For years I've been toying with the phrase "At cross-purposes" as a name for my personal business and potential band.
I like the pun; cross as in against the grain and cross as in the big "C" Cross of Christ.
Now, after wondering about how to implement the expression, i have finally decided to use it as the title for my Blog; why I didn't think of it earlier, I'll never know, but the past is passed and here I am with my renamed writing and reflection space.
What is it all about? Why Crossed Purposes? Why go against the grain?
Well, I have good intentions; I want to serve Jesus with all that I do. I also have a problem: I don't always fulful those intentions. I'm not perfect; I am as much 'of the world' as I am Jesus' follower and servant. Because I I live in a world in which Jesus is not always recognized or appreciated,I often find myself facing resistance from the throngs, or bumping into my own shortcomings and mistakes.
And it's where my mistakes and the ways of the world I adopt are at Crossed Purposes with Jesus. That's one reason for my love of the phrase. Jesus wants me to go one way; my personal limits keep me from following fully; I cross paths with Jesus rather than going along with him.
The other reason I love the phrase is that it expresses how I view my place in the world when I do succeed in serving my Saviour: using the techniques and methods of society to accomplish Jesus' will, I am at Crossed Purposes with the very folks that reject, ignore or don't know Him; I use the symbols and lingo of the world to get His message across. I use the resources of the world to fulfill heavenly, Christ inspired needs; I am, for all intents and purposes, at crossed purposes with society, using its own ways to to go against the grain and promote the ways of Jesus.
And it's all for the Cross of Christ, the emblem of His death, and the sign of His resurrection; His Cross is my purpose; when I cross Him, He forgives through His death on the Cross; when I serve Him, I re-purpose the ways of the world to meet the needs of His Cross.
It might not be overly original; it might be a terrible pun; but it is who I am and what I am about; I am at Crossed Purposes, even if it means going against the grain.
January 20th Useful
Many organizations have specific mandates. Their mission statements say what the group is about and what it does. They are clear and, naturally, specific to the group. Here at St. James we state proudly that we ‘rejoice with those who rejoice.’ A clear Mission statement is a helpful thing, but sometimes, like the bit from St. James, the ideals are something less than practical. That’s not to say that we cannot indeed be happy for folks that are happy but sometimes it feels a little airy-fairy to say the least.
By contrast and as an example of something more ‘useful,’ I belong to an organization that actually has within its mandate, a statement about being ‘Useful’ to the community. This, to me, has a much more substantial feel; it’s a statement you can hold on to, something that says: this is a practical organization.
I think, if nothing else, Jesus would like to have been thought of as useful. He certainly served a purpose that was practical and helpful simply by loving us so much. His love, however, isn’t confined to a tear when we cry or a smile when we are happy. Jesus’ love manifests itself in going out of the way to make the lonely feel at home; He not only comforts those in pain, He heals them; when there is an injustice He deals with it. Jesus expresses His love in real, tangible and, yes, useful ways.
I would like to follow Jesus’ lead. My personal Mission Statement, if I had one, would read: I don’t just want to be different, I want to make a difference; I want to be useful. How about you?
By contrast and as an example of something more ‘useful,’ I belong to an organization that actually has within its mandate, a statement about being ‘Useful’ to the community. This, to me, has a much more substantial feel; it’s a statement you can hold on to, something that says: this is a practical organization.
I think, if nothing else, Jesus would like to have been thought of as useful. He certainly served a purpose that was practical and helpful simply by loving us so much. His love, however, isn’t confined to a tear when we cry or a smile when we are happy. Jesus’ love manifests itself in going out of the way to make the lonely feel at home; He not only comforts those in pain, He heals them; when there is an injustice He deals with it. Jesus expresses His love in real, tangible and, yes, useful ways.
I would like to follow Jesus’ lead. My personal Mission Statement, if I had one, would read: I don’t just want to be different, I want to make a difference; I want to be useful. How about you?
January 13th How’d that happen?
One of the duties of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sèvres, France, is maintain the world standard for the Kilogram. The Bureau holds the International Prototype of the Kilogram, or IPK, which is used as a reference for all those needing to test their measuring devices. It is a very important item; proper and fair trading on a global level depends on it.
In order to maintain its accuracy, the IPK is placed in a sealed, air-free container. Human hands never touch it; all measuring and comparisons are done remotely in order to ensure that nothing alters its weight.
Oddly enough, despite the best precautions of the Bureau, for reasons logical but beyond the scope of this writing, the IPK has gained weight. That’s right, the world standard is heavier than when it was first cast in 1879. So, while the Bureau thought they were maintaining its integrity, it had “fattened up” all by itself. Now they have to figure out how to get it back to its proper weight.
Does this story sound familiar? Have you ever tried to keep someone from getting into trouble? Have you ever tried to stay virtuous and failed miserably? Sometimes we simply can’t avoid trouble. Despite our best efforts, we take the pure, perfect being God created us to be and mess it all up. It’s a frustrating but normal part of being human. Incredibly, it’s as easy to be forgiven as it is to mess up. Through Jesus, God readily restores us to our proper perfect selves. Sadly, our restoration might not last long. Then again, neither will our sin, because God’s forgiveness is always just a prayer away.
In order to maintain its accuracy, the IPK is placed in a sealed, air-free container. Human hands never touch it; all measuring and comparisons are done remotely in order to ensure that nothing alters its weight.
Oddly enough, despite the best precautions of the Bureau, for reasons logical but beyond the scope of this writing, the IPK has gained weight. That’s right, the world standard is heavier than when it was first cast in 1879. So, while the Bureau thought they were maintaining its integrity, it had “fattened up” all by itself. Now they have to figure out how to get it back to its proper weight.
Does this story sound familiar? Have you ever tried to keep someone from getting into trouble? Have you ever tried to stay virtuous and failed miserably? Sometimes we simply can’t avoid trouble. Despite our best efforts, we take the pure, perfect being God created us to be and mess it all up. It’s a frustrating but normal part of being human. Incredibly, it’s as easy to be forgiven as it is to mess up. Through Jesus, God readily restores us to our proper perfect selves. Sadly, our restoration might not last long. Then again, neither will our sin, because God’s forgiveness is always just a prayer away.
January 6th Lookin’ Good?
According to the wisdom of a “TV Ad” 80 percent of feeling good is looking good. Strange, but according to the wisdom that I’ve learned from experience that idea is 100 percent wrong. I know plenty of physically attractive people that feel far from good. Let’s face it: illness of the body, mind and sole is not the sole domain of folks that do not, for one reason or another, look all that good.
Apart from my own personal experience and tons of empirical evidence provided by science, we have a very good reason for not believing a word that goofy ad says: never, ever does the Bible refer to a person’s attractiveness as being important.
Yes, I will grant you that both King Saul and King David were noted for being good looking men, and there are times when human beauty if praised, but those are the exceptions rather than the rule.
The ultimate proof of the fallacy that 80 percent of feeling good is looking good is found in Jesus’ ministry. If you read Scripture even only casually, you will find that Jesus never, ever alters a person’s appearance. In fact, he never even comments on what a person looks like. Instead, He helps folks by healing them physically and spiritually. He then encourages us to love God and one another as the single best way to feeling good. Well, not in those terms exactly, but you know what I mean; Jesus’ route to our being one with God, which is the best feeling possible, is through nothing more, or less, than love.
Apart from my own personal experience and tons of empirical evidence provided by science, we have a very good reason for not believing a word that goofy ad says: never, ever does the Bible refer to a person’s attractiveness as being important.
Yes, I will grant you that both King Saul and King David were noted for being good looking men, and there are times when human beauty if praised, but those are the exceptions rather than the rule.
The ultimate proof of the fallacy that 80 percent of feeling good is looking good is found in Jesus’ ministry. If you read Scripture even only casually, you will find that Jesus never, ever alters a person’s appearance. In fact, he never even comments on what a person looks like. Instead, He helps folks by healing them physically and spiritually. He then encourages us to love God and one another as the single best way to feeling good. Well, not in those terms exactly, but you know what I mean; Jesus’ route to our being one with God, which is the best feeling possible, is through nothing more, or less, than love.
December 23rd Remembering Christ
On the eve of Christmas Eve, reading a church bulletin or email, perhaps even doing the former sitting in a pew, it’s easy to remember that Christmas is all about Jesus Christ. If that’s not enough, there are Facebook pages, emails, videos and even lawn signs encouraging us to, as the saying goes, ‘keep the Christ in Christmas.’
Usually I agree with the sentiment. Sometimes, however, I find that they are kind of heavy and sometimes even offensive. One supposedly helpful children’s song I heard the other day actually encourages, with a cute little melody and fun words, as I said, actually encourages kids to stay out of stores that don’t have Merry Christmas in the window or great you with those same two words. Apart from being very pushy, it’s also a sickly sweet song.Yuck.
I have a different approach to the problem. Instead of just keeping Christ in Christmas, why don’t we do our best to keep Christ in every part of our lives, every day of the year?
Why don’t we try to show him alive and well in everything we do, say and are? In other words, why don’t we try to reveal that our very existence is all about Jesus? After all, God didn’t send him to earth for just one day of the year. So why should we remember him just once a year, or once a week reading a missive about him in a church bulletin?
Usually I agree with the sentiment. Sometimes, however, I find that they are kind of heavy and sometimes even offensive. One supposedly helpful children’s song I heard the other day actually encourages, with a cute little melody and fun words, as I said, actually encourages kids to stay out of stores that don’t have Merry Christmas in the window or great you with those same two words. Apart from being very pushy, it’s also a sickly sweet song.Yuck.
I have a different approach to the problem. Instead of just keeping Christ in Christmas, why don’t we do our best to keep Christ in every part of our lives, every day of the year?
Why don’t we try to show him alive and well in everything we do, say and are? In other words, why don’t we try to reveal that our very existence is all about Jesus? After all, God didn’t send him to earth for just one day of the year. So why should we remember him just once a year, or once a week reading a missive about him in a church bulletin?
December 16th Useless
A recent article I read examines our crazy consumer driven world. The writer points out how we are now being sold products that are made simply to be bought. That’s right: they are not useful other than satisfying and stimulating our desire to acquire.
I have never thought of it that way before. I had not realized that so many of the things we buy are really just trinkets or baubles that have no true purpose. It’s a sad, frustrating realization. Western society has trained itself that if having something is good, having more is better, even if it’s useless.
There are many problems with this. In addition to being addicted to acquiring stuff, there is the matter of wasting precious resources. The article’s author mentions the precious metals, forests and energy wasted in providing us with our fix. I see another major waste: human genius. Every product needs to be invented by someone. There are vast teams thinking of stuff to make so that we can buy more. Think of that: rather than figuring out how we might better live together, or waste less or get along without buying everything in sight, we are paying folks to think of things we can buy.
That’s not good. God did not put us on earth to have more playthings; we are here as God’s companions and children. Sadly, we’ve directed our attention away from God to ourselves and our stuff. That means we’re not only wasting the earth’s resources; we’re wasting ourselves. It’s time to turn things around. We need more holiness and less stuff. We need more sharing and less hoarding. Ultimately, we need more God and less us.
I have never thought of it that way before. I had not realized that so many of the things we buy are really just trinkets or baubles that have no true purpose. It’s a sad, frustrating realization. Western society has trained itself that if having something is good, having more is better, even if it’s useless.
There are many problems with this. In addition to being addicted to acquiring stuff, there is the matter of wasting precious resources. The article’s author mentions the precious metals, forests and energy wasted in providing us with our fix. I see another major waste: human genius. Every product needs to be invented by someone. There are vast teams thinking of stuff to make so that we can buy more. Think of that: rather than figuring out how we might better live together, or waste less or get along without buying everything in sight, we are paying folks to think of things we can buy.
That’s not good. God did not put us on earth to have more playthings; we are here as God’s companions and children. Sadly, we’ve directed our attention away from God to ourselves and our stuff. That means we’re not only wasting the earth’s resources; we’re wasting ourselves. It’s time to turn things around. We need more holiness and less stuff. We need more sharing and less hoarding. Ultimately, we need more God and less us.
December 9th Waste Not
I love bargains, gadgets and, I have to admit, brightly coloured packages. A couple of weeks ago these three loves came together in a less than half price deal I couldn’t resist. Hooray for my new GorillaPod tripod, purchased for less than ten dollars, taxes included!
In case you’re wondering, a GorillaPod is a tremendously versatile tripod that lets you mount a camera just about anywhere. I know this because I had one previously that I ended up giving away to a family member in Italy. That’s how cool this thing is, and that’s why I was so happy to buy a replacement very cheaply. The brightly coloured packaging didn’t hurt either.
The brightly coloured packaging, however, is the very reason for this missive. When I unwrapped the product, I couldn’t believe how much plastic and cardboard there was. I could probably have made another GorillaPod with it. Yes, I admit that I love brightly coloured packages; I also think that they’re a great waste and I begrudge paying for them, even at a bargain price.
I also begrudge what it says about us as consumers. Is the package really that important? Yes, I realize things have to be kept neat and tidy and that the advertisement helps direct folks to a product, but still, it doesn’t seem right. Our beloved home, planet Earth, has only limited resources. We are called by God to be wise stewards of those resources. Making useful products is wise. Wrapping them in tons of plastic and cardboard is a foolish use. I think I should reconsider my love of brightly coloured packages. Maybe I should just focus on the product instead. How about you?
In case you’re wondering, a GorillaPod is a tremendously versatile tripod that lets you mount a camera just about anywhere. I know this because I had one previously that I ended up giving away to a family member in Italy. That’s how cool this thing is, and that’s why I was so happy to buy a replacement very cheaply. The brightly coloured packaging didn’t hurt either.
The brightly coloured packaging, however, is the very reason for this missive. When I unwrapped the product, I couldn’t believe how much plastic and cardboard there was. I could probably have made another GorillaPod with it. Yes, I admit that I love brightly coloured packages; I also think that they’re a great waste and I begrudge paying for them, even at a bargain price.
I also begrudge what it says about us as consumers. Is the package really that important? Yes, I realize things have to be kept neat and tidy and that the advertisement helps direct folks to a product, but still, it doesn’t seem right. Our beloved home, planet Earth, has only limited resources. We are called by God to be wise stewards of those resources. Making useful products is wise. Wrapping them in tons of plastic and cardboard is a foolish use. I think I should reconsider my love of brightly coloured packages. Maybe I should just focus on the product instead. How about you?
December 2nd Average Expectations
The late Canadian piano virtuoso, Glenn Gould, was an incredibly meticulous man. When he recorded a piece of music, he would repeat the performance several times and then splice together one perfect version. This was in the days before simple computer editing. Mr. Gould would take pieces of recorded tape, cut them up and then stick them back together. It was a tricky, time consuming job that took many hours, but the result was as perfect a performance as any human could achieve.
Certain worship leaders have that same attitude. They seek excellence above ministry: every hymn must lead the congregation perfectly; every gift of music must be a technical master-piece; every note must be the epitome of the musician’s art.
I struggle with that quest for perfection. Music and worship is an offering to God and a ministry to those singing or playing instruments. Yes, I personally expect the songs to be recognizable and pleasant to hear, but I do not expect them to be so perfect as to be almost machine like. Some musicians are stronger than others. Some voices are more trained than others. Why, some folks are great in rehearsal but have a hard time singing or playing before a live congregation.
I think that as people of faith we should strive for excellent worship rather than excellent performances. There might be some mistakes or out of tune singing, but that is part of the charm of humanity. God knows we’re not perfect. God knows our music won’t be perfect. Yet God also knows the excellence of our hearts; when we do our best, God is pleased. Shouldn’t that be good enough for us, too?
Certain worship leaders have that same attitude. They seek excellence above ministry: every hymn must lead the congregation perfectly; every gift of music must be a technical master-piece; every note must be the epitome of the musician’s art.
I struggle with that quest for perfection. Music and worship is an offering to God and a ministry to those singing or playing instruments. Yes, I personally expect the songs to be recognizable and pleasant to hear, but I do not expect them to be so perfect as to be almost machine like. Some musicians are stronger than others. Some voices are more trained than others. Why, some folks are great in rehearsal but have a hard time singing or playing before a live congregation.
I think that as people of faith we should strive for excellent worship rather than excellent performances. There might be some mistakes or out of tune singing, but that is part of the charm of humanity. God knows we’re not perfect. God knows our music won’t be perfect. Yet God also knows the excellence of our hearts; when we do our best, God is pleased. Shouldn’t that be good enough for us, too?
November 25th Tripe
With Christmas just a month away, one retailer is trying to get customers to shop ‘til their wallets drop is with this advertisement: “All I want for Christmas is everything!” Sorry, I don’t make this stuff up; trained professionals are responsible for that greedy mentality.
In case you’re wondering why this bit of tripe is noteworthy, I direct you to the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. Jesus was not born to give us everything we want or so that we can give him gifts; He was born to save us from ourselves, that’s it. Yes, Jesus received gifts after his birth, but that was a sidebar story.
