December 20th

It’s been a tough week. First, my uncle’s wife, Nelda, died after a long life of illness. A couple of days later my aunt Bianca, sister to that same uncle, also died after a pretty good, overall healthy life. Following hot on the heels of the death of a much beloved parishioner and helping another family in the congregation deal with the passing of one of their family members, the loss of these two members of my family has given me lots of stuff to deal with myself. There is, of course, sadness as you might expect. But it’s not an overwhelmingly depressing thing. It is the sadness of losses that are a natural part of life. Not having these two women in my life leaves a hole that will never be filled and there is no escaping the sadness of that truth.
On the other hand my memories of Zia Bianca are positive and wonderful. Despite being in Italy, I was blessed by being able to get over there enough times to know her well and enjoy her and her husband, Angelo in a way that made them very near and dear to me. Those memories are what help me deal with my grief. After all, isn’t it more of a joy to have known my mother’s sister as a friend, rather than never having had such a person in my life at all, or not getting to know her because of the great distance involved?
There are two other things that help me travel along these harder roads. First is my own family, my congregation and the assorted friends here in Chatham and elsewhere. While my aunts may be gone and I’m busy helping others through their grief, I’m also busy living out the other parts of my life with folks involved in living out all their joys and griefs and whatever else is going on. The other thing, as you might expect from a Pastor, is my faith in, and friendship with, Jesus.
Knowing that he’s there for me and that he cares for me provides the support I need to carry on. Being connected to God through Him gives me a sense that I am part of a bigger, happier picture that I will see in all its wonderful fullness. Finally, having his love and care for others as an example for my life helps me live in a way that makes a positive difference for those around me. Sure, it’s not always easy to put my faith into practice when things are tough, but I don’t know how I’d get through without it.
What really makes me sad, especially as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Saviour that makes such a difference in my own and other people’s lives, is knowing that lots of folks have no faith whatsoever. There are lots of folks who don’t know Jesus, or can’t be bothered with God, or who believe faith itself just a lot of “Humbug.”  That, to me, is a truly sad way to live, especially since I’ve been there myself. Yes, I’ve seen the other side, even believed that it worked, but reality is far, far different. There is no greater joy than walking with and living for Jesus. There is no greater joy than singing God’s praises and there is no better cure for the dark night of sadness than basking in the glow of Jesus, the Light of the World. At least that’s the way I see it.

December 13th

In the course of my role as a Teaching Elder (one of the official titles I have as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada) I have discovered that there are two ways I teach. Now, I’m sure that professional educators may have something to say about this, and I accept your input, but this is what I’ve discovered on my own.
One way I teach is by simply sharing information. That is, I offer facts, figures or whatever I have to offer to, what is effectively, a clean slate. In this mode I’m kind of like a filled vessel filling up an empty one, except that the process doesn’t empty me. This is what happens after I’ve done some research in to the Bible and share that new discovery from the pulpit. I do it when someone doesn’t know anything about a subject I’m keen on, and they too want to share that interest. Sometimes it even happens here in these Pensive Pastors. In fact, it’s happening right now. I am sharing something about myself that I’ve just discovered. Hopefully it’s not too boring; certainly it’s not necessarily new to professional educators, and that leads me to my second method of teaching.
Sometimes rather that pass on something new, I simply retell and reinforce something already known. Now, you might be saying, well, what is the point of that? If I know something, what good is it you teaching me all over again. Well, the point is that sometimes folks know a thing without being certain they are right, or even realizing that they know it. In fact, there are times when people come for help, and all I really have to do is teach them that they already have the answer, and need simply to extract it and act on it.
Mind you, this isn’t always a straightforward proposition. Sometimes a person doesn’t realize how smart they really are. Sometimes they don’t think they have any clue. And sometimes they just don’t believe in themselves enough to trust their own instincts. For those folks, my teaching is not so much about imparting information, but helping them extract both what they already know, and also they confidence they need in their own genius.
I think God teaches us that way to. God knows we have the answers, but that we either don’t realize it, or don’t trust them. So, while there are times God teaches us as if we were a blank slate, more often than not, He knows we already know the answer. Take the 10 Commandments, for instance. We know them not just from Sunday school, but because what they say is in our hearts anyway; that’s why they make so much sense when we hear them read out for the first time. Their truth lies within us; we just need to get it out with the help of the one who put it there in the first place.
It’s the same thing with God’s love, the love we are supposed to have for Him, ourselves, and our neighbours. It doesn’t have to be taught; we just have to put it into practice as well as be reminded of its truth once in a while. But I bet you knew that already, because as a child of God, you don’t need to be taught something like that by someone like me. At least that’s the way I see it.

