op and microphones from behind which they can get a platform to make themselves visible and air their views. Then come the grandstanders like Jesse Jackson, who scream God's name for the TV's, but I wonder how loudly they scream it in private company.

What a load of hypocritical crap.

You know, I expect the coverage that is being given to the Pope. He chose to be a public figure and his passing has implications globally. I would never dare to speak for Terri Schiavo, but I can tell you this: If something like this had happened around my Dad during his final bout with cancer, he would have told everyone to get lost. Schiavo's family should have done the same thing. Instead, they turn everything over to lawyers and politicians, who see it as an opportunity to promote themselves. If for no other reason than to let their wife and daughter die with dignity, whether by choice or by God's hand.

To anyone involved with this mess, shame on you. Terri Schiavo, rest in peace. God knows you've sure earned it.

2005-03-30T12:47:00.000-05:00

Thank you, God, for who you are and your unending, unbending love for me. I don't deserve it and I am thankful for your forgiveness. Thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for me.

God, I pray for my brother Mike and my sister Karlene. Thanks you for bringing Karlene through her surgery, for giving the doctors and nurses the skill to perform such complex surgery and for the family members you have placed around them to help Mike and Karlene while she heals. I pray, God, for healing for Karlene and physical and emotional strength for Mike. I pray, too, that you would protect Carter and Jenna from any illnesses or other problems. Please keep my mum safe as she flies out to Saskatchewan this weekend and may she be a real help to Karlene and Mike.

Thank you God for hearing me. May Your will be done.

Amen

Welcome

2005-03-28T22:35:00.000-05:00

So here we are.

Over the past few months, I have really found myself wrestling with many spiritual issues. Some of them, I have posted at my other blog Pops 'n' Buzzes, but I find that it is too busy with all the other things in my life, so I came here.

What will a reader find here? My musings on sermons I have heard, things I have read, whether the Bible or other spiritual texts, links to articles and websites I have found and/or visit regularly. Every now and then, I'll toss out prayers. I find my overactive mind cannot focus when I pray silently, so I'll pray aloud through my blog.

A warning to the reader: This blog will occasionally be a little disjointed, since it is not only going to consist of thought-out posts, but also my thoughts and prayer items as they come to me. This may leave readers a little confused, frustrated or other adjectives with negative connotations. Tough. This is MY walk with MY God being diarized here.

I welcome comments. I love a good discussion. Please feel free to question, encourage, argue, debate, discuss, pray, whatever. Keep it positive, though. Anyone starts tearing me or anyone else down, I'll pray for you first and block your comments second.

Peace and blessings. Enjoy your stay.