I don’t know how we humans managed to turn Christmas into the biggest and most important retail season of the year. I do know that the idea of wanting (and quite probably feeling entitled to) everything is as far from what God intended as could be imaginable. Jesus came to forgive us for our sins and help us get out of our sinful lifestyle.
Greed is a huge sin as. Guilt is pretty big too. Retailers play on our guilt so we will buy more stuff and on our greed by implying we deserve everything. Well, I want everything too, but not the everything that’s in stores; I want everything that Jesus offers: love, peace, mercy, hope, forgiveness. I want it so that I can share it with you and the rest of the world, and I want it for you so that you can share it with me and the rest of the world. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a greater gift, whatever the season might be.
In case you’re wondering why this bit of tripe is noteworthy, I direct you to the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. Jesus was not born to give us everything we want or so that we can give him gifts; He was born to save us from ourselves, that’s it. Yes, Jesus received gifts after his birth, but that was a sidebar story.
I don’t know how we humans managed to turn Christmas into the biggest and most important retail season of the year. I do know that the idea of wanting (and quite probably feeling entitled to) everything is as far from what God intended as could be imaginable. Jesus came to forgive us for our sins and help us get out of our sinful lifestyle.
Greed is a huge sin as. Guilt is pretty big too. Retailers play on our guilt so we will buy more stuff and on our greed by implying we deserve everything. Well, I want everything too, but not the everything that’s in stores; I want everything that Jesus offers: love, peace, mercy, hope, forgiveness. I want it so that I can share it with you and the rest of the world, and I want it for you so that you can share it with me and the rest of the world. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a greater gift, whatever the season might be.
November 18th In-between
Remembrance Day?
Done. Halloween? A memory. The American thanksgiving weekend? over, the
Canadian equivalent? Long since forgotten. It’s not quite Christmas, and
while Hanukkah is close, it’s a few weeks from it’s official start. We
are now in limbo, a state in between states, a moment vaguely defined as
‘Autumn.’
We make a big deal out of special occasions. We cut out decorations, send cards, order cakes and perhaps wear silly hats. Big, national or cultural events merit days off, parades and perhaps media coverage. Smaller occasions get proportionately smaller celebrations. Meanwhile, the in-between days, those boring times when nothing seems to be happening simply pass by, we either remember events just passed or look forward to the next reason to party-hearty.
David, God’s great psalm writer, saw seemingly boring days differently. Rather than let them pass by, he he knew every new day was a cause for wonder. “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy” he wrote. Not just with the new day, but even when the day draws to a close, David knows there is something to celebrate. All creation marvels at the amazing things God has done.
What about us? Does is take a special holiday to recognize God’s wondera or can we see them in every living moment? Is it too hard to take a moment morning and evening (and maybe even in the afternoon!) to celebrate the world in which we live? I hope not. I hope that every dawn, every evening, maybe even every second gives us pause to acknowledge and praise God’s many wonders.
We make a big deal out of special occasions. We cut out decorations, send cards, order cakes and perhaps wear silly hats. Big, national or cultural events merit days off, parades and perhaps media coverage. Smaller occasions get proportionately smaller celebrations. Meanwhile, the in-between days, those boring times when nothing seems to be happening simply pass by, we either remember events just passed or look forward to the next reason to party-hearty.
David, God’s great psalm writer, saw seemingly boring days differently. Rather than let them pass by, he he knew every new day was a cause for wonder. “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy” he wrote. Not just with the new day, but even when the day draws to a close, David knows there is something to celebrate. All creation marvels at the amazing things God has done.
What about us? Does is take a special holiday to recognize God’s wondera or can we see them in every living moment? Is it too hard to take a moment morning and evening (and maybe even in the afternoon!) to celebrate the world in which we live? I hope not. I hope that every dawn, every evening, maybe even every second gives us pause to acknowledge and praise God’s many wonders.
November 11th Happy Lessons
A motivational sign in our local hospital posted a message that said, in effect, sometimes pain teaches us very important lessons. I like that sentiment, not because I’m a big fan of pain, but because of the inclusion of the word ‘sometimes.’ All too often I encounter an attitude within the church that pain is good; that we are meant to suffer and that after our temporary earthly suffering is done, we will receive a heavenly and permanent reward.
As a person of faith I am a big believer in hope and joy right now. Yes, sometimes we learn important lessons through pain, but many times we learn equally important lessons through joy.
A couple of years ago I learned something about the ‘Pay it Forward’ concept at a Tim Hortons drive-through. When it was my turn at the window I was told that the person in the car ahead of me paid for my coffee. That was a wonderful surprise, and I immediately paid for the coffee of the person behind me.
That had never happened to me before. I had never gone to a drive-through place and had my beverage paid for in advance. My lesson was happy and straightforward: do nice things for folks in drive-throughs; I’ve since expanded my learning to walk-in places as well. Sometimes learning happens through joy.
I’m a big fan of joy, whether it’s being on the receiving end or finding a way to share it. Joy is even more fun when it teaches you how to be even more joyful. It’s my prayer that this is a happy lesson for you!
As a person of faith I am a big believer in hope and joy right now. Yes, sometimes we learn important lessons through pain, but many times we learn equally important lessons through joy.
A couple of years ago I learned something about the ‘Pay it Forward’ concept at a Tim Hortons drive-through. When it was my turn at the window I was told that the person in the car ahead of me paid for my coffee. That was a wonderful surprise, and I immediately paid for the coffee of the person behind me.
That had never happened to me before. I had never gone to a drive-through place and had my beverage paid for in advance. My lesson was happy and straightforward: do nice things for folks in drive-throughs; I’ve since expanded my learning to walk-in places as well. Sometimes learning happens through joy.
I’m a big fan of joy, whether it’s being on the receiving end or finding a way to share it. Joy is even more fun when it teaches you how to be even more joyful. It’s my prayer that this is a happy lesson for you!
November 4th Oxymorons
We all know about Oxymorons, those funny word combinations that don’t really make sense when you think about them: Jumbo Shrimp; accurate estimate; criminal cop; definite maybe; original copies. We laugh at them yet we’re happy to use them in our everyday language. We’re adaptable that way, and so too, is the English language.
As technology changes, it seems that the land of the Oxymoron will be forever expanding. This evening my daughter wanted to take a snapshot of our dog and cat being cute together. What did she say, without an ounce of irony? I wish I had my phone so I could take a picture. I withheld my laughter, since an outright guffaw might have been impolite, but I was hard pressed to contain myself. A camera phone. A new Oxymoron? I think so.
Heaven only knows what new wonders science will devise or what strange and wonderful combinations of devices will be assembled. Cars that make breakfast? Toasters that mow the lawn? Driveways that cars can drive on rather than park on and parkways that you can drive on? The oxymoronic possibilities are endless, and quite likely will provide an endless number of smiles, giggles and guffaws if we think about them too much.
As with so many other aspects of God’s creation, God is the master of the Oxymoron. The Word made Flesh. Peace that passes understanding. Dying so that we might live. It doesn’t make sense that God should take human form yet that’s what happened in Jesus. Peace should be a source of comfort and reassurance, yet God’s peace is so intense that it’s almost disturbing: it can’t be understood; it just is. Fine Oxymorons, both of them. Yet they are not the last word in that linguistic art.
Jesus died so that we might live. He paid the price for our sins that we could not pay. It doesn’t make sense that He should have done that for us. Why would He give His life to atone for the very humanity that sent Him to His death on the cross. There is no explanation; there is no logic. It is simply the truth of a love so great that the greatest Human to ever live would be willing to die for all humanity.
Then there is, of course, the other side of the Cross, not quite an oxymoron, but a rather odd combination of words nevertheless: Jesus rose from the dead. He was dead then he came back to life. Jesus didn’t simply go to sleep or into a coma. He didn’t use His godliness to cheat death or fool us. Jesus, God’s living Word, died. Then, after three days, He overcame death and in that one act, defeated sin.
Sin has no power over us, if we believe in Jesus. That’s how great His love was: He died so that we might live, and rose from the dead so that we might live forever. Doesn’t make sense does it? Maybe not, but love, especially God’s love doesn’t have to make sense. God loves us and that’s it. God is, indeed, love, and unlike the oxymorons we love to mock, there is no greater or more fitting combination of words in any language.
As technology changes, it seems that the land of the Oxymoron will be forever expanding. This evening my daughter wanted to take a snapshot of our dog and cat being cute together. What did she say, without an ounce of irony? I wish I had my phone so I could take a picture. I withheld my laughter, since an outright guffaw might have been impolite, but I was hard pressed to contain myself. A camera phone. A new Oxymoron? I think so.
Heaven only knows what new wonders science will devise or what strange and wonderful combinations of devices will be assembled. Cars that make breakfast? Toasters that mow the lawn? Driveways that cars can drive on rather than park on and parkways that you can drive on? The oxymoronic possibilities are endless, and quite likely will provide an endless number of smiles, giggles and guffaws if we think about them too much.
As with so many other aspects of God’s creation, God is the master of the Oxymoron. The Word made Flesh. Peace that passes understanding. Dying so that we might live. It doesn’t make sense that God should take human form yet that’s what happened in Jesus. Peace should be a source of comfort and reassurance, yet God’s peace is so intense that it’s almost disturbing: it can’t be understood; it just is. Fine Oxymorons, both of them. Yet they are not the last word in that linguistic art.
Jesus died so that we might live. He paid the price for our sins that we could not pay. It doesn’t make sense that He should have done that for us. Why would He give His life to atone for the very humanity that sent Him to His death on the cross. There is no explanation; there is no logic. It is simply the truth of a love so great that the greatest Human to ever live would be willing to die for all humanity.
Then there is, of course, the other side of the Cross, not quite an oxymoron, but a rather odd combination of words nevertheless: Jesus rose from the dead. He was dead then he came back to life. Jesus didn’t simply go to sleep or into a coma. He didn’t use His godliness to cheat death or fool us. Jesus, God’s living Word, died. Then, after three days, He overcame death and in that one act, defeated sin.
Sin has no power over us, if we believe in Jesus. That’s how great His love was: He died so that we might live, and rose from the dead so that we might live forever. Doesn’t make sense does it? Maybe not, but love, especially God’s love doesn’t have to make sense. God loves us and that’s it. God is, indeed, love, and unlike the oxymorons we love to mock, there is no greater or more fitting combination of words in any language.
October 28th Oddballs
I love shopping at Value Village. Value Village is a national thrift shop, or what would once have been called a second hand store. Buying gently used items is a great way to keep things out of land fills and to enjoy products that may well last longer than their user. One of the things that strikes me about the available stock is the number of oddball items that you can find.
Oddball items are those things that make you wonder what people were thinking when they either designed them or had them in their homes. They are those weirdly tacky knick-knacks, strangely coloured or styled clothes and bits of hardware or machinery that defy both physics and logical explanation. Of course, you don’t need to go to thrift store to find things like that. As an avid electronic hobbyist I can remember many products that hit the market with a great big thud because they were either too strange or too useless. Or as a child, there were those games and toys that were so bizarre you had to wonder if someone was having a really bad day when they thought of them.
Just as there are oddball objects that give one reason to check their eyes, there are folks who just don’t seem to fit in with the rest of us supposedly normal people. They’re the people that make us feel uncomfortable; the ones that test our patience; the individuals that push our buttons; the outcast that makes us smile even though others might frown at us for doing so. Oddballs are the ones on the edge of acceptability or the fringes of society. One way or another, oddballs just don’t seem to offer what we would define as normal, expected or acceptable behaviour.
God’s expectation of us is not to reject or shun the Oddball. For one thing, I’m sure God thinks we are all pretty weird given how hard we make life for ourselves, so it doesn’t make sense for us to point fingers. The other issue is that whether we’re strange, normal or somewhere in between, we are called to love our neighbour, no matter who or what they may be. We are not called to judge one another. Jesus does not state that we should judge God and our neighbour as ourselves. We are not taught that we are pass judgment unto others as we would have judgment passed onto us. No matter what a person might be like we are to care for them and treat them the best way we know how.
Someone once wrote: “Noah was a Drunk; Elijah was Suicidal; Peter was a Coward; Jacob was a Deceiver; Rahab was a Prostitute; Samson was a Womanizer; Moses had a Self-esteem problem; David was an Adulterer/Murderer; The Samaritan Woman was Divorced--a lot.” God not only loved these people, he used them to great effect even though they’re pretty odd.
So, let’s face the truth of the Oddball: chances are there is at least one person that thinks I’m rather strange. It’s most likely that you are an Oddball in the eyes of someone else. So, fine, none of us is perfect; yet we are all perfectly able to love one another. That’s all God asks of us and that’s more than enough to make a positively wonderful difference in the world.
Oddball items are those things that make you wonder what people were thinking when they either designed them or had them in their homes. They are those weirdly tacky knick-knacks, strangely coloured or styled clothes and bits of hardware or machinery that defy both physics and logical explanation. Of course, you don’t need to go to thrift store to find things like that. As an avid electronic hobbyist I can remember many products that hit the market with a great big thud because they were either too strange or too useless. Or as a child, there were those games and toys that were so bizarre you had to wonder if someone was having a really bad day when they thought of them.
Just as there are oddball objects that give one reason to check their eyes, there are folks who just don’t seem to fit in with the rest of us supposedly normal people. They’re the people that make us feel uncomfortable; the ones that test our patience; the individuals that push our buttons; the outcast that makes us smile even though others might frown at us for doing so. Oddballs are the ones on the edge of acceptability or the fringes of society. One way or another, oddballs just don’t seem to offer what we would define as normal, expected or acceptable behaviour.
God’s expectation of us is not to reject or shun the Oddball. For one thing, I’m sure God thinks we are all pretty weird given how hard we make life for ourselves, so it doesn’t make sense for us to point fingers. The other issue is that whether we’re strange, normal or somewhere in between, we are called to love our neighbour, no matter who or what they may be. We are not called to judge one another. Jesus does not state that we should judge God and our neighbour as ourselves. We are not taught that we are pass judgment unto others as we would have judgment passed onto us. No matter what a person might be like we are to care for them and treat them the best way we know how.
Someone once wrote: “Noah was a Drunk; Elijah was Suicidal; Peter was a Coward; Jacob was a Deceiver; Rahab was a Prostitute; Samson was a Womanizer; Moses had a Self-esteem problem; David was an Adulterer/Murderer; The Samaritan Woman was Divorced--a lot.” God not only loved these people, he used them to great effect even though they’re pretty odd.
So, let’s face the truth of the Oddball: chances are there is at least one person that thinks I’m rather strange. It’s most likely that you are an Oddball in the eyes of someone else. So, fine, none of us is perfect; yet we are all perfectly able to love one another. That’s all God asks of us and that’s more than enough to make a positively wonderful difference in the world.
October 21st Easy Work
As I write these thoughts my brain is working, but not very much. It is simply ordering my thoughts and making sure that I record them correctly. While doing so it is also expending a bit of energy being creative and trying to say things in an interesting way, but it is not stressing and straining and at risk of over-heating. For me, offering you these thoughts is a fun, simple process that is challenging but not extremely difficult.
The major reason for the ease of this task, and for the light load it places upon my grey matter, is that I am telling you the truth. I try to do so in a way that is amusing and interesting, which is the hardest part of this weekly exercise, but because I am neither inventing truth or stretching it, I never build up a sweat during, or fall down exhausted after, the writing process.
If I were to make up truths, or more bluntly, to lie to you, it would take a lot more work. Science has proven that lying actually taxes the brain far more that does telling the truth. You see, when we lie we have to create a new reality. We have to make up a plausible story that fits in with the situation even though it might twist that situation around.
Creating or inventing stories is very hard work. Lying is the process of creating stories on the fly, or covering up reality. It is distorting the truth, twisting it so that it sounds like something else or suggests a reality different from what is actually happening. The brain expends a lot of energy doing that. Lying causes more of the brain to turn on in order to process everything. Then, of course, there is the extra effort it must take in order to soothe the feelings of guilt and shame that arise when we lie. It has to build defences against itself in order not to collapse under the assault of what it knows to be the real truth. Lying, in short, is hard work.
There are times stretching the truth might seem advantageous. We may feel we are sparing people’s feelings or putting ourselves in a better light. It might even spare us from having to own up to a mistake or to face the hard consequences of having deliberately done something wrong. In the long run, however, a lie isn’t just more work at the moment of its creation, it’s a lot more work covering it up and suffering under the guilt and shame that result.
Lying isn’t just hard work, however. It’s plain wrong, too. God started out with only Ten Commandments. Those Ten Commandments are all we need in order to live a life that pleases God and other human beings. The fact that lying (or bearing false witness, as some Bibles state it) is one of those Commandments testifies to how bad lying is in God’s opinion. So, not only is lying hard work, it’s just plain wrong.
It’s taken me about a half hour to write these thoughts. Most of that time seems to have been spent hitting the backspace key in order to correct my typing mistakes. It has been a pleasant, easy thirty minutes. In fact, I hardly feel like I’ve done any work at all! It’s fun to share with you and since I’m telling you only the absolute truth, it’s very, very easy.