December 6th

If you read last week’s PP, you’ll realize I’m on a bit of “mind” kick. If you haven’t, well, let me just share with you that I’ve been thinking a lot about thinking and intelligence recently. For instance, I could, if asked, explain to you how an “old school” tube television works. I can even tell you the amazing story of how it was invented, and by whom, and the fact that the inventor was only fourteen (14!!!) years old when he came up with the idea. What I cannot tell you, is where in the world that young man found his inspiration for sending pictures through the air, or the ensuing device that he eventually took from concept to reality.
Most folks consider themselves to be acceptably intelligent. We all know how to work our way through the world without getting into too much trouble. Many folks can even make change without resorting to computers, calculators or a diligent application of fingers and toes. Yet there is a greater intelligence that allows some folks, like the young inventor of television, to go beyond what the rest of us think and to come up with something entirely new. Whether it’s electronics or music, chemistry or literature, fashion or the human mind, some people are able to see beyond what is and to imagine not only what might be, but what needs to be done to get there.
We call these creative minds geniuses. We praise them (rightfully so) and wish we were like them (again, rightfully so) and generally put them on pedestals or offer them accolades. At times, when the ideas are too radical, or they differ from what is common practice, or they just seem too weird, we give their progenitors a rough ride, but for the most part, clever creators tend to be respected and admired.
What really amazes me about this process, however is the thought that no matter what new idea might be devised, no matter how brilliant a fresh thought might be, no matter how amazingly useful and creative an original concept may turn out to be, they are never as new, fresh, creative or original as we might think in the first place.
Why do I say such a thing? Well, it’s pretty simple really. No human can ever come up with anything entirely new because God has been there first. The mind that created all that there is, and that sees that all creation operates as it should, is both timeless and infinite. There is no thought that hans’t already run through God’s mind; there is no invention that He hans’t devised and perfected, no dream he hans’t considered. Wherever our creative minds might lead us, God has already been.
Now, this concept isn’t meant to diminish our human creative geniuses. I just want to set the record straight and acknowledge that all human wisdom comes from God himself. Sure, there are some folks who are pretty amazingly smart and original, and they deserve our praise. But for every word of praise we offer the brilliant human, we should also offer a few words to the genius beyond all human capacity that put those thoughts there in the first place. At least that’s the way I see it.

November 22nd

A friend and colleague in ministry recently lamented one of his tasks within the church. Belonging to a national organization with assorted layers of governance means we Presbyterian ministers all have to share in the work and where different hats. One of those hats fit Jeff rather poorly the other day; you see, it got in the way of his pastor on vacation cap, causing undue discomfort. This was made all the more difficult since that alternate hat was one he normally likes to wear. Thus, Jeff’s lament seemed very poignant.
It’s bad enough when we have conflict with others over our time management. When we do it to ourselves, however, it’s even more frustrating. Now, I’m not berating Jeff his choice of doing his job despite the fact that he was on vacation, but sometimes lines have to be drawn. Oh, I know the arguments, I know that emergencies creep up, or that we’re the only ones that can do the job, or that others are counting on us, or that we should “just-stop-whining-and-get-on-with-it-because-there-are-dozens-of-people-out-there-who-would-love-our-job,” but I also know that sometimes you just have to say no.
No is a good word. It’s short, it’s easy to spell, and more importantly, it’s immediately understood. It also is very powerful, leaving little or no room for negotiation, dickering or general bargaining. It’s also sufficiently compact and economical to be repeated as often as necessary to get the point across. Jeff, I think, should have said “No.” Not out of meanness or spitefulness, but because it would have helped him enjoy his time off and not begrudge a duty he normally enjoys. It also helps him set and keep limits so that others can understand that when Pastor Jeff is on vacation, then so are all the other various titles he has as a member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
God, I believe, understands and appreciates a good “No.” If we’re being pushed beyond our limits or into unhealthy zones, God lets us turn away. If sin tempts us, God likes it when we refuse. When we get a dumb idea in our heads, or are invited to share in someone else’s folly, God smiles when we’re smart enough to turn it down. God also likes a good strong “Yes,” there’s no doubt about that, but in order for our affirmative responses to have real meaning, we also have to be able to say “No.” Without that ability, without that healthy balance, not only would we keep piling up things to do, we would also become robots acting without thought or understanding. After all, if you are going to say “No” you had better have good reasons, just as God would expect us to have good reasons for saying yes.
It might seem strange for me to suggest that sometimes the right answer, even to God, is a “No,” but because God works both through us, and those around us, we have to discern what really is and isn’t God’s will for us. Thus, as odd as it may feel there are occasions when the only possible, logical and irrefutable answer is indeed: “No.” At least that’s the way I see it.

November 15th

While scanning through the TV channels looking for something interesting, I happened upon a program featuring a skate boarding competition. Now, skateboarding is not something I’ve ever done, and it’s certainly not something I really consider a sport, or even that exciting a hobby. Still, watching those folks do their tricks was pretty amazing. What really struck me was one specific maneuver: the skater rolled along, then went up a wee ramp that propelled him just a couple of feet up. While he flew through the air, he hopped up off his skateboard, at the same time kicking the device so that it simultaneously did a sommersault and a full twist. When that was done, the skated landed back on his board, and then the two of them returned safely to the ground to continue on with other tricks.
The more I thought about that little move, the more I was fascinated not only by the skill of the rider (driver? Flyer? Stunter?) but also by the truly incredible abilities of the human body. Think about our abilities. Our hands are sufficiently nimble to paint a master-piece or knit a beautiful sweater, yet strong enough to wield a tree-felling axe or raise a heavy barbell. They can also combine that strength and dexterity to toss a baseball at ridiculous speeds while causing it to curve and twist at will. Now think about the feet of the skater I just described. Those feet, normally associated simply with running or walking or maybe even jumping, were able to manipulate (foot-ipulate?) a skateboard, causing it to spin and twist just as easily as a pitcher can throw a curve-ball. All I can say is: wow!
Of course, when one considers that we are made in God’s image, we shouldn’t be too surprised at a skater’s great foot skills. Now, I can’t exactly picture God riding on such a device, but at the same time, can’t think of any reason why our creator wouldn’t. The ability certainly would be there, because if we can do it (well, not me, but others sure can) then God, who is the very model upon which we are based, should be able to do it with mind-boggling abilities. Not with unreal, supernatural powers, but with the same muscle skills we all have to a certain degree.
That’s the wonder and amazement of the human body. God has imbued us with the potential to do things that seem beyond our imagination, and sometimes, to even defy the laws of gravity. Certainly that skater seemed to  be doing things that no ordinary mortal could accomplish. Yet what he did is within the realm of any human being willing to exercise and train their body in certain ways. I’m still not a big fan of skate-boarding but I am a huge fan of the skills those folks demonstrate, and an even bigger fan of the one and only God who gives us all the potential to do some pretty amazing things. At least that’s the way I see it.

November 8th

I have just made a tidy profit of around seventy dollars or so. Yes, by the virtue of that internet based bazaar otherwise known as ‘eBay’ I was able to sell a couple of old toys, clear off a couple of shelves and make a little cash for my efforts. I have one more bit of ancient history to sell, and will get to it soon but then I AM NEVER GOING TO SELL ON EBAY AGAIN!
It wasn’t a horrible experience. I didn’t have a zillion problems, encounter nasty buyers or generally go through the hot place the devil calls home, but I didn’t have bags o’ fun, either. I did it, once, will repeat it once because of a promise I made to my kids, but I didn’t get such a thrill out of the experience that I just can’t live without doing it again.
On the whole, it was a pretty neat thing to do: it was interesting to learn the ins and outs of selling an item on eBay; I got quite a thrill watching folks outbid each other online; I enjoy having made a bit of money; I especially appreciate having cleared a little space in the basement but the greatest part of the whole experience is having tried something new, and deciding that I didn’t like it.
This might seem like a strange thing to say. Doing something without fully enjoying it and then claiming is was a good thing to have done may appear to be a contradiction in terms, but because it wasn’t a totally unpleasant thing to do, and because there was something learned from doing it, it makes sense that overall, it was worth trying. Now I can say without fear of contradiction that I know what it’s like to sell something on eBay and that my world will not be diminished when I don’t do it again.
In the world of faith, God has given us many choices. Each of us has more than one thing we can do and do well. This means we have a lot of options and avenues to choose from in serving our Creator. Not all of those options or avenues, however, are necessarily the right ones for us. That means it’s okay to say no to God every once in a while. Saying no to a choice doesn’t mean we reject or defy God; it means we are being careful and thoughtful to use our skills and talents in a way that best serves Him. It’s part of our self-discernment, part of that process of figuring out who and what we are and where we fit in. It’s part of learning how to listen to God and make sure that we’re hearing His truth, and not our own opinion. It’s also part of a healthy relationship to be able to say yes or no when appropriate.
There are many ways to serve, but they aren’t right for everyone. It’s worth trying new things, because that’s how we learn and grow, but there’s nothing wrong with choosing not to do it again. After all, it’s not like God has a shortage of ways we can serve. At least that’s the way I see it.