The major reason for the ease of this task, and for the light load it places upon my grey matter, is that I am telling you the truth. I try to do so in a way that is amusing and interesting, which is the hardest part of this weekly exercise, but because I am neither inventing truth or stretching it, I never build up a sweat during, or fall down exhausted after, the writing process.
If I were to make up truths, or more bluntly, to lie to you, it would take a lot more work. Science has proven that lying actually taxes the brain far more that does telling the truth. You see, when we lie we have to create a new reality. We have to make up a plausible story that fits in with the situation even though it might twist that situation around.
Creating or inventing stories is very hard work. Lying is the process of creating stories on the fly, or covering up reality. It is distorting the truth, twisting it so that it sounds like something else or suggests a reality different from what is actually happening. The brain expends a lot of energy doing that. Lying causes more of the brain to turn on in order to process everything. Then, of course, there is the extra effort it must take in order to soothe the feelings of guilt and shame that arise when we lie. It has to build defences against itself in order not to collapse under the assault of what it knows to be the real truth. Lying, in short, is hard work.
There are times stretching the truth might seem advantageous. We may feel we are sparing people’s feelings or putting ourselves in a better light. It might even spare us from having to own up to a mistake or to face the hard consequences of having deliberately done something wrong. In the long run, however, a lie isn’t just more work at the moment of its creation, it’s a lot more work covering it up and suffering under the guilt and shame that result.
Lying isn’t just hard work, however. It’s plain wrong, too. God started out with only Ten Commandments. Those Ten Commandments are all we need in order to live a life that pleases God and other human beings. The fact that lying (or bearing false witness, as some Bibles state it) is one of those Commandments testifies to how bad lying is in God’s opinion. So, not only is lying hard work, it’s just plain wrong.
It’s taken me about a half hour to write these thoughts. Most of that time seems to have been spent hitting the backspace key in order to correct my typing mistakes. It has been a pleasant, easy thirty minutes. In fact, I hardly feel like I’ve done any work at all! It’s fun to share with you and since I’m telling you only the absolute truth, it’s very, very easy.
October 14th Little Openings
Our family dog, Mentor, is a fair sized animal; she reaches a bit over my knees when she’s walking beside me. Yet, Houdini like, she can disappear with the greatest of ease. Despite her size, she can squeeze through the tiniest hole in the fence and escape from our yard. You wouldn’t believe how small the opening can be. We once swore she was jumping over the fence rather than going through it, It wasn’t until we found tell-tale tufts of her hair caught in the edges of a small opening that we realized that she was going through, and not over, the fence.
We are now very diligent about ensuring she can’t escape. My weekly work of cutting the lawn includes a very close inspection of the borders of our property. I keep a careful eye out to see whether or not she has tried to forcer her way through the fence, and any possible escape routes are immediately closed up. There is, after all, no point in making things easy for her, especially when she can squeeze through the tiniest of openings.
Just as our dog can easily sneak through a wee little hole, we humans can get into trouble with the tiniest opportunity. Temptation doesn’t have to big big, bold and surrounded by shiny lights; it can appear in the most innocent and innocuous way yet still get us into big, bold trouble. An unkind word here, a few grapes eaten before getting to the cash register there, and before you know it, we’ve managed to get out of the ‘Nice’ column and find our names moved over to the ‘Naughty’ side of the paper.
God has this all figured out. God knows that it doesn’t take much for us to get into trouble and that we’ll jump at the smallest opportunity to go astray. So God gave us the smallest possible list of things to do in order to keep from wandering off onto the naughty column. If it’s so easy for us to get into trouble, it would appear that God took pity on us and made it equally easy for us to stay out of trouble with a little list known as the 10 Commandments.
The 10 Commandments are an easy, logical path to staying in God’s good book. For the most part they involve treating God and our fellow humans with respect. Honour God and your parents; don’t steal; don’t kill; don’t let yourself be tempted by what’s not yours. When you think about it, It’s a pretty simple recipe for success.
Still, as simple as it is, folks still get it wrong, so God simplified things even further. Through Jesus, God taught us that all we have to do in order to be good people is to love one another and to treat one another as we would like to be treated. In one simple law, God shrank the 10 Commandments down to just one.
It’s pretty easy to get into trouble. The tiniest opportunity can lead us far, far away from doing what is right. God loves us so much, He makes it pretty easy to stay away from bad behaviour. Just treat God and your fellow folks the way you would like to be treated. It’s that simple.
We are now very diligent about ensuring she can’t escape. My weekly work of cutting the lawn includes a very close inspection of the borders of our property. I keep a careful eye out to see whether or not she has tried to forcer her way through the fence, and any possible escape routes are immediately closed up. There is, after all, no point in making things easy for her, especially when she can squeeze through the tiniest of openings.
Just as our dog can easily sneak through a wee little hole, we humans can get into trouble with the tiniest opportunity. Temptation doesn’t have to big big, bold and surrounded by shiny lights; it can appear in the most innocent and innocuous way yet still get us into big, bold trouble. An unkind word here, a few grapes eaten before getting to the cash register there, and before you know it, we’ve managed to get out of the ‘Nice’ column and find our names moved over to the ‘Naughty’ side of the paper.
God has this all figured out. God knows that it doesn’t take much for us to get into trouble and that we’ll jump at the smallest opportunity to go astray. So God gave us the smallest possible list of things to do in order to keep from wandering off onto the naughty column. If it’s so easy for us to get into trouble, it would appear that God took pity on us and made it equally easy for us to stay out of trouble with a little list known as the 10 Commandments.
The 10 Commandments are an easy, logical path to staying in God’s good book. For the most part they involve treating God and our fellow humans with respect. Honour God and your parents; don’t steal; don’t kill; don’t let yourself be tempted by what’s not yours. When you think about it, It’s a pretty simple recipe for success.
Still, as simple as it is, folks still get it wrong, so God simplified things even further. Through Jesus, God taught us that all we have to do in order to be good people is to love one another and to treat one another as we would like to be treated. In one simple law, God shrank the 10 Commandments down to just one.
It’s pretty easy to get into trouble. The tiniest opportunity can lead us far, far away from doing what is right. God loves us so much, He makes it pretty easy to stay away from bad behaviour. Just treat God and your fellow folks the way you would like to be treated. It’s that simple.
October 7th Empty Promise
We’ll get together soon. The cheque is in the mail. I’ll never forget you. We all know a thing or two about empty promises. Perhaps you have made the odd one yourself. It’s just part of our nature as human beings. Words cost little. We expend them with the breath of air and form them with a few tiny muscles. Actions, on the other hand, take a lot more effort. I’m not sure that’s a reasonable excuse for our unfulfilled promises, but it’s a big factor.
I could well leave the discussion there; not much more needs to be said about Empty Promises, except for one thing: there is another side to them.
Empty promises are not just the ones we make and never fulfil. Empty promises are the ones made to us but never acted upon. A certain Work Wearhouse that serves as my fashion supplier offers gift cards when you buy something. The gift card can be used when you next go in to buy something. It’s a great thing for everyone. The Work Wearhouse is guaranteed a returning customer and I’m guaranteed an instant bargain.
Unfortunately, it is nothing but an empty promise, because I don’t think I’ve ever used one of those cards. Since I don’t buy clothes that often, the offer has usually expired by the time my closet needs an update. The store would be more than prepared to honour their offer; I just never get around to it, making the gift card nothing more than an empty promise.
Jesus is an offer that is beyond compare. Through Him God promises us new and better lives. No cash is involved. It is a simple commitment made between our hearts and God’s. Unfortunately, it is as empty a promise as it can be. Jesus stands ready to make good on His part of the deal. His heart is open to receive anyone. Yet few people take Him up on His blessed offer. His promise, therefore, is empty. Without action on the part of the would-be recipient, Jesus can promise all He wants, but nothing will come of it.
I’m knocking at your door, He tells us. When the chips are down and help comes from an expected source, He’s making Himself heard; when there’s pain and suffering and a loving touch eases it a bit, He’s reaching out. When we’re overwhelmed with something beautiful or amazing, He’s shouting out God’s praise.
He knocks through blessings, comfort and wonders and when He knocks He restates His promise: “I love you; let me be a part of your life and you’ll never be the same; in fact, you’ll never be better!” Yet when the blessing passes and it’s giver is abandoned, or the pain returns and the source of comfort forgotten, or when the wonder gives way to boredom, the door is slammed in His face and His promise unfulfilled.
Jesus is persistent, however, and His promise has no expiry date. It’s up to us to make good on His offer. It’s up to us to receive His promised love, up to us to answer the subtle call, up to us to commit to Him as passionately as He has already committed to us. Trust me; this is no empty promise.
I could well leave the discussion there; not much more needs to be said about Empty Promises, except for one thing: there is another side to them.
Empty promises are not just the ones we make and never fulfil. Empty promises are the ones made to us but never acted upon. A certain Work Wearhouse that serves as my fashion supplier offers gift cards when you buy something. The gift card can be used when you next go in to buy something. It’s a great thing for everyone. The Work Wearhouse is guaranteed a returning customer and I’m guaranteed an instant bargain.
Unfortunately, it is nothing but an empty promise, because I don’t think I’ve ever used one of those cards. Since I don’t buy clothes that often, the offer has usually expired by the time my closet needs an update. The store would be more than prepared to honour their offer; I just never get around to it, making the gift card nothing more than an empty promise.
Jesus is an offer that is beyond compare. Through Him God promises us new and better lives. No cash is involved. It is a simple commitment made between our hearts and God’s. Unfortunately, it is as empty a promise as it can be. Jesus stands ready to make good on His part of the deal. His heart is open to receive anyone. Yet few people take Him up on His blessed offer. His promise, therefore, is empty. Without action on the part of the would-be recipient, Jesus can promise all He wants, but nothing will come of it.
I’m knocking at your door, He tells us. When the chips are down and help comes from an expected source, He’s making Himself heard; when there’s pain and suffering and a loving touch eases it a bit, He’s reaching out. When we’re overwhelmed with something beautiful or amazing, He’s shouting out God’s praise.
He knocks through blessings, comfort and wonders and when He knocks He restates His promise: “I love you; let me be a part of your life and you’ll never be the same; in fact, you’ll never be better!” Yet when the blessing passes and it’s giver is abandoned, or the pain returns and the source of comfort forgotten, or when the wonder gives way to boredom, the door is slammed in His face and His promise unfulfilled.
Jesus is persistent, however, and His promise has no expiry date. It’s up to us to make good on His offer. It’s up to us to receive His promised love, up to us to answer the subtle call, up to us to commit to Him as passionately as He has already committed to us. Trust me; this is no empty promise.
September 30th Self-Centering
The modern automobile is a technological wonder. There are an amazing number of systems, machines and devices that work together to get you to your destination quickly, safely and comfortably. Many of those devices are very complicated and almost beyond human comprehension. They are the result of years of study, research, development and modern technology.
Other systems are equally amazing but relatively simple and quite old. A car’s steering mechanism is a perfect example of that ‘old but great.’ Not only does the mechanism allow a driver to choose and change the direction of their vehicle, it also helps the driver keep on the straight and narrow. This is called self-centering steering, and while it sounds complicated, it is not. It is simply a very careful alignment of the front tires.
Self-centering steering is both that simple and that complicated; the tires are mounted in such a way that they actually prefer going in a straight line. Thus, when you turn them to the right or left, even just a tiny bit, it is in their nature and design to try and get back on center. It’s all a matter of angle and geometry. I could explain it in more detail, but it’s not worth it. The system is simpler to devise than it is to explain. That’s how clever it really is.
Human beings are pretty amazing devices; far more complicated than cars, we are probably God’s highest design achievement. A brilliant combination of things physical and Spiritual, there is nothing in all of creation that matches the wonder of the human body.
As beings that are designed by and for our Creator, you would think that we have our own self-centering system that points us back to God. After all, having been created for His holy pleasure, one could easily imagine a built in directional system that keeps us on track all that time.
Such a system would make it very easy for us to keep on track. But such a system would also deny one very important aspect of the way God made us. God made us free beings. God gave us the power to stay by Him or to veer away as we choose. The reason for this apparent design flaw is so that we turn to God because we want to, not because we are forced to. God wants us to love Him because of who He is, not just because we belong to Him.
A self-centering system that always keeps us in line with our Creator isn’t needed. Our own Spiritual nature draws us beyond ourselves and redirects us towards our true center. So, while we don’t automatically and infallibly turn to God, we know in the very core of our beings that we need God to be fully complete. It is that innate desire that causes us to seek out the truth and return to it when we find it.
Rather than simply forcing us to turn to Him, God directs us in other ways. He uses Christ-like people to love us and guide us. His written word teaches us about Him. Creation itself points us towards Him through its wonder and majesty. Finally, our own hearts are drawn to Him. Through palpable signs and sensations we are subtly yet firmly directed to God. All we have to do is let our hearts steer us and we will find our way back to God.
Other systems are equally amazing but relatively simple and quite old. A car’s steering mechanism is a perfect example of that ‘old but great.’ Not only does the mechanism allow a driver to choose and change the direction of their vehicle, it also helps the driver keep on the straight and narrow. This is called self-centering steering, and while it sounds complicated, it is not. It is simply a very careful alignment of the front tires.
Self-centering steering is both that simple and that complicated; the tires are mounted in such a way that they actually prefer going in a straight line. Thus, when you turn them to the right or left, even just a tiny bit, it is in their nature and design to try and get back on center. It’s all a matter of angle and geometry. I could explain it in more detail, but it’s not worth it. The system is simpler to devise than it is to explain. That’s how clever it really is.
Human beings are pretty amazing devices; far more complicated than cars, we are probably God’s highest design achievement. A brilliant combination of things physical and Spiritual, there is nothing in all of creation that matches the wonder of the human body.
As beings that are designed by and for our Creator, you would think that we have our own self-centering system that points us back to God. After all, having been created for His holy pleasure, one could easily imagine a built in directional system that keeps us on track all that time.
Such a system would make it very easy for us to keep on track. But such a system would also deny one very important aspect of the way God made us. God made us free beings. God gave us the power to stay by Him or to veer away as we choose. The reason for this apparent design flaw is so that we turn to God because we want to, not because we are forced to. God wants us to love Him because of who He is, not just because we belong to Him.
A self-centering system that always keeps us in line with our Creator isn’t needed. Our own Spiritual nature draws us beyond ourselves and redirects us towards our true center. So, while we don’t automatically and infallibly turn to God, we know in the very core of our beings that we need God to be fully complete. It is that innate desire that causes us to seek out the truth and return to it when we find it.
Rather than simply forcing us to turn to Him, God directs us in other ways. He uses Christ-like people to love us and guide us. His written word teaches us about Him. Creation itself points us towards Him through its wonder and majesty. Finally, our own hearts are drawn to Him. Through palpable signs and sensations we are subtly yet firmly directed to God. All we have to do is let our hearts steer us and we will find our way back to God.
September 23rd YELLING!!!
I AM YELLING AT YOU! No, don’t get me wrong; I am not angry or upset in any way. I’m just pointing out one of the conventions on Facebook and other social media; something is written in ‘All Caps’ (all capital letters) means that you are YELLING!!! As in most face to face conversations, nobody likes to be yelled at. There are times when you have to raise your voice, to be sure, but usually it’s impolite to speak in anything but a normal voice.
ALL CAPS YELLING is very obvious. A loud voice is also pretty noticeable but you can be yelled at in at least one other way, I’ve noticed. You can be yelled at simply by the attitude a person has. While they might use a soft tone of voice, if they are angry or really, really trying to make you see their point, or tell you that you are doing something bad, it’s just the same as if they were using a big OUTDOOR VOICE.
I don’t like to be yelled at in any circumstance. Being yelled at means I’ve either done something wrong, I’m in danger, or someone is just being rude or overbearing. I especially dislike, however, what one might call the ‘Quiet Yell’ that I’ve just described. It’s not only impolite, it’s very hurtful, and for somebody like me, it’s a great way to get me to turn against you or simply disagree with what you’re saying, no matter how salient the point might be.
That’s not to say that I’m contrary to others or that I will never agree with another person’s point of view. Come at me cheerfully and reasonably, make your point clearly and without a threat, help me understand what it is that you’re trying to say and why I should come on board with you, and I’m open to change my mind, or at least include your point of view in my personal way of thinking. Yell at me however, and you’ve lost me; whatever you’re trying to say will simply bounce off me like an echo off a canyon wall.
A careful read of the Bible will reveal that God doesn’t often yell at people. Yes, there are times when His speech is quite forceful and overwhelming, but rarely, if ever, does the Almighty raise His voice at us. This is especially true in the New Testament. The New Testament introduces us to God’s Word made flesh. Jesus.
Jesus, God’s Son, is neither a yell nor a whisper. He is not a reasoned discourse or a lecture. He is not a funny anecdote or silly story. Jesus is a conversation between friends or family. He is a loving talk between equals. He is an comforting chat for the sick or lonely. God doesn’t yell at us or even talk at us. Through Jesus, God talks to us through both words and actions. God lets us know His feelings and ideas as well as listening to us in return.
Not only are we invited into this conversation with God, we are also asked to spread the Word and to invite others into the conversation with and through Jesus. It’s a wonderful thing to share. You might even want to YELL about it so that everyone can get in on the Good News, but that’s not necessary. Live the conversation to others as Jesus lives it to you. That’s all it will take for others to hear Him.
ALL CAPS YELLING is very obvious. A loud voice is also pretty noticeable but you can be yelled at in at least one other way, I’ve noticed. You can be yelled at simply by the attitude a person has. While they might use a soft tone of voice, if they are angry or really, really trying to make you see their point, or tell you that you are doing something bad, it’s just the same as if they were using a big OUTDOOR VOICE.
I don’t like to be yelled at in any circumstance. Being yelled at means I’ve either done something wrong, I’m in danger, or someone is just being rude or overbearing. I especially dislike, however, what one might call the ‘Quiet Yell’ that I’ve just described. It’s not only impolite, it’s very hurtful, and for somebody like me, it’s a great way to get me to turn against you or simply disagree with what you’re saying, no matter how salient the point might be.
That’s not to say that I’m contrary to others or that I will never agree with another person’s point of view. Come at me cheerfully and reasonably, make your point clearly and without a threat, help me understand what it is that you’re trying to say and why I should come on board with you, and I’m open to change my mind, or at least include your point of view in my personal way of thinking. Yell at me however, and you’ve lost me; whatever you’re trying to say will simply bounce off me like an echo off a canyon wall.
A careful read of the Bible will reveal that God doesn’t often yell at people. Yes, there are times when His speech is quite forceful and overwhelming, but rarely, if ever, does the Almighty raise His voice at us. This is especially true in the New Testament. The New Testament introduces us to God’s Word made flesh. Jesus.
Jesus, God’s Son, is neither a yell nor a whisper. He is not a reasoned discourse or a lecture. He is not a funny anecdote or silly story. Jesus is a conversation between friends or family. He is a loving talk between equals. He is an comforting chat for the sick or lonely. God doesn’t yell at us or even talk at us. Through Jesus, God talks to us through both words and actions. God lets us know His feelings and ideas as well as listening to us in return.
Not only are we invited into this conversation with God, we are also asked to spread the Word and to invite others into the conversation with and through Jesus. It’s a wonderful thing to share. You might even want to YELL about it so that everyone can get in on the Good News, but that’s not necessary. Live the conversation to others as Jesus lives it to you. That’s all it will take for others to hear Him.
September 16th Remembering
The Potter’s wheel sits quietly. It feels a great sense of anticipation as it sees the Potter carefully shape a lump of clay in her hands. Soon it will feel the clay upon it’s hard, smooth surface. Soon it will feel the current flow through it’s motor. Soon it will be spinning the clay so that the Potter can create an object that will delight the eyes and perhaps serve some useful function. The wheel knows that it has an important job.
The clay feels itself being shaped and formed in the Potter’s hands. It knows that it has been selected for something special. It knows that soon it will be spinning on the wheel. It knows that it will be lifted and smoothed and shaped by they Potter’s hands. The clay takes delight in its transformation. Spinning, rising, moving, changing, it feels itself become something new. The clay knows that it has an important role.
The glaze sees the clay transformed by the Potter. A shapeless lump becomes ever more round. A flattened sphere is patiently hollowed out. A rough, fat cup is smoothed and formed into a bowl. The bowl is refined r until it is a beautiful balance of form and function. Now the potter applies the glaze with steady hand and clear vision. The bowl will be colourful and bright thanks to the glaze. The bowl will be able to hold water without leaking thanks to the glaze. The glaze knows that it has an important duty
The kiln is getting hotter and hotter. As its thermometer creeps up towards the proper temperature it feels ever more ready for the object that will be placed within it. The kiln will set the clay into its permanent form. Patiently, the kiln will hold its temperature for as long as the Potter demands. All too soon the kiln will be allowed to cool down until the newly formed pottery can be safely removed. All too soon its job will be done. But the kiln knows that it is vital to the work of the Potter.
With wheel, clay and kiln the Potter practices her art. Her deft hands remove just enough clay from the pile. Her skilled fingers toss it on the wheel and shape it according to her desire. Her trained eyes help her apply just the right amount of glaze, in just the right design. Master of the clay, wheel, glaze and kiln, she creates a large, simple bowl. Clay, wheel, glaze and kiln are satisfied. They have done their jobs.
The bowl sits proudly on the table. It remembers that it was once formless and drab. It remembers how the wheel helped to shape it. It remembers how the glaze helped to make it useful and beautiful. It remembers how the kiln set and stabilized it. Above all, it remembers the Potter. It was the Potter that first imagined the bowl. It was the Potter that first chose the clay. It was the Potter that transformed the clay on the wheel. It was the Potter that glazed the newly formed bowl. It was the Potter that set the bowl in the kiln and controlled the how hot it would get and how long it would stay hot.
We are told in Scripture that we are wonderfully and beautifully made. Like clay in the potter’s hands, we are formed, glazed and fired by God. The bowl remembers its creator. Do we?
The clay feels itself being shaped and formed in the Potter’s hands. It knows that it has been selected for something special. It knows that soon it will be spinning on the wheel. It knows that it will be lifted and smoothed and shaped by they Potter’s hands. The clay takes delight in its transformation. Spinning, rising, moving, changing, it feels itself become something new. The clay knows that it has an important role.
The glaze sees the clay transformed by the Potter. A shapeless lump becomes ever more round. A flattened sphere is patiently hollowed out. A rough, fat cup is smoothed and formed into a bowl. The bowl is refined r until it is a beautiful balance of form and function. Now the potter applies the glaze with steady hand and clear vision. The bowl will be colourful and bright thanks to the glaze. The bowl will be able to hold water without leaking thanks to the glaze. The glaze knows that it has an important duty
The kiln is getting hotter and hotter. As its thermometer creeps up towards the proper temperature it feels ever more ready for the object that will be placed within it. The kiln will set the clay into its permanent form. Patiently, the kiln will hold its temperature for as long as the Potter demands. All too soon the kiln will be allowed to cool down until the newly formed pottery can be safely removed. All too soon its job will be done. But the kiln knows that it is vital to the work of the Potter.
With wheel, clay and kiln the Potter practices her art. Her deft hands remove just enough clay from the pile. Her skilled fingers toss it on the wheel and shape it according to her desire. Her trained eyes help her apply just the right amount of glaze, in just the right design. Master of the clay, wheel, glaze and kiln, she creates a large, simple bowl. Clay, wheel, glaze and kiln are satisfied. They have done their jobs.
The bowl sits proudly on the table. It remembers that it was once formless and drab. It remembers how the wheel helped to shape it. It remembers how the glaze helped to make it useful and beautiful. It remembers how the kiln set and stabilized it. Above all, it remembers the Potter. It was the Potter that first imagined the bowl. It was the Potter that first chose the clay. It was the Potter that transformed the clay on the wheel. It was the Potter that glazed the newly formed bowl. It was the Potter that set the bowl in the kiln and controlled the how hot it would get and how long it would stay hot.
We are told in Scripture that we are wonderfully and beautifully made. Like clay in the potter’s hands, we are formed, glazed and fired by God. The bowl remembers its creator. Do we?
September 9th Sabbath
Did you have a good Summer Break? Perhaps you went away? Maybe you stayed close to home? Maybe you didn’t get your vacation yet, and you’re looking forward to a time away later on this year. One way another, whether you’re looking back on your rest time with fond memories or you can’t wait for your holidays to begin, I think we can all agree that time off is very important. Like the regular cycle of sleep and wakefulness we repeat every day, we need a cycle of work and relaxation in order to be at our happiest, healthiest best.
The concept of a vacation isn’t something new. It isn’t something Unions dreamt up in order to help workers; it’s not something devised by Governments in order to keep the population appeased. It’s not even something created by lazy people so that they might get out of working for a while. The concept of the vacation is one devised by God in order to bless both Creation and Creator.
God didn’t call it a holiday or vacation; it’s not a break or a getaway. God’s plan for rest is called a Sabbath. It is a time specifically set aside for us to do no work; in fact, it was a time God set aside for Himself after having completed the hard work of creating everything from nothing. That’s right: the first Sabbath was the seventh day of creation, the day God sat back from His labours and simply enjoyed the universe and everything in it.
Sabbath is not for religious purposes. God didn’t create it as a day to glorify Him; He created it because we need to rest from our labours. We need to stop working one day in seven for our physical health. That is the first and foremost reason for the Sabbath. Over time, the Sabbath rest included a time of celebration and praise, or what has become our Sunday worship.
Worship, however, is only an hour or so of our Sabbath, but our Sabbath is not just an hour or so long; it’s an all day thing. One whole day in Seven to rest, relax and recover from our six days of toil. So, before and after church, we still have a day in which to relax. What to do, what to do? A picnic might be nice. Maybe a relaxing walk in the park. Perhaps a visit with family or an afternoon by the pool. As the seasons change, so too do our rest options, but not the option to rest. Our Sabbath is meant to be nothing more or less than a day of safe and holy rest.
Somehow we’ve forgotten that. We’re so lost in our own way of doing things that we’ve forgotten one of the first gifts God ever gave us: Sabbath. Rest. Relaxation. Not rushing to the store; not doing overdue chores; not practicing for, or competing in, the next big game; not even doing last minute homework. Rest. Vacation. Taking a break. Getting away from it all, even if it’s just sitting and reading about a far off destination. The summer break may be over, but our Sabbath continues once a week. I pray you get a chance to enjoy it in earnest.
The concept of a vacation isn’t something new. It isn’t something Unions dreamt up in order to help workers; it’s not something devised by Governments in order to keep the population appeased. It’s not even something created by lazy people so that they might get out of working for a while. The concept of the vacation is one devised by God in order to bless both Creation and Creator.
God didn’t call it a holiday or vacation; it’s not a break or a getaway. God’s plan for rest is called a Sabbath. It is a time specifically set aside for us to do no work; in fact, it was a time God set aside for Himself after having completed the hard work of creating everything from nothing. That’s right: the first Sabbath was the seventh day of creation, the day God sat back from His labours and simply enjoyed the universe and everything in it.
Sabbath is not for religious purposes. God didn’t create it as a day to glorify Him; He created it because we need to rest from our labours. We need to stop working one day in seven for our physical health. That is the first and foremost reason for the Sabbath. Over time, the Sabbath rest included a time of celebration and praise, or what has become our Sunday worship.
Worship, however, is only an hour or so of our Sabbath, but our Sabbath is not just an hour or so long; it’s an all day thing. One whole day in Seven to rest, relax and recover from our six days of toil. So, before and after church, we still have a day in which to relax. What to do, what to do? A picnic might be nice. Maybe a relaxing walk in the park. Perhaps a visit with family or an afternoon by the pool. As the seasons change, so too do our rest options, but not the option to rest. Our Sabbath is meant to be nothing more or less than a day of safe and holy rest.
Somehow we’ve forgotten that. We’re so lost in our own way of doing things that we’ve forgotten one of the first gifts God ever gave us: Sabbath. Rest. Relaxation. Not rushing to the store; not doing overdue chores; not practicing for, or competing in, the next big game; not even doing last minute homework. Rest. Vacation. Taking a break. Getting away from it all, even if it’s just sitting and reading about a far off destination. The summer break may be over, but our Sabbath continues once a week. I pray you get a chance to enjoy it in earnest.
September 2nd Natural Born Failures
As I look back on the summer I realize that I did not do half the things I wanted to do. I had plans aplenty and scads of schemes but in they are all still in the development stage. That’s not to say I didn’t get anything done or that all of my dreams or visions are unfinished; I did manage to do a few of the things I had seen myself doing; I just didn’t do all of them.
Go ahead, call me a failure if you like; I can live with that. I knew going into the summer that I would not achieve all of my goals. My eyes were too big for my appetite and I had planned too much. My imagined accomplishments were not at all in line with the reality of the limited time allotted to summer. So I was destined to fail, hoist by my own organizational petard, if you will.
Most of us are, if we are honest, natural born failures. Now don’t get me wrong; that’s not an insult or something to feel bad about. To fail doesn’t mean that we do nothing right or that we are completely unsuccessful. To fail means that we have tried and not entirely succeeded. It means that we have planned but not accomplished all. It means that we must settle for what we have achieved, concede when we have been defeated and admit when we have managed to really blow it and need to be forgiven.
The biggest reason that we are failures is that we fail to realize fully who and what we are. We are God created beings of incredible talent potential. Take a quick mental survey of all the amazing things human beings can do. When you consider the feats of engineering done throughout the world or the artistic achievements evident throughout Chatham, you realize that God accomplished a lot when He created us.
Now, you might well be thinking, “With all our amazing success in the world, how can you call us natural born failures?” Good question, and here’s the answer: most, if not all, our achievements are monuments to ourselves. We do what makes us feel good without considering the cost to others; we cover acres of farmland with high-rise apartments. We produce art that glorifies our own beauty rather than glorifying the one that created us.
That’s why we are natural born failures: too much of our lives are devoted to us rather than God, our creator. Our egos and our stomachs drive us more than our love of one another and the God who loved us first. In other words we fail right out of the starting gate; rather than directing ourselves to God and succeeding we turn towards ourselves and blow it. It’s that simple.
As natural born failures you might think that God would not care for us or turn away from us. You would be wrong: God loves us in spite of and because of our failings. God knows we could never be perfect because He gave us the choice to do as we please.
Of course, knowing that we would make the wrong choices, God planned for His success in our lives through Jesus, His son. Through Jesus, God makes up for our failures. Through Jesus, we are forgiven and restored. Through Jesus, God’s love is made perfect in us. We may be natural born failures, but that doesn’t stop God from loving us, and it shouldn’t stop us from loving God as best we can.
Go ahead, call me a failure if you like; I can live with that. I knew going into the summer that I would not achieve all of my goals. My eyes were too big for my appetite and I had planned too much. My imagined accomplishments were not at all in line with the reality of the limited time allotted to summer. So I was destined to fail, hoist by my own organizational petard, if you will.
Most of us are, if we are honest, natural born failures. Now don’t get me wrong; that’s not an insult or something to feel bad about. To fail doesn’t mean that we do nothing right or that we are completely unsuccessful. To fail means that we have tried and not entirely succeeded. It means that we have planned but not accomplished all. It means that we must settle for what we have achieved, concede when we have been defeated and admit when we have managed to really blow it and need to be forgiven.
The biggest reason that we are failures is that we fail to realize fully who and what we are. We are God created beings of incredible talent potential. Take a quick mental survey of all the amazing things human beings can do. When you consider the feats of engineering done throughout the world or the artistic achievements evident throughout Chatham, you realize that God accomplished a lot when He created us.
Now, you might well be thinking, “With all our amazing success in the world, how can you call us natural born failures?” Good question, and here’s the answer: most, if not all, our achievements are monuments to ourselves. We do what makes us feel good without considering the cost to others; we cover acres of farmland with high-rise apartments. We produce art that glorifies our own beauty rather than glorifying the one that created us.
That’s why we are natural born failures: too much of our lives are devoted to us rather than God, our creator. Our egos and our stomachs drive us more than our love of one another and the God who loved us first. In other words we fail right out of the starting gate; rather than directing ourselves to God and succeeding we turn towards ourselves and blow it. It’s that simple.
As natural born failures you might think that God would not care for us or turn away from us. You would be wrong: God loves us in spite of and because of our failings. God knows we could never be perfect because He gave us the choice to do as we please.
Of course, knowing that we would make the wrong choices, God planned for His success in our lives through Jesus, His son. Through Jesus, God makes up for our failures. Through Jesus, we are forgiven and restored. Through Jesus, God’s love is made perfect in us. We may be natural born failures, but that doesn’t stop God from loving us, and it shouldn’t stop us from loving God as best we can.
A Personal Sabbath
My last post talked about Sabbath, so I took the entire month of July as a holiday.
Went to Italy for three weeks with Lois and the kids to see my family there. Hung out and did little or nothing productive for the rest of the time.
During August, I took a break from my 'Thoughts' in order to maintain the Sabbath habit for a while. It also gave the volunteer office staff a little rest, in addition to letting folks switch mental gears for a while. I feel that sometimes getting out of a routine is the best way to make a thing all the more special.
So, no 'Thoughts' (at least the regular written 'St. James'/'A better life' ones) in order to let you, dear reader, pause and reflect and maybe look at them in a new light.
For me, this Sabbath rest has been relaxing and inspirational. My 'Thoughts' have resumed. I am doing some new things as well. I will soon begin journaling and seeing a Spiritual Counsellor on a regular basis. Other things remain much the same as September gets underway and some of the regular routines are reestablished.
I thank you for taking this journey with me and pray that it is as much of a blessing to you as it is to me. May God be with you.
YBIC
JAG
Went to Italy for three weeks with Lois and the kids to see my family there. Hung out and did little or nothing productive for the rest of the time.
During August, I took a break from my 'Thoughts' in order to maintain the Sabbath habit for a while. It also gave the volunteer office staff a little rest, in addition to letting folks switch mental gears for a while. I feel that sometimes getting out of a routine is the best way to make a thing all the more special.