November 1st

My physiotherapist discovered I had fallen arches and a little lumbar oddity. Seems like those two conditions he identified meant things weren’t quite lined up and that was putting extra strain where extra strain wasn’t helpful. As a result, he prescribed orthotics for me so now I have a pair of appliances that will take some strain off my feet and my back.
When my physiotherapist had me try the orthotics, he noticed that my shoes had worn oddly as a result of my fallen arches and lumbar oddity. In fact, they were completely reshaped by my odd gait, which meant that they were actually working against the orthotics. In other words, while the orthotics pushed one way, my well worn shoes pushed the other. So now I have to buy new footwear so that my orthotics can do their job without anything undermining their efforts.
That happens quite often. Quite often one change leads to another because that first change is never in isolation. You can’t change the colour of your hair without people noticing. You can’t get a different car without adjusting your driving style to explore and exploit its full potential. You can’t change your diet without expecting your body to react to that change. Change is not a singular event. It is very much like a pebble being dropped in a river, a happening that moves the water in ever widening circles.
This ripple effect, this flowing out that causes subtle changes beyond the original movement, this impact upon impact that is inevitable yet not unpredictable is natural. It is to be expected that something different, even if it is only slightly so, will make a bigger difference than first seemed possible. The trick is being able not just to change, but to accept or deal with the resultant changes. My orthotics are a new thing, something I’ve never done before, and now they have caused me to get new shoes. I can deal with it. My wallet might not like it, but I will enjoy the benefits physically and mentally.
God works with us within our ever-changing lives. His biggest concern is our tendency to try to change the rules and to try to get away with as much as possible while still staying on His good side. God, however, does not change to accommodate us. God does not let His standards slip when we do. God, instead, helps change us back to what we should be. He restores us to wholeness when we realize we’ve changed too much. He shows us the way home when we’ve changed direction too much. He helps us make room for Him in our hearts when we’ve changed our priorities too much. Change is never a singular event. It’s ripples are often farther reaching than we first imagine. Yet no change is ever so great that God can’t restore us to what we should be. At least that’s the way I see it.

October 25th

It’s not that I’m getting old or anything like that, but as time progresses I have noticed that one’s physical abilities tend to change over time. Some things improve as you develop and refine certain skills; other things worsen as physical limitations impose themselves for various and sundry reasons. There is one thing, however, that a body can do regardless of one’s age or physical condition. No matter how achey, breaky, creaky or squeaky one’s physical being becomes, as long as we are able to speak we will always have sufficient flexibility for firmly fix a foot in our mouth.
Whether it’s the classic: “Isn’t the new mayor a useless jerk,” eliciting the frosty response: “She’s my sister.” or the ever-popular “Wow, that’s a funny wig!” resulting in the tight-lipped question “What wig?” we all have the inate and permanent talent of saying exactly the wrong thing at the perfectly wrong moment. Just ask my wife: she’s constantly wondering I can walk with both feet always planted in my oral opening.
This incredible flexibility arises not so much from one’s physical capacity as it does from one’s mental acuity. Human beings are incredibly smart. We can store a lot of information and quite often we can access that impressive database very quickly. That speed, however, can be our downfall as it often exceeds our speed to make good moral judgements. Or sometimes it’s not so much a matter of speed as it as a matter of choice. Quickly accessing a smart-aleck comment without taking an equally speedy look through our kindness data-bank  before deciding to release it out in public usually puts us in that rather awkward foot-in-mouth position that simultaneously leaves us without a leg to stand on.
Jesus was a master at speaking his mind, at letting loose with just the right comment, and never getting his foot caught anywhere near his mouth. In fact, his foot usually ended up right against folks backsides, thus reminding them of their own careless words, pointing out their loveless attitude or generally giving them pause to think about how they were messing up their relationship with God. Never mean or cold-hearted, He did so not to hurt, but to help folks move away from their unhealthy attitudes and on towards a better understanding of God’s expectations.
Jesus' attitude, even when expressed sharply and concisely, was always one of love. His words were never used as weapons; they were tools to straighten out the crooked, to restore truth and to tear down walls of ignorance. When we speak with love, carefully considering our words before blurting them out, we can never go wrong. It might lead to the loss of our ability to insert our feet into our mouths, but I don’t think that would be a bad thing. At least that’s the way I see it.