So, no 'Thoughts' (at least the regular written 'St. James'/'A better life' ones) in order to let you, dear reader, pause and reflect and maybe look at them in a new light.
For me, this Sabbath rest has been relaxing and inspirational. My 'Thoughts' have resumed. I am doing some new things as well. I will soon begin journaling and seeing a Spiritual Counsellor on a regular basis. Other things remain much the same as September gets underway and some of the regular routines are reestablished.
I thank you for taking this journey with me and pray that it is as much of a blessing to you as it is to me. May God be with you.
YBIC
JAG
June 24th Sabbath
Recent studies have shown a remarkable thing: naps are good for you! Short periods of sleep, no more than fifteen minutes, have been clinically demonstrated to actually improve one’s performance and mood. It’s a scientific fact that has caused some forward thinking employers to allow and even encourage their workers to have a nap in the middle of the day.
There used to be a day when nodding off on the job was a sure fire way to be severely reprimanded and possibly even fired. After all, a sleeping employee is not a productive one. Mind you, if it’s on your break, that’s another thing entirely. What you do on your own time, as long as it’s discrete and doesn’t interfere with other people’s ability to do they’re jobs, is up to you. Still, to imagine that some companies actually want you to nap is pretty surprising and definitely a bit of out of the box thinking.
Such open-mindedness is also very much in accord with God’s plan for humanity. Don’t get me wrong: as far as I know there are no instructions in the Bible for us to take naps; there are, however, very clear instructions for us to take a break and to rest from our labours. The Bible word is Sabbath; it literally means “to desist” or “to break off.” God’s injunction is clear; we are to take one day in the week in order to desist or break off from all our work. God Himself did so after having created the Universe and everything in it.
The professional nap is a variation on that theme. It is a brief moment of getting away from work in order to re-energize oneself and to become even more productive. Not so remarkably, by proving that naps are good things, Science once again catches up to what Faith has known all along.
Our society kind of, sort of understands the Sabbath. The summer break from school is a perfect example of how we teach children how to take a break from the hard work done in the summer. Many adults also take their vacation time during the summer in order to “get away from it all” and make their break complete by taking off to the cottage with their family.
My personal break will include the whole month of July. There will be some time at home and some time with my family in Italy. This Sabbath will be complete and absolute. As much as I love my work at the church I will be happily not doing anything related to St. James whatsoever. Well, you will remain in my heart and prayers, but there will be no other effort made.
Part of my Sabbath will also include a break from these Thoughts for the summer, and possibly for a while longer. I will listen for the Spirit’s guidance on what direction to take; after all, sometimes change is good to. One way or another, with this final missive I offer you my best wishes for your own Sabbath, whether it’s a day off or just a quick nap. I invite you, as well, to immerse yourself in God’s love as the single most refreshing thing you can do for yourself. Enjoy your summer!
There used to be a day when nodding off on the job was a sure fire way to be severely reprimanded and possibly even fired. After all, a sleeping employee is not a productive one. Mind you, if it’s on your break, that’s another thing entirely. What you do on your own time, as long as it’s discrete and doesn’t interfere with other people’s ability to do they’re jobs, is up to you. Still, to imagine that some companies actually want you to nap is pretty surprising and definitely a bit of out of the box thinking.
Such open-mindedness is also very much in accord with God’s plan for humanity. Don’t get me wrong: as far as I know there are no instructions in the Bible for us to take naps; there are, however, very clear instructions for us to take a break and to rest from our labours. The Bible word is Sabbath; it literally means “to desist” or “to break off.” God’s injunction is clear; we are to take one day in the week in order to desist or break off from all our work. God Himself did so after having created the Universe and everything in it.
The professional nap is a variation on that theme. It is a brief moment of getting away from work in order to re-energize oneself and to become even more productive. Not so remarkably, by proving that naps are good things, Science once again catches up to what Faith has known all along.
Our society kind of, sort of understands the Sabbath. The summer break from school is a perfect example of how we teach children how to take a break from the hard work done in the summer. Many adults also take their vacation time during the summer in order to “get away from it all” and make their break complete by taking off to the cottage with their family.
My personal break will include the whole month of July. There will be some time at home and some time with my family in Italy. This Sabbath will be complete and absolute. As much as I love my work at the church I will be happily not doing anything related to St. James whatsoever. Well, you will remain in my heart and prayers, but there will be no other effort made.
Part of my Sabbath will also include a break from these Thoughts for the summer, and possibly for a while longer. I will listen for the Spirit’s guidance on what direction to take; after all, sometimes change is good to. One way or another, with this final missive I offer you my best wishes for your own Sabbath, whether it’s a day off or just a quick nap. I invite you, as well, to immerse yourself in God’s love as the single most refreshing thing you can do for yourself. Enjoy your summer!
June 17th Infinitely Fixable
Most man made things can be fixed when broken. Some things, especially mechanical devices, will look and function as if they were brand new after a proper repair. Others, like china mugs, will never be quite the same even after the most attentive and professional reassembly. Certain objects lend themselves to being repaired quickly and easily. I was able to fix my brother-in-laws camera in a matter of minutes because it disassembled easily and the new part virtually snapped into place. Some devices, however, require a lot more finesse and a certain amount of destruction in order to get them working right. Most wires or cables, for instance, have to be cut with a surgeon’s precision so that they can be repaired or replaced.
As I said before. Most things can be fixed; the question that arises, however, is whether or not it is worth the time and effort needed to get them working right. A china mug cracked or shattered can, theoretically, be fixed. Trouble is, the repair is lengthy, difficult and not really adequate. Broken handles never stay on very long; cracks or chips in the mug itself are both unsightly and unhealthy. In other words, objects made out of china aren’t worth the trouble. If your favourite mug ever needs reassembly, there is no hope for it.
The sad truth about most human beings is that we are all broken in some way. Other than Jesus himself, no person past, present or yet to be born is absolutely and perfectly intact. We all have some kind of spiritual missing or broken bit. We all do things that frustrate, annoy or even anger God. The price we pay for being able to make our own choices is that we are not guaranteed to make the right ones. Usually we make good and healthy decisions, decisions that honour and please God. Every once in a while, however, we go off the rails and choose poorly. The result is painful and embarrassing for us, and hurtful to our Heavenly Father.
Unlike man-made objects, not one single human being, is beyond being repaired and made whole by God. We might find that hard to believe within our limited understanding. Our sense of justice and fair play tends towards the “eye-for-an-eye” approach to our wrong doing. God, however, doesn’t work that way. There is no way we could ever make things up to God as we should and God’s mercy is too great for Him to expect us to pay for our sins. Jesus bore the cost of our mistakes and our willful disobedience. For God, fixing us is not about justice; it’s about love, grace and mercy.
There is, of course, a two-part condition we must meet for God to fix us when we’ve sinned. We have to confess our sins before Him honestly and openly, and then accept His holy way of life and turn away from sin. Once we’ve given ourselves to God, we are forgiven and restored to spiritual wholeness. It’s then up to us to try to live up to that promise. Should we blow it, God is willing to fix us again, on the same terms. That’s true for every time we blow it, no matter how far we stray. God’s love means that no matter how broken we are, we are infinitely fixable and always worth the cost.
As I said before. Most things can be fixed; the question that arises, however, is whether or not it is worth the time and effort needed to get them working right. A china mug cracked or shattered can, theoretically, be fixed. Trouble is, the repair is lengthy, difficult and not really adequate. Broken handles never stay on very long; cracks or chips in the mug itself are both unsightly and unhealthy. In other words, objects made out of china aren’t worth the trouble. If your favourite mug ever needs reassembly, there is no hope for it.
The sad truth about most human beings is that we are all broken in some way. Other than Jesus himself, no person past, present or yet to be born is absolutely and perfectly intact. We all have some kind of spiritual missing or broken bit. We all do things that frustrate, annoy or even anger God. The price we pay for being able to make our own choices is that we are not guaranteed to make the right ones. Usually we make good and healthy decisions, decisions that honour and please God. Every once in a while, however, we go off the rails and choose poorly. The result is painful and embarrassing for us, and hurtful to our Heavenly Father.
Unlike man-made objects, not one single human being, is beyond being repaired and made whole by God. We might find that hard to believe within our limited understanding. Our sense of justice and fair play tends towards the “eye-for-an-eye” approach to our wrong doing. God, however, doesn’t work that way. There is no way we could ever make things up to God as we should and God’s mercy is too great for Him to expect us to pay for our sins. Jesus bore the cost of our mistakes and our willful disobedience. For God, fixing us is not about justice; it’s about love, grace and mercy.
There is, of course, a two-part condition we must meet for God to fix us when we’ve sinned. We have to confess our sins before Him honestly and openly, and then accept His holy way of life and turn away from sin. Once we’ve given ourselves to God, we are forgiven and restored to spiritual wholeness. It’s then up to us to try to live up to that promise. Should we blow it, God is willing to fix us again, on the same terms. That’s true for every time we blow it, no matter how far we stray. God’s love means that no matter how broken we are, we are infinitely fixable and always worth the cost.
June 10th My Entourage
Did you know that a certain rock-star has added a Spiritual Advisor to her “support staff.” Did you know that there are at least 23 other people in this star’s support staff, or ‘entourage’ as it’s more commonly known? I was certainly surprised that she would need that many folks around her, even if one of them is a Spiritual Advisor. Maybe it’s just me, but it didn’t take very long before my surprise turned into a question: how could anyone need that many folks around them? What could they possibly do for her that she can’t do on her own? Or, and I don’t mean this to be catty or mean, does she really think that there are things that are either so beneath her or beyond her that she really needs other folks to do them for her?
I accept the fact that we all need folks around us to help us and to do things we can’t do. Just today I had my car repaired by a trained mechanic. I love cars, and I’m pretty handy with a wrench, but this man did in an hour what would have taken me all day to do. You probably have folks that help you as well; that’s normal. It just seems a little beyond reasonable for a person to have an entourage surrounding them at all times. Maybe I’m special, but I think I can feed myself pretty much without help.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of any famous or powerful person’s entourage is not that they are needed, but they are paid. These are not loving, caring people that are there because they want to see their boss succeed; they are not like a mom or dad doting on their child; they are there purely to make money. They might enjoy their job; they might even like the person they are supporting; but never let it be forgotten that they are in it first and foremost for the money. And that, my friends, is why I don’t really think I need or would like an entourage. If I’m going to be cared for, I want it to be because folks care for me, not because I am paying them. It might not surprise you, therefore, to know that I don’t have a personal entourage.
Well, OK, I’m not being entirely honest. I do actually have a a team that is constantly at my side supporting me and doing things for me that are beyond my skills and capacities. Truth be told, I would be completely lost without my personal entourage taking care of me every moment of my life. And no, they are not paid; and no, I am not special or unique because I have this group supporting me. In fact, I’m not even alone in having a personal entourage around me. You can have one too, if you want it.
If you would like your own personal entourage, just invite the Holy Spirit to guide you; let God be your heavenly Father; accept Jesus as your Saviour and there you go, you have your own personal entourage, the same one that cares for me and supports me Twenty-four/Seven. No surprises here, folks, except for the fact that so few people choose to have such a great personal entourage for themselves.
I accept the fact that we all need folks around us to help us and to do things we can’t do. Just today I had my car repaired by a trained mechanic. I love cars, and I’m pretty handy with a wrench, but this man did in an hour what would have taken me all day to do. You probably have folks that help you as well; that’s normal. It just seems a little beyond reasonable for a person to have an entourage surrounding them at all times. Maybe I’m special, but I think I can feed myself pretty much without help.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of any famous or powerful person’s entourage is not that they are needed, but they are paid. These are not loving, caring people that are there because they want to see their boss succeed; they are not like a mom or dad doting on their child; they are there purely to make money. They might enjoy their job; they might even like the person they are supporting; but never let it be forgotten that they are in it first and foremost for the money. And that, my friends, is why I don’t really think I need or would like an entourage. If I’m going to be cared for, I want it to be because folks care for me, not because I am paying them. It might not surprise you, therefore, to know that I don’t have a personal entourage.
Well, OK, I’m not being entirely honest. I do actually have a a team that is constantly at my side supporting me and doing things for me that are beyond my skills and capacities. Truth be told, I would be completely lost without my personal entourage taking care of me every moment of my life. And no, they are not paid; and no, I am not special or unique because I have this group supporting me. In fact, I’m not even alone in having a personal entourage around me. You can have one too, if you want it.
If you would like your own personal entourage, just invite the Holy Spirit to guide you; let God be your heavenly Father; accept Jesus as your Saviour and there you go, you have your own personal entourage, the same one that cares for me and supports me Twenty-four/Seven. No surprises here, folks, except for the fact that so few people choose to have such a great personal entourage for themselves.
June 3rd Wing-wash
As I sat relaxing on the patio after cutting the lawn, a large bumble-bee flew into view. Busy searching for just the right flower it travelled just a few centimetres above the grass and, every once in a while, over the patio stones. Now, I admit that I’m not a big sweeper of grass cuttings after performing my mowing duties, which means there were dead grass cuttings everywhere. What surprised me was that the bee actually moved the assorted dead greenery on the patio below. It was, to me, a pretty amazing feat. Sure, grass isn’t that heavy, but a bee, even a big one, isn’t that much bigger. To see its wings create so much ‘wind’ that my grass cuttings were blown about a bit was simply fascinating.
We often associate power with large things. Earth-movers are powerful and can tear up great chunks of land with one mighty sweep of their bucket. Jumbo jets are powerful enough to knock over a school bus inadvertently parked in their jet-wash. C-4 is a powerful explosive that is often used to level old useless buildings instantly into a pile of rubble. Each of these items carries with it the weight of a well-earned reputation for making things happen around them. Their impact is felt immediately and unforgettably. Yet even a bumble bee, as small and relatively powerless as it might seem, has the power to change its environment. They might have been only dead bits of grass, but when I watched my neighbourhood bee fly over them, they were moved noticeably and definitely.
Words are wee, tiny things on a page. They can be whispered quietly or even mouthed silently with little effort and yet they can impact their surroundings noticeably and definitely. The tongue, we are told in the Bible, is like a rudder that steers a mighty ship. The words it shapes can harm as easily as they can heal. They can teach or confound. They can please or they can disappoint with equal aplomb. Our tongues, our speech, our ability to utter words is something that only takes a little bit of breath but can have a tremendous impact on those within our immediate environment.
My friend, the bee, had little concern for the way it tossed about the grass beneath it; I’m not even sure it could perceive the moving bits of greenery in its wing-wash. There are times when we too are unaware of the impact of our words; only when it is too late do we learn that an inadvertent phrase cut someone deeply; only after the fact do we realize that a word tossed out in jest was actually just the word needed to lift someone from despair.
We cannot always control where our words land; my own words have been at times been overheard by those around me and managed to create both positive and negative results. I cannot help it when that happens. Yet I can ensure that those who are in the direct path of my words are never hurt. We are all in control of our conversations with others. Sometimes we might have difficult lessons to share. Sometimes we must ask for change that is not easy. But always, no matter what we say, we must realize that our words will have an impact on those around us, and as much as we can, we should try to leave love, joy and peace in the wake of our words.
We often associate power with large things. Earth-movers are powerful and can tear up great chunks of land with one mighty sweep of their bucket. Jumbo jets are powerful enough to knock over a school bus inadvertently parked in their jet-wash. C-4 is a powerful explosive that is often used to level old useless buildings instantly into a pile of rubble. Each of these items carries with it the weight of a well-earned reputation for making things happen around them. Their impact is felt immediately and unforgettably. Yet even a bumble bee, as small and relatively powerless as it might seem, has the power to change its environment. They might have been only dead bits of grass, but when I watched my neighbourhood bee fly over them, they were moved noticeably and definitely.
Words are wee, tiny things on a page. They can be whispered quietly or even mouthed silently with little effort and yet they can impact their surroundings noticeably and definitely. The tongue, we are told in the Bible, is like a rudder that steers a mighty ship. The words it shapes can harm as easily as they can heal. They can teach or confound. They can please or they can disappoint with equal aplomb. Our tongues, our speech, our ability to utter words is something that only takes a little bit of breath but can have a tremendous impact on those within our immediate environment.
My friend, the bee, had little concern for the way it tossed about the grass beneath it; I’m not even sure it could perceive the moving bits of greenery in its wing-wash. There are times when we too are unaware of the impact of our words; only when it is too late do we learn that an inadvertent phrase cut someone deeply; only after the fact do we realize that a word tossed out in jest was actually just the word needed to lift someone from despair.
We cannot always control where our words land; my own words have been at times been overheard by those around me and managed to create both positive and negative results. I cannot help it when that happens. Yet I can ensure that those who are in the direct path of my words are never hurt. We are all in control of our conversations with others. Sometimes we might have difficult lessons to share. Sometimes we must ask for change that is not easy. But always, no matter what we say, we must realize that our words will have an impact on those around us, and as much as we can, we should try to leave love, joy and peace in the wake of our words.
May 27th Reputation
I was on my way with purpose, determination and haste. I had things to do, people to see, important accomplishments to accomplish; the last thing I needed was a delay. I was delayed. I must have waited 50, maybe even 60 seconds in an almost empty bank! Almost a minute, with so much to do! Can you imagine that? Having to wait so interminably long while the tellers were, shockingly, busy with other customers! It was absolutely disgraceful! After all, as I started out, I had bigger fish to fry than lounging about in a bank.
Well, perhaps I was being a bit unreasonable. After all, the folks were not avoiding me; they had their own things to do and to accomplish. Yet in my haste I had painted everyone in the bank with a rather nasty brush and, as far as they were concerned, the collective reputation of the bank staff was forever sullied. Yes, I know, I was not at all fair, especially when you consider that while I was indeed busy and in a bit of a hurry, I actually had lots of time to get to my destination. I wanted to be there quickly, but it wasn’t because of poor timing or bad planning. I just wanted to move along.
When I was served by the teller, the bank’s reputation was immediately restored. She was patient, kind and extremely helpful. In fact, when I asked her for an ATM (automated Teller Machine) service I had never before used, she came out from behind her desk and showed me what to do with clarity and ease. In an instant my dark and unkind opinion of that particular banking institution and its staff was restored to pure gold. Perhaps I had been a tad unfair. Certainly the nice teller was very, very good.
A reputation is a fragile thing; it doesn’t take much to ruin one and can often take a long time to repair it. My bank experience was a silly one caused by my impatience. The reputation of the staff went downhill, in my mind, because I was too concerned with myself. Thankfully, the nice person that took care of me was so good, and I inwardly felt so foolish, that it only took a moment for me to think good things about her and her employer.
Sadly, when it comes to God and faith, good is not always associated with reputation. Many believe that churches are full of hypocrites, religion a sham and Jesus is a myth. For reasons reasonable and absurd, many people don’t want anything to do with me or the faith system that I enjoy and serve. It’s not just Pastors, either; many people have problems with anyone connected with religion. For them, our reputation has been seriously sullied.
It’s a problem Jesus Himself faced: he was hated and rejected unfairly. He came with love and care, but many folks hated His message and His methods. That didn’t stop Him; he just did what He did best and for many folks, His reputation is indeed golden. Can we turn things around for the faith that honours and follows Jesus? Can we improve our reputation? Of course we can; all we have to do is to honour and follow Jesus by loving the loveless, caring for the needy and being the best earthly reflection of Him that we can. Do that, and our reputation will certainly change for the better.
Well, perhaps I was being a bit unreasonable. After all, the folks were not avoiding me; they had their own things to do and to accomplish. Yet in my haste I had painted everyone in the bank with a rather nasty brush and, as far as they were concerned, the collective reputation of the bank staff was forever sullied. Yes, I know, I was not at all fair, especially when you consider that while I was indeed busy and in a bit of a hurry, I actually had lots of time to get to my destination. I wanted to be there quickly, but it wasn’t because of poor timing or bad planning. I just wanted to move along.
When I was served by the teller, the bank’s reputation was immediately restored. She was patient, kind and extremely helpful. In fact, when I asked her for an ATM (automated Teller Machine) service I had never before used, she came out from behind her desk and showed me what to do with clarity and ease. In an instant my dark and unkind opinion of that particular banking institution and its staff was restored to pure gold. Perhaps I had been a tad unfair. Certainly the nice teller was very, very good.
A reputation is a fragile thing; it doesn’t take much to ruin one and can often take a long time to repair it. My bank experience was a silly one caused by my impatience. The reputation of the staff went downhill, in my mind, because I was too concerned with myself. Thankfully, the nice person that took care of me was so good, and I inwardly felt so foolish, that it only took a moment for me to think good things about her and her employer.
Sadly, when it comes to God and faith, good is not always associated with reputation. Many believe that churches are full of hypocrites, religion a sham and Jesus is a myth. For reasons reasonable and absurd, many people don’t want anything to do with me or the faith system that I enjoy and serve. It’s not just Pastors, either; many people have problems with anyone connected with religion. For them, our reputation has been seriously sullied.
It’s a problem Jesus Himself faced: he was hated and rejected unfairly. He came with love and care, but many folks hated His message and His methods. That didn’t stop Him; he just did what He did best and for many folks, His reputation is indeed golden. Can we turn things around for the faith that honours and follows Jesus? Can we improve our reputation? Of course we can; all we have to do is to honour and follow Jesus by loving the loveless, caring for the needy and being the best earthly reflection of Him that we can. Do that, and our reputation will certainly change for the better.
May 20th Found
Last weeks I was in Ashland Seminary, in Ashland, Ohio for a conference. It’s the third time I’ve been down there, so I’m starting to get used to the place, but it’s still unfamiliar territory. Even the conference building itself is still a bit of a mystery to me. Even though it’s not very big, it has a number of nooks, crannies and corners that hinder navigation rather severely. Sure enough, one afternoon I found myself wandering the halls of the seminary looking for my next landing place; I was not entirely lost, but I wasn’t quite sure where I was, either.
Not being certain where I was, I knocked on a door to see if some help was available. The knock resulted in a pleasant welcome and the usual, “How are you doing” question. Now, let me put this into context: the conference I was attending was designed to help me walk closer to Jesus. It focuses not just on a healthy relationship with our Lord and Saviour, but in healthy relationships with others as well. So, when Matthew, the gentleman that answered the door, asked me how I was doing, I immediately felt that he truly cared what my answer would be.
More background: Matthew is a fascinating man, but during the course of the conference I found him a bit closed. Not unfriendly at all, but just a bit hard to approach, at least for me. Yet here, in this moment, there was no barrier: it was clear he cared what I was thinking and how I was feeling and so I spent a few minutes answering him, and he spent a few minutes helping me grow and walk closer to Christ.
When I knocked on Matthew’s door, I was a little lost. When he answered, I didn’t find the door I was looking for physically, but I did find the door God had intended for me Spiritually. That’s the amazing thing about a life of faith: we are never so lost that God cannot find us. Although we may wander the halls feeling that every door is the wrong one, God can help us find an entry point to Him if we are open to His prodding.
Had I not unknowingly knocked on the wrong door I would never have had the chance to talk to Matthew. I would have missed some valuable insights about myself and, more importantly, I would not have had the opportunity to find out just how much he really cares about people. God’s grace, as one great song reminds us, is pretty amazing; I once was lost in the halls of Ashland Seminary but before I knew it, I had been found
Of course, you have to be open to being found. You have to be aware that what looks like the wrong door might be the right one. You have to believe that when someone asks “How are you doing” they aren’t just doing it to be polite. You have to believe that for all the wrong turns there is one that will point you to exactly where you need to be. No matter what, you have to believe that you are never so lost that God can’t find you.
Not being certain where I was, I knocked on a door to see if some help was available. The knock resulted in a pleasant welcome and the usual, “How are you doing” question. Now, let me put this into context: the conference I was attending was designed to help me walk closer to Jesus. It focuses not just on a healthy relationship with our Lord and Saviour, but in healthy relationships with others as well. So, when Matthew, the gentleman that answered the door, asked me how I was doing, I immediately felt that he truly cared what my answer would be.
More background: Matthew is a fascinating man, but during the course of the conference I found him a bit closed. Not unfriendly at all, but just a bit hard to approach, at least for me. Yet here, in this moment, there was no barrier: it was clear he cared what I was thinking and how I was feeling and so I spent a few minutes answering him, and he spent a few minutes helping me grow and walk closer to Christ.
When I knocked on Matthew’s door, I was a little lost. When he answered, I didn’t find the door I was looking for physically, but I did find the door God had intended for me Spiritually. That’s the amazing thing about a life of faith: we are never so lost that God cannot find us. Although we may wander the halls feeling that every door is the wrong one, God can help us find an entry point to Him if we are open to His prodding.
Had I not unknowingly knocked on the wrong door I would never have had the chance to talk to Matthew. I would have missed some valuable insights about myself and, more importantly, I would not have had the opportunity to find out just how much he really cares about people. God’s grace, as one great song reminds us, is pretty amazing; I once was lost in the halls of Ashland Seminary but before I knew it, I had been found
Of course, you have to be open to being found. You have to be aware that what looks like the wrong door might be the right one. You have to believe that when someone asks “How are you doing” they aren’t just doing it to be polite. You have to believe that for all the wrong turns there is one that will point you to exactly where you need to be. No matter what, you have to believe that you are never so lost that God can’t find you.
May 13th Enduring Quality
For the past 11 years my Honda Civic has provided Yeoman service. That is, it’s been steady and reliable and never once has it let me down. Its parts fit with clockwork precision. It is made with strong materials that can take a lot of stress and strain. It seems to be wearing its years very well. Plus, it’s fun to drive, very comfortable and holds quite a bit of stuff. In short, it’s a quality product that I appreciate very much.
I’m not necessarily an expert in the area of automobiles, but I have owned a sufficient number and variety over the years to know with complete certainty that some brands are far better than others. I would buy another Honda without hesitating. I would avoid other manufacturers, which will remain nameless, like the plague. It’s simply a matter of quality. Some manufacturers seem to be able to create a car that works well, reliably and comfortably. Other makers might create vehicles that are similar in size, performance and features, but they just don’t feel the same.
I remember when Lois and I were looking for a minivan. We tried several brands; in this case Honda didn’t have a suitable model, so we shopped around at their competitors' products. It was clear that one manufacturer, Toyota, stood head and shoulders above the rest. Like my Honda, the Toyota felt and drove far better than any other brand and it’s reputation for quality is probably even a little better than Honda’s. We chose quality.
We human beings are a fickle lot. We demand quality in our products and complain if we don’t get it but we ourselves aren’t always as reliable or well built as the things we buy. We love half-heartedly, we trust incompletely, we miss appointments, we break promises and we let both ourselves and others down with remarkable consistency. Yet for all that, we are pretty good to one another. Not perfect but not totally horrendous either.
Where we fall short, God fills in the rest, if we let Him. God forgives us when we can’t; God holds us up when we can’t stand for ourselves; God leads us when we’re confused, brings us home when we’re lost and generally loves us well beyond anything we deserve and imagine.
It’s that love that sets God apart from we humans. It is the one and only force that holds us together when we’re falling apart. It moves God to help us despite our being totally undeserving and inspires us to love both God and our neighbour for no other reason than it feels so good. What’s more, when we love others with the same passion God loves us, we raise our own quality beyond anything mere human accomplishments could achieve.
When we love, we are better people because we are tapping into a power far greater than ours: God’s love. God’s love can be trusted. It will never fail because it is under too much strain or pressure. It will never quit because it’s just too worn out. It will never falter or hesitate because it is made of ill-fitting parts. It is a quality product that will outlast us in this life and remain with us for the eternal life we will all one day enjoy in heaven.
I’m not necessarily an expert in the area of automobiles, but I have owned a sufficient number and variety over the years to know with complete certainty that some brands are far better than others. I would buy another Honda without hesitating. I would avoid other manufacturers, which will remain nameless, like the plague. It’s simply a matter of quality. Some manufacturers seem to be able to create a car that works well, reliably and comfortably. Other makers might create vehicles that are similar in size, performance and features, but they just don’t feel the same.
I remember when Lois and I were looking for a minivan. We tried several brands; in this case Honda didn’t have a suitable model, so we shopped around at their competitors' products. It was clear that one manufacturer, Toyota, stood head and shoulders above the rest. Like my Honda, the Toyota felt and drove far better than any other brand and it’s reputation for quality is probably even a little better than Honda’s. We chose quality.
We human beings are a fickle lot. We demand quality in our products and complain if we don’t get it but we ourselves aren’t always as reliable or well built as the things we buy. We love half-heartedly, we trust incompletely, we miss appointments, we break promises and we let both ourselves and others down with remarkable consistency. Yet for all that, we are pretty good to one another. Not perfect but not totally horrendous either.
Where we fall short, God fills in the rest, if we let Him. God forgives us when we can’t; God holds us up when we can’t stand for ourselves; God leads us when we’re confused, brings us home when we’re lost and generally loves us well beyond anything we deserve and imagine.
It’s that love that sets God apart from we humans. It is the one and only force that holds us together when we’re falling apart. It moves God to help us despite our being totally undeserving and inspires us to love both God and our neighbour for no other reason than it feels so good. What’s more, when we love others with the same passion God loves us, we raise our own quality beyond anything mere human accomplishments could achieve.
When we love, we are better people because we are tapping into a power far greater than ours: God’s love. God’s love can be trusted. It will never fail because it is under too much strain or pressure. It will never quit because it’s just too worn out. It will never falter or hesitate because it is made of ill-fitting parts. It is a quality product that will outlast us in this life and remain with us for the eternal life we will all one day enjoy in heaven.
May 6th Quality
All my life I have grown up thinking that a quality product was a very good product. A quality pair of jeans look fabulous and last a long time. A quality stereo sounds great, has many features and is technically advanced. A quality product is highly desirable because it is made well and serves its purpose better than lesser products. The problem with quality is that it is expensive. Quality jeans cost more than cheap jeans. A quality stereo is not cheap. A quality product demands a higher price than lesser goods. Or, to put it bluntly, quality is expensive.
With this in mind, I’m rather confused by a recent ad by burger giant McDonalds. They claim to offer quality food at a quality price. This is to be expected, as I argued above, but I don’t think that’s what they mean. The gist of their commercial seems to be that you can get quality food at a bargain price. It’s a good sentiment but a very bad way of expressing it. Walmart has it right: “Save Money. Live better,” they say. Home Depot does a good job as well with their slogan “More Saving. More Doing.” McDonalds misses the mark completely.
Of course, the whole idea behind those slogans, for better or worse, is to draw customers into the store. McDonalds, Walmart, Home Depot and most other places are about making a profit by selling stuff. They aren’t really in it for the customer; they are satisfying their shareholders. Whether it’s offering the nonsensical “Quality food at a quality price,” or the more logical “More Saving. More Doing,” we customers are enticed to spend money; that’s the ultimate goal of those messages.
The Christian message, the Good News of the Gospel, is not about getting folks to spend anything. It is a clear, simple message of hope and possibility. It talks of God’s love; it proclaims Jesus’ care for humanity; it invites us to live better lives without any hidden agendas.
Sometimes the message does get confused. Sometimes good folks get caught up in the hype and miss the point. That’s the risk and reality of human beings trying to do Godly things. Sometimes what we preach and what we do line up so that our message is seen as much as heard. When we get it right we don’t have to say anything: no mottoes, slogans or pithy sayings are needed because our actions speak far more eloquently than words ever could.
It’s not a matter of saying that we offer a quality product; it’s a matter of letting the quality of a Christ-like life improve the life of others. It’s not about spending less and living better; it’s all about living the best we can without considering the cost; it’s certainly not about less saving and more doing; Jesus wants to save everyone from their pain and emptiness and invites us to help in the process. And here’s the best thing about the life Jesus offers: we can have a quality product for no price at all. Jesus paid the price already; all He asks is that we love Him as He loved us.
With this in mind, I’m rather confused by a recent ad by burger giant McDonalds. They claim to offer quality food at a quality price. This is to be expected, as I argued above, but I don’t think that’s what they mean. The gist of their commercial seems to be that you can get quality food at a bargain price. It’s a good sentiment but a very bad way of expressing it. Walmart has it right: “Save Money. Live better,” they say. Home Depot does a good job as well with their slogan “More Saving. More Doing.” McDonalds misses the mark completely.
Of course, the whole idea behind those slogans, for better or worse, is to draw customers into the store. McDonalds, Walmart, Home Depot and most other places are about making a profit by selling stuff. They aren’t really in it for the customer; they are satisfying their shareholders. Whether it’s offering the nonsensical “Quality food at a quality price,” or the more logical “More Saving. More Doing,” we customers are enticed to spend money; that’s the ultimate goal of those messages.
The Christian message, the Good News of the Gospel, is not about getting folks to spend anything. It is a clear, simple message of hope and possibility. It talks of God’s love; it proclaims Jesus’ care for humanity; it invites us to live better lives without any hidden agendas.
Sometimes the message does get confused. Sometimes good folks get caught up in the hype and miss the point. That’s the risk and reality of human beings trying to do Godly things. Sometimes what we preach and what we do line up so that our message is seen as much as heard. When we get it right we don’t have to say anything: no mottoes, slogans or pithy sayings are needed because our actions speak far more eloquently than words ever could.
It’s not a matter of saying that we offer a quality product; it’s a matter of letting the quality of a Christ-like life improve the life of others. It’s not about spending less and living better; it’s all about living the best we can without considering the cost; it’s certainly not about less saving and more doing; Jesus wants to save everyone from their pain and emptiness and invites us to help in the process. And here’s the best thing about the life Jesus offers: we can have a quality product for no price at all. Jesus paid the price already; all He asks is that we love Him as He loved us.
April 29th Melody and Lyrics
You are probably familiar with the song “My Way,” written by Canadian Paul Anka for, and immortalized by, Frank Sinatra. What you probably don’t know is that it started out as “Comme d’habitude.” (As usual) It was a big hit in France for performer Claude François well before Paul Anka heard it. When he heard it he liked the melody and secured permission from Claude François to write new words for it. The rest, as they say, is history. Frank Sinatra recorded the English version, and it has been a top seller ever since.
It’s a pretty neat story that illustrates the versatility of music and language. There is nothing about the melody for “Comme d’habitude/My Way” that identifies it as French or English. An Italian, German or Chinese writer could just as easily write words to fit the tune. At the same time, there is nothing in either “Comme d’habitude” or “My Way” peculiar to their shared melody. OK, I admit that the lyrics are written to fit the poetic rhythm (metre) of the tune, but you could fit other songs to those lyrics as well. It is only circumstance that united those words with that combination of notes.
I like to think of human beings as individual tunes and the things we do as the lyrics. Our unique melody is the basis of who we are; it is complex and varied and sometimes changes a bit with time. It is no one else’s but our own, making us easily and readily identifiable.
The things we do are the lyrics to our melody. Just like two completely different sets of words fit the tune originally written by Claude François, we can do a lot of different things with the assorted physical, mental and spiritual gifts that make up our unique tune. At the same time, different folks with their different melodies can also do similar things to what we do, but they will come out slightly differently, because their tune is not our tune.
The result is a wonderful bunch of living songs being sung together throughout the world, all at the same time. Sometimes those songs go well together, resulting in a beautiful sound that pleases both the ear and the soul. Sometimes the songs clash with each other and cause more pain than good. Yet there is something amazing even in those clashes, if we are open to trying to figure out how to tune into one another gracefully, peaceably and fairly in order to create a beautiful, harmonious sound.
As a person of faith, I believe that my unique contribution to this harmony is directed first and foremost to God. I try to sing the unique song that is me and the things I do in a way that pleases the One that gave me my unique melody. God is the one who sings the melody that we are. He is the one that gives voice to our lives yet even though we are His song, He lets us fit in our own words, our actions that is, in our own way. It is my goal to make my actions fit the melody God creates through me in a way that is indeed pleasant to the ear and harmonious to His ears. I invite you to let your lives sing to Him as well, so that we might fill all creation with a beautiful, God ordained symphony of unique songs.
It’s a pretty neat story that illustrates the versatility of music and language. There is nothing about the melody for “Comme d’habitude/My Way” that identifies it as French or English. An Italian, German or Chinese writer could just as easily write words to fit the tune. At the same time, there is nothing in either “Comme d’habitude” or “My Way” peculiar to their shared melody. OK, I admit that the lyrics are written to fit the poetic rhythm (metre) of the tune, but you could fit other songs to those lyrics as well. It is only circumstance that united those words with that combination of notes.
I like to think of human beings as individual tunes and the things we do as the lyrics. Our unique melody is the basis of who we are; it is complex and varied and sometimes changes a bit with time. It is no one else’s but our own, making us easily and readily identifiable.
The things we do are the lyrics to our melody. Just like two completely different sets of words fit the tune originally written by Claude François, we can do a lot of different things with the assorted physical, mental and spiritual gifts that make up our unique tune. At the same time, different folks with their different melodies can also do similar things to what we do, but they will come out slightly differently, because their tune is not our tune.
The result is a wonderful bunch of living songs being sung together throughout the world, all at the same time. Sometimes those songs go well together, resulting in a beautiful sound that pleases both the ear and the soul. Sometimes the songs clash with each other and cause more pain than good. Yet there is something amazing even in those clashes, if we are open to trying to figure out how to tune into one another gracefully, peaceably and fairly in order to create a beautiful, harmonious sound.
As a person of faith, I believe that my unique contribution to this harmony is directed first and foremost to God. I try to sing the unique song that is me and the things I do in a way that pleases the One that gave me my unique melody. God is the one who sings the melody that we are. He is the one that gives voice to our lives yet even though we are His song, He lets us fit in our own words, our actions that is, in our own way. It is my goal to make my actions fit the melody God creates through me in a way that is indeed pleasant to the ear and harmonious to His ears. I invite you to let your lives sing to Him as well, so that we might fill all creation with a beautiful, God ordained symphony of unique songs.
April 22nd Friction
During one of my perambulations, I noticed a crane was about to move a large concrete block. I like work; I could watch people doing it all day, so I decided to take a moment and observe the proceedings. The crane was like a great big arm and looked very impressive. The concrete block, well, it was grey and big and equally impressive. It was also very plain; by plain I mean there was nothing but concrete. No decorations, nothing at all, including no visible means of connecting the crane to the block.
You see, there were chains hanging from a special metal device on the business end of the crane. The chains, I thought, should have something with which to hook on to the heavy hunk of concrete: great steel loops perhaps; impressive iron handles, maybe; but no, it was just a simple piece of concrete with no visible points of attachment. Very curious, I thought.
The worker started the process. He placed the business end of the crane in just the right spot over the concrete block. Then he carefully draped the chains around the opposing end of the object. Hmm, even more curious, I pondered to myself. How will he fix those chains to the block, I wondered silently. Well, he didn’t; he simply started raising the arm of the crane and pulled the chains taut. The more he lifted the crane the tighter the chains became, until they were so tight against the block that nothing could separate the two. The friction between the metal and the concrete was enough to hold the two together so that the crane could do its work. In a few moments the block was lifted, shifted and deposited, all thanks to friction.
Friction is a powerful force. The friction between concrete and iron allowed a heavy block to be moved without need for hooks marring its surface. The friction between two people can cause all kinds of unpleasant results. It’s no wonder we talk about “rubbing people the wrong way.” When people disagree on something their contrary attitudes can cause a great deal of discomfort between them.
God made each of us different and unique, so sometimes we can’t avoid friction. It doesn’t have to be painful however. If we treat our differing opinions with respect and honour, friction can be greatly reduced. It can, at times be a good thing; when folks differing two points of view listen to each other, they can learn something new about their own idea. Even better, if they are open to God moulding and shaping them, a new thing can grow out of the two variations on a theme. So, while friction can be painful, it can also help us mature and become better people.
Look at what friction did for the chain and the concrete: it brought them together so that the worker could use one to move the other. Maybe God has lined you up with someone that rubs you the wrong way. However, carefully and prayerfully considered, friction with your neighbour needn’t be painful. If you’re open, it can be a learning experience that allows each of you to lift and shift the other to a new way of thinking.
You see, there were chains hanging from a special metal device on the business end of the crane. The chains, I thought, should have something with which to hook on to the heavy hunk of concrete: great steel loops perhaps; impressive iron handles, maybe; but no, it was just a simple piece of concrete with no visible points of attachment. Very curious, I thought.
The worker started the process. He placed the business end of the crane in just the right spot over the concrete block. Then he carefully draped the chains around the opposing end of the object. Hmm, even more curious, I pondered to myself. How will he fix those chains to the block, I wondered silently. Well, he didn’t; he simply started raising the arm of the crane and pulled the chains taut. The more he lifted the crane the tighter the chains became, until they were so tight against the block that nothing could separate the two. The friction between the metal and the concrete was enough to hold the two together so that the crane could do its work. In a few moments the block was lifted, shifted and deposited, all thanks to friction.
Friction is a powerful force. The friction between concrete and iron allowed a heavy block to be moved without need for hooks marring its surface. The friction between two people can cause all kinds of unpleasant results. It’s no wonder we talk about “rubbing people the wrong way.” When people disagree on something their contrary attitudes can cause a great deal of discomfort between them.
God made each of us different and unique, so sometimes we can’t avoid friction. It doesn’t have to be painful however. If we treat our differing opinions with respect and honour, friction can be greatly reduced. It can, at times be a good thing; when folks differing two points of view listen to each other, they can learn something new about their own idea. Even better, if they are open to God moulding and shaping them, a new thing can grow out of the two variations on a theme. So, while friction can be painful, it can also help us mature and become better people.
Look at what friction did for the chain and the concrete: it brought them together so that the worker could use one to move the other. Maybe God has lined you up with someone that rubs you the wrong way. However, carefully and prayerfully considered, friction with your neighbour needn’t be painful. If you’re open, it can be a learning experience that allows each of you to lift and shift the other to a new way of thinking.
April 15th Over-accustomed?
Although I am now a staunch Presbyterian, my Roman Catholic roots show every once in a while. This past Lenten season those roots led me to give up desserts for the 40 day period starting on Ash Wednesday way back in February. The tradition of giving up something is one of self-sacrifice, discipline and humility. Not that I’m trying to show off to anyone, especially to God. It’s just that for many folks, Lent is not just a matter of thinking about Jesus’ death on the Cross and what it really means. It’s also a time to recognize that it is a sad, serious thing that He did for us; thus, we give up something that means a lot to us in order to honour the sad, serious occasion of His own self-sacrifice.
I love desserts; they are, next to Pizza, my favourite food group. Not eating any dessert or sweet thing for forty days was not an easy thing. It was, however, rather fulfilling, as I was able to show myself that it was me, not a luscious double chocolate cheesecake or Dutch Apple pie that is in charge of my dietary habits. As the end of my fast approached, it was very easy to look at a display of birthday and other assorted cakes and not feel like jumping in with my whole body and simply stuffing my face.
What was surprising about my return to eating desserts after Easter was how rich and heavy they were. I’ve generally been trying to eat smarter, so my portion size has been reduced and I’ve virtually cut out having seconds. When I finally enjoyed a lovely piece of Cheesecake, it was indeed delicious, but it felt like something really, really fattening. I don’t know how else to describe it. All I can really say is that I didn’t realize just how much the very feeling of a dessert contributes to its overall yumminess. I guess I was spoiled. Before my forty day abstention I took for granted how filling and tasty a dessert could be. I now have a new appreciation for the whole dessert experience.
I wonder if we are over accustomed to the wonders and beauty of Jesus. Are we so used to praying that we don’t fully appreciate its impact? Is Jesus presence with us so familiar that we hardly recognize Him being there? Are we so comfortable with all the many blessings of food, fine homes and many luxuries that we have forgotten that they are gifts from God? I wonder.
I wonder what it would be like if we were forced to give up prayer when we needed it most; or if we couldn’t turn to Jesus when we’re lonely or afraid. What would it be like if God decided that He would abstain from providing us all the blessings He sends our way?
It might be a small thing, but I’ll never look at a dessert the same way. From now on, I’m going to cut back and try to enjoy them as a real treat rather than a regular part of life. I wonder if it’s time that we started appreciating Jesus and all His blessings a little more as well. Maybe it’s time we all took Him a little more seriously and paid HIm the attention He truly deserves.
I love desserts; they are, next to Pizza, my favourite food group. Not eating any dessert or sweet thing for forty days was not an easy thing. It was, however, rather fulfilling, as I was able to show myself that it was me, not a luscious double chocolate cheesecake or Dutch Apple pie that is in charge of my dietary habits. As the end of my fast approached, it was very easy to look at a display of birthday and other assorted cakes and not feel like jumping in with my whole body and simply stuffing my face.
What was surprising about my return to eating desserts after Easter was how rich and heavy they were. I’ve generally been trying to eat smarter, so my portion size has been reduced and I’ve virtually cut out having seconds. When I finally enjoyed a lovely piece of Cheesecake, it was indeed delicious, but it felt like something really, really fattening. I don’t know how else to describe it. All I can really say is that I didn’t realize just how much the very feeling of a dessert contributes to its overall yumminess. I guess I was spoiled. Before my forty day abstention I took for granted how filling and tasty a dessert could be. I now have a new appreciation for the whole dessert experience.
I wonder if we are over accustomed to the wonders and beauty of Jesus. Are we so used to praying that we don’t fully appreciate its impact? Is Jesus presence with us so familiar that we hardly recognize Him being there? Are we so comfortable with all the many blessings of food, fine homes and many luxuries that we have forgotten that they are gifts from God? I wonder.
I wonder what it would be like if we were forced to give up prayer when we needed it most; or if we couldn’t turn to Jesus when we’re lonely or afraid. What would it be like if God decided that He would abstain from providing us all the blessings He sends our way?
It might be a small thing, but I’ll never look at a dessert the same way. From now on, I’m going to cut back and try to enjoy them as a real treat rather than a regular part of life. I wonder if it’s time that we started appreciating Jesus and all His blessings a little more as well. Maybe it’s time we all took Him a little more seriously and paid HIm the attention He truly deserves.
April 8th No Cover-up
I like to build model cars; since I can’t afford the exotic beauties I admire in real life, their miniature plastic equivalents let me own at least one or two of my favourite automobiles. The objects of my modelling affection are often brightly painted and covered in even shinier Chrome. Chrome, however, represents a bit of a challenge for both the folks that manufacture plastic model kits and we builders. While plastic can be plated with pretty good looking Chrome in the factory, it’s rather expensive. At the same time, it’s not possible for the average hobbyist to chrome plate parts at home.
This presents a problem: if there are any defects in the shiny chrome plating, they are hard to fix. There is no such thing as Chrome paint. Nicks or scratches have to be repaired in some other fashion. Fortunately, there is a way to do just that. One company sells a product that is actually super thin metal that looks pretty much like chrome. This bright shiny metal is so thin it can be applied onto any plastic surface, and since it’s also covered with an ultra-thin layer of adhesive, it sticks in place and provides a permanent Chrome like covering.
One of the really neat things about this product, which is simply called “Bare-Metal” is that it is so thin and pliable, seams can simply be rubbed away. Even if there is a bit of overlap, you can carefully rub the overlap away to the point where the joint becomes virtually invisible. Imagine trying to do that with a piece of cloth. Think of how hard it is to match paint colours and fix a scratch? Wreck a section of your hardwood floor? Good luck trying to match the stain and grain again. Scratch the chrome on your plastic model? Bare-metal will cover up your boo-boo to the point you will never know you did it.
As imperfect children of God, we scratch and dent and wreck ourselves with sins both intentional and accidental. Human fixes can’t hide the reality of our guilt and shame, nor can they repair our relationship with God. When we blow it in the sight of our Heavenly Father, we can’t simply hide or mask our mistakes. The only seamless fix comes from Jesus. Only he can set things straight between God and us. Only he can get rid of our guilt and shame.
Chrome plating makes a dull car part shiny looking. The “Bare-metal” product I described can do the same thing for plastic. Neither, however, actually transforms the object they cover. It’s just a matter of appearance. When Jesus forgives us, however, it’s not just a coat of paint or a layer of Chrome. He doesn’t simply polish us up and send us on our own way. Jesus transforms us from within. He changes our very soul back to the state of purity in which we were first created. That’s the incredible thing about what He did for us on the cross: He didn’t just hide our sin; he buried it with him and then lifted us to new life along with him.
This Easter, as you ponder your life in the light of the cross, remember that just as He rose from the dead, you can have a new life too. Ask for His forgiveness and you’ll have a fresh start. He is risen indeed; you can be too!
This presents a problem: if there are any defects in the shiny chrome plating, they are hard to fix. There is no such thing as Chrome paint. Nicks or scratches have to be repaired in some other fashion. Fortunately, there is a way to do just that. One company sells a product that is actually super thin metal that looks pretty much like chrome. This bright shiny metal is so thin it can be applied onto any plastic surface, and since it’s also covered with an ultra-thin layer of adhesive, it sticks in place and provides a permanent Chrome like covering.
One of the really neat things about this product, which is simply called “Bare-Metal” is that it is so thin and pliable, seams can simply be rubbed away. Even if there is a bit of overlap, you can carefully rub the overlap away to the point where the joint becomes virtually invisible. Imagine trying to do that with a piece of cloth. Think of how hard it is to match paint colours and fix a scratch? Wreck a section of your hardwood floor? Good luck trying to match the stain and grain again. Scratch the chrome on your plastic model? Bare-metal will cover up your boo-boo to the point you will never know you did it.
As imperfect children of God, we scratch and dent and wreck ourselves with sins both intentional and accidental. Human fixes can’t hide the reality of our guilt and shame, nor can they repair our relationship with God. When we blow it in the sight of our Heavenly Father, we can’t simply hide or mask our mistakes. The only seamless fix comes from Jesus. Only he can set things straight between God and us. Only he can get rid of our guilt and shame.
Chrome plating makes a dull car part shiny looking. The “Bare-metal” product I described can do the same thing for plastic. Neither, however, actually transforms the object they cover. It’s just a matter of appearance. When Jesus forgives us, however, it’s not just a coat of paint or a layer of Chrome. He doesn’t simply polish us up and send us on our own way. Jesus transforms us from within. He changes our very soul back to the state of purity in which we were first created. That’s the incredible thing about what He did for us on the cross: He didn’t just hide our sin; he buried it with him and then lifted us to new life along with him.
This Easter, as you ponder your life in the light of the cross, remember that just as He rose from the dead, you can have a new life too. Ask for His forgiveness and you’ll have a fresh start. He is risen indeed; you can be too!
April 1st Public and Private
"OK, so Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he's been injured. If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback. And in my opinion, it would serve them right."
This rather painful (pun honestly intended) comment disturbs me. Such a vindictive mindset is not what I believe in at all. It’s pretty much saying that the player in question deserves to get hurt. As a person who very much believes in the God of love and Jesus’ desire for us to love one another it’s just not my way of thinking.
I don’t think this way simply because I’m a Pastor or the leader of a congregation. This is my down to the depth of my sole understanding of the way we should treat one another. You can imagine my dismay and embarrassment at this statement when I tell you that it was made by a well known public figure and Minister of religion from our immediate neighbour nation to the south.
I realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I suppose that one might argue that the person in question, at least regarding sports, made this comment as just another fan, and not as a religious person. As far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t make it right. I personally can’t justify anybody thinking that someone deserves to get hurt. It’s simply not the way I understand God to work. My god is not one of retribution and vengeance. My god is one of grace, mercy and forgiveness.
The big problem is that you can’t extract the public figure from his position, even if it’s over something like sports. As a man with a lot of clout in his society and a representative of the Christian faith, he must surely realize that every word he says will be judged by all who hear him. More than that, as a representative of God, he should know that his every word will be heard as reflecting his religious beliefs. So, implying that someone deserves to be hurt would suggest that this gentleman’s ‘god’ is one of anger and punishment. That is not at all the God of love I believe in.
Publicly and privately I cannot separate myself from the fact that I am a pastor. It is as much a way of life as a job. That should apply to anyone who follows a given faith system, whether it’s Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Druid. We can’t truly believe one thing in public and another in private. You are either a Druid or you’re not. So, whatever values your faith professes should be the values you reflect in every aspect of your public and private life. I believe in a God of love that wants only the best for you and me, and that’s exactly what I wish for you, whether you share my beliefs or not.
This rather painful (pun honestly intended) comment disturbs me. Such a vindictive mindset is not what I believe in at all. It’s pretty much saying that the player in question deserves to get hurt. As a person who very much believes in the God of love and Jesus’ desire for us to love one another it’s just not my way of thinking.
I don’t think this way simply because I’m a Pastor or the leader of a congregation. This is my down to the depth of my sole understanding of the way we should treat one another. You can imagine my dismay and embarrassment at this statement when I tell you that it was made by a well known public figure and Minister of religion from our immediate neighbour nation to the south.
I realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I suppose that one might argue that the person in question, at least regarding sports, made this comment as just another fan, and not as a religious person. As far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t make it right. I personally can’t justify anybody thinking that someone deserves to get hurt. It’s simply not the way I understand God to work. My god is not one of retribution and vengeance. My god is one of grace, mercy and forgiveness.
The big problem is that you can’t extract the public figure from his position, even if it’s over something like sports. As a man with a lot of clout in his society and a representative of the Christian faith, he must surely realize that every word he says will be judged by all who hear him. More than that, as a representative of God, he should know that his every word will be heard as reflecting his religious beliefs. So, implying that someone deserves to be hurt would suggest that this gentleman’s ‘god’ is one of anger and punishment. That is not at all the God of love I believe in.
Publicly and privately I cannot separate myself from the fact that I am a pastor. It is as much a way of life as a job. That should apply to anyone who follows a given faith system, whether it’s Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Druid. We can’t truly believe one thing in public and another in private. You are either a Druid or you’re not. So, whatever values your faith professes should be the values you reflect in every aspect of your public and private life. I believe in a God of love that wants only the best for you and me, and that’s exactly what I wish for you, whether you share my beliefs or not.
March 25th Passion
At a lunch with a number of fellow Pastors we all commiserated on the ‘missing generation’ that seems to be plaguing the Christian church. Well, I suppose ‘plague’ is a poor choice of words; it’s not a plague it’s more of a cavity. We aren’t diseased; we have a hole in our congregations. As I pondered this problem, I started thinking about my early church colleagues way back when. I don’t mean in the 20th or even 19th centuries; I mean back when the church had few pews and even fewer members.
Way back in the early days of Christianity churches were small and scattered. They faced persecution. They struggled with the popularity of other religions. They were put down by the government. They had no money. In some ways the only difference between our present situation and theirs is the level of enthusiasm. The early Christians were excited; they knew they had been given a great gift and they wanted to share it. Modern Christians, on the other hand, at least here in North America, seem beleaguered and tired. We know we have something great; we just don’t know what to do about it.
An opportune phone call came just a few minutes ago. It was from someone that once came to St. James as a regular member. They haven’t been around a while; they were calling for a completely different reason. I answered their question and then did something I’ve always meant to do but rarely follow through with: I invited them to church. I pointed them to our website and invited them to check us out on Sunday morning.
I am passionate about St. James. I am more passionate about Jesus. I love what I do and the church I serve. I want others to share that passion. I want you to share my passion, whether you’re reading this as a member of the church or an interested bystander. But I’d like something more from everyone, especially from those of you who love Jesus. I’d love for you to share that love in word and in deed.
The early Christians didn’t face an uphill battle. They didn’t struggle to grow the church. They didn’t worry about building new buildings or filling new ones. They simply worshiped and served. They sang songs and hymns. They fed the poor. They invited neighbours, friends and family members into their world. The lived and breathed the Good News, not in defiance of the powers-that-were, but in honour of the one that the Good News revealed.
Were those early church builders any different from us? No.
Did they have a secret formula for success? No.
They simply followed the ways of Christ and told others about Him. When words failed they didn’t give up; they kept on loving Jesus and let that love speak for itself. Times haven’t really changed that much. What those early believers did is what we too can do. They grew the early church with their passion and love. They shared the Good News. If they did it, why can’t we? For the Bulletin if there’s room:
On April 15th we’re celebrating Communion here at St. James. That’s the week after Easter and one of the popular readings for that day tells the story of Jesus commissioning His followers for the task ahead. The commissioning takes place during a beach-side breakfast, a simple meal Jesus Himself prepared.
Our week-after-Communion service will celebrate that special meal. We’ll gather ‘round the table and enjoy a simple breakfast together (hosted by our Mission and Outreach team) as part of worship. Communion itself will be served at that common table, just as Jesus Himself did the night that He instituted His feast of Bread and Wine. Don’t miss this chance to worship and to share in Jesus holy meal of forgiveness, hope and new possibilities.
Translation for El Shaddai lyrics
El Shaddai: "God Almighty"
El-Elyon na Adonai: "God Most High, O Lord”
Erkamka na Adonai: "I love you, O Lord”
Way back in the early days of Christianity churches were small and scattered. They faced persecution. They struggled with the popularity of other religions. They were put down by the government. They had no money. In some ways the only difference between our present situation and theirs is the level of enthusiasm. The early Christians were excited; they knew they had been given a great gift and they wanted to share it. Modern Christians, on the other hand, at least here in North America, seem beleaguered and tired. We know we have something great; we just don’t know what to do about it.
An opportune phone call came just a few minutes ago. It was from someone that once came to St. James as a regular member. They haven’t been around a while; they were calling for a completely different reason. I answered their question and then did something I’ve always meant to do but rarely follow through with: I invited them to church. I pointed them to our website and invited them to check us out on Sunday morning.
I am passionate about St. James. I am more passionate about Jesus. I love what I do and the church I serve. I want others to share that passion. I want you to share my passion, whether you’re reading this as a member of the church or an interested bystander. But I’d like something more from everyone, especially from those of you who love Jesus. I’d love for you to share that love in word and in deed.
The early Christians didn’t face an uphill battle. They didn’t struggle to grow the church. They didn’t worry about building new buildings or filling new ones. They simply worshiped and served. They sang songs and hymns. They fed the poor. They invited neighbours, friends and family members into their world. The lived and breathed the Good News, not in defiance of the powers-that-were, but in honour of the one that the Good News revealed.
Were those early church builders any different from us? No.
Did they have a secret formula for success? No.
They simply followed the ways of Christ and told others about Him. When words failed they didn’t give up; they kept on loving Jesus and let that love speak for itself. Times haven’t really changed that much. What those early believers did is what we too can do. They grew the early church with their passion and love. They shared the Good News. If they did it, why can’t we? For the Bulletin if there’s room:
On April 15th we’re celebrating Communion here at St. James. That’s the week after Easter and one of the popular readings for that day tells the story of Jesus commissioning His followers for the task ahead. The commissioning takes place during a beach-side breakfast, a simple meal Jesus Himself prepared.
Our week-after-Communion service will celebrate that special meal. We’ll gather ‘round the table and enjoy a simple breakfast together (hosted by our Mission and Outreach team) as part of worship. Communion itself will be served at that common table, just as Jesus Himself did the night that He instituted His feast of Bread and Wine. Don’t miss this chance to worship and to share in Jesus holy meal of forgiveness, hope and new possibilities.
Translation for El Shaddai lyrics
El Shaddai: "God Almighty"
El-Elyon na Adonai: "God Most High, O Lord”
Erkamka na Adonai: "I love you, O Lord”
March 18th Excessively Safe?
The sport of Extreme Skiing has had a couple of unrelated deaths in the past couple of weeks. My heart goes out to the families, friends and fellow competitors of the two people that died doing what they love. Many people have been touched by these tragedies and some people have wondered whether or not the sport is sufficiently safe.
I don’t mean to seem crass, but the question is kind of silly. It’s hard enough to keep race car drivers from death or injury even though they are encased and secured in high tech vehicles that offer a plethora of protective devices. I can hardly imagine protecting a skier travelling in excess of 100km per hour or doing tricks that would terrify the best Hollywood stuntman.
The human body is only capable of taking so much stress or doing only so much work. In the last fifty years or so athletes of all kinds have pushed the limits of the human body with sports, tricks, stunts and actions pretty much inconceivable by previous generations. It’s thrilling and amazing to see them perform feats of physical derring do that leave the spectator almost as breathless as the performers themselves.
The question remains, can that and other sports be made safer? I guess it depends on how much a person is willing to sacrifice in terms of the sheer physicality of the sport. You could probably wrap a skier in armour or other systems to protect life and limb. Unfortunately that would limit their ability to do practice their art. You can either be safe or you can be extreme, but you can’t be both: either you’re extremely safe or at extreme risk. There isn’t much room to compromise.
In many places there isn’t much room to compromise in matters of faith. In some countries Christians put themselves at extreme danger because of their religion. They are physically and emotionally persecuted. We have no idea of the suffering they must endure. Yet for them the risk is worth it. They are not extremists; they are simply trying to honour God in the face of hatred, ignorance and intolerance. There are no safety measures other than living in secrecy or simply not practicing their faith at all. Like extreme athletes, they do what they love even though it puts them at great risk.
In our part of the world we’ve taken a far safer tack; in fact we take virtually no risks in practicing what we believe. I wasn’t too vocal when Sunday store openings took away our Sabbath day of rest. I didn’t protest too much when our provincial government decided to profit from gambling and lotteries. Because of those choices, our practice of faith is now coming under fire. We are viewed as extremists or irrelevant. The gods of entertainment, science, leisure, work and sports extreme or otherwise have taken over.
That leaves me with only one question: In contrast to those Christians inn other lands who risk it all, or those extreme athletes that push the limits of their bodies and their craft, have we played it too safe?
I don’t mean to seem crass, but the question is kind of silly. It’s hard enough to keep race car drivers from death or injury even though they are encased and secured in high tech vehicles that offer a plethora of protective devices. I can hardly imagine protecting a skier travelling in excess of 100km per hour or doing tricks that would terrify the best Hollywood stuntman.
The human body is only capable of taking so much stress or doing only so much work. In the last fifty years or so athletes of all kinds have pushed the limits of the human body with sports, tricks, stunts and actions pretty much inconceivable by previous generations. It’s thrilling and amazing to see them perform feats of physical derring do that leave the spectator almost as breathless as the performers themselves.
The question remains, can that and other sports be made safer? I guess it depends on how much a person is willing to sacrifice in terms of the sheer physicality of the sport. You could probably wrap a skier in armour or other systems to protect life and limb. Unfortunately that would limit their ability to do practice their art. You can either be safe or you can be extreme, but you can’t be both: either you’re extremely safe or at extreme risk. There isn’t much room to compromise.
In many places there isn’t much room to compromise in matters of faith. In some countries Christians put themselves at extreme danger because of their religion. They are physically and emotionally persecuted. We have no idea of the suffering they must endure. Yet for them the risk is worth it. They are not extremists; they are simply trying to honour God in the face of hatred, ignorance and intolerance. There are no safety measures other than living in secrecy or simply not practicing their faith at all. Like extreme athletes, they do what they love even though it puts them at great risk.
In our part of the world we’ve taken a far safer tack; in fact we take virtually no risks in practicing what we believe. I wasn’t too vocal when Sunday store openings took away our Sabbath day of rest. I didn’t protest too much when our provincial government decided to profit from gambling and lotteries. Because of those choices, our practice of faith is now coming under fire. We are viewed as extremists or irrelevant. The gods of entertainment, science, leisure, work and sports extreme or otherwise have taken over.
That leaves me with only one question: In contrast to those Christians inn other lands who risk it all, or those extreme athletes that push the limits of their bodies and their craft, have we played it too safe?
March 11th Only Human
The “Little Mermaid” is, at its simplest, the story of someone wishing to be something they are not. The little Mermaid wants to be a human, not only because she falls in love with a handsome prince, but also because humans have eternals souls while Mermaids do not. In the end, things don’t work out as planned for the heroine in this bittersweet story; the prince marries a human and the Little Mermaid dies without obtaining a soul.
As sad as this story is I recently heard one that is, for me at least, even sadder. This is the real life story of people who wish to become Merfolk. They wear Mermaid or Merman costumes, swim in the sea, and in one publicized case I read about, even quit their jobs to pursue their dreams. That, to me, is a pretty sad thing to long for.
I realize that things are tough for we humans. Life isn’t always easy or good, especially for some people. Life however--this life as human beings--is what we make it, and many folks, even in very difficult situations, enjoy life as they are. I have never seen or heard of anyone being happier as a Mermaid than as a human.
I’m not sure what troubles me more about this story. I’m troubled enough by the fact that folks would want to be something other than human. I’m equally troubled by the fact that these folks would want to be something mythical; it just seems wrong to dream about something that doesn’t even exist. Or maybe that’s the whole point; they are so unhappy that they have to go beyond what is known and create their own fantasy life. Within this fantasy they can escape from the reality of being human into something that they themselves define. If you’re unhappy as a human, maybe being a Mermaid or Merman will work for you.
I’ve reached some pretty low points in my life. I’ve been extremely hurt by others and sometimes even by myself and life has not always been good. But even in my pain and misery I have never considered anything but this life as being the best one possible. I know that I am created in God’s image and that being so made gives me the best hope for happiness and a great life. I wouldn’t want to be anything or anyone else.
It isn’t really a choice we have, anyway. We cannot become something we are not. There is even less chance of our becoming something that doesn’t exist. We can never be Mermaids or Mermen. We can’t be Dragons, Unicorns or Aliens. We can, however, be fully human. There is, in fact, nothing simpler. To become the best and happiest humans we can be we only need to follow the best human being ever: Jesus. We can never be Him, but we can certainly follow His example of love, kindness and mercy. Even if we can’t be fully like Him, simply trying will make us the best people we can be. Through Jesus, we have no need for fantasy. Through Jesus life is the best it can be.
As sad as this story is I recently heard one that is, for me at least, even sadder. This is the real life story of people who wish to become Merfolk. They wear Mermaid or Merman costumes, swim in the sea, and in one publicized case I read about, even quit their jobs to pursue their dreams. That, to me, is a pretty sad thing to long for.
I realize that things are tough for we humans. Life isn’t always easy or good, especially for some people. Life however--this life as human beings--is what we make it, and many folks, even in very difficult situations, enjoy life as they are. I have never seen or heard of anyone being happier as a Mermaid than as a human.
I’m not sure what troubles me more about this story. I’m troubled enough by the fact that folks would want to be something other than human. I’m equally troubled by the fact that these folks would want to be something mythical; it just seems wrong to dream about something that doesn’t even exist. Or maybe that’s the whole point; they are so unhappy that they have to go beyond what is known and create their own fantasy life. Within this fantasy they can escape from the reality of being human into something that they themselves define. If you’re unhappy as a human, maybe being a Mermaid or Merman will work for you.
I’ve reached some pretty low points in my life. I’ve been extremely hurt by others and sometimes even by myself and life has not always been good. But even in my pain and misery I have never considered anything but this life as being the best one possible. I know that I am created in God’s image and that being so made gives me the best hope for happiness and a great life. I wouldn’t want to be anything or anyone else.
It isn’t really a choice we have, anyway. We cannot become something we are not. There is even less chance of our becoming something that doesn’t exist. We can never be Mermaids or Mermen. We can’t be Dragons, Unicorns or Aliens. We can, however, be fully human. There is, in fact, nothing simpler. To become the best and happiest humans we can be we only need to follow the best human being ever: Jesus. We can never be Him, but we can certainly follow His example of love, kindness and mercy. Even if we can’t be fully like Him, simply trying will make us the best people we can be. Through Jesus, we have no need for fantasy. Through Jesus life is the best it can be.
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