October 18th


A recent car for a particular brand of automobiles has caught my attention. The add shows four of the brand’s cars along with their highway mileage rating, and compares them with a single competitor’s similar products mileage rating, which are slightly higher. Then they ask the question how it is that their rival can claim to have the best average mileage consumption. In effect, they are politely calling the other brand a bunch of liars by implying, but not directly stating, that the made claim by the other guys is false.

I am truly amazed at the gall of those folks, because this is clearly an apples and orange comparison. In other words, the advertisement is leading the buyer down the garden path. The trick comes in using the example of four very specific cars, and picking only the highway gas consumption rating for those vehicles that are better than their competitors, and then implying that if it’s true for those cars, then their rival’s claim for a better overall gas consumption rating must be false.

It would be as if you sold larger tastier fruit than I did, except maybe for your apples. My apples taste better than yours, but my bananas, oranges grapes and peaches all are bigger and tastier than what you have to offer. Clearly, it would be false advertising for you to claim that all of your fruit tastes better than mine based solely on your better apples, but that’s exactly what this car builder is doing. They are only giving you enough information to make themselves look good, and then using that tiny bit of knowledge to make their competitors look bad.

As people of faith, we sometimes play a bit of a comparison game with other religions and even within our faith system. We dole out a bit of negative information about how another faith system works, and then use that to make our own beliefs sound better. That’s not very helpful, and when you think about it, not even necessary. What God offers humanity in terms of love and support, in the way He takes care of all our needs, and all that we are offered through Jesus is all we need to share with others to make our beliefs look wonderful. That’s how wonderful our Christian faith system is.

It’s so wonderful, in fact, that we don’t need to badmouth other people’s beliefs. If we obey God’s teachings, share His blessings and follow Jesus faithfully, we don’t have to compare ourselves to anyone in order to gain converts. Our actions will speak louder than words, our words will themselves transform lives, and our lives will be the best advertisement imaginable. At least that’s the way I see it.

October 11th

Being somewhat of a car buff, you can understand that my “Desktop,” the picture that appears on my computer’s screen when it’s just sitting idly by waiting for something to happen, is a picture of a rather nice luxury car. It is not, however, a normal picture. You see, it is what’s known as an x-ray picture of the car and while it’s in colour and not exactly in black and white as normally associated with that type of image, it does nevertheless reveal all the internal mechanical bits and workings of this beautiful vehicle.
Not only is it a rather pleasant thing to look at, it’s also a fascinating thing to ponder, not only the engineer’s genius in creating the real car, but also the artist’s ability to draw all the internal components in a way that keeps the original lines and beauty of the car, but also lets us peek into all the parts that make it tick. It takes both incredible artistry and a thorough knowledge of mechanics to perform such a feat. It must also take a real appreciation and love of the subject in order for the artist to make all the effort and to pull it off in a way that is both pleasing and challenging to car buffs and, dare I say it, to those who just like good art.
God has an intimate knowledge of what makes us tick, not just in a mechanical, flesh and bones kind of way, but also of the very heart and inner workings of our soul. Given this perfect knowledge, only God can fully appreciate the wonders of a human being. No one else can fully know the intricate workings of body and soul as our Creator does.
That’s a bit of a problem. Without that full understanding or appreciation I don’t think we can treat each other or ourselves the way we should. Despite our apparently strong bones, we can’t fully appreciate how delicate a human being can be; because of the faltering first steps of a baby, we can’t see the true grace that is involved in that learning process; despite the stiff upper lip presented by some, we can’t appreciate how frail the ego is; because of our tendency to make light of things, we can’t understand how deep a love we have for those with whom we share a laugh.
Perhaps we can learn to look at each other differently; perhaps we can learn to look beyond our skin and see to the soul that lies beneath. It’s not that hard: all it takes is to look at each other with the same eyes of love that God has for us. All it takes for us to see each other in all our glory is to remember that we were made in God’s perfect image, and that we were created not as slaves or luxury objects, but as God’s children. There can be nothing more wonderful than to be recognized as a child of God. I also think that there can be no more God-honoring thing than to recognize those around us as beautiful and amazing fellow children in whom we can see not only the wonders of humanity, but of God. At last that’s the way I see it.

October 4th

I have to admit that I had a little bit of a hissy fit on Facebook, (an internet social networking site) the other day. Now, the exact subject doesn’t matter, neither does the person it was directed to. All that matters is that they’re not within my current geographical or congregational confines, and that the rant was not personal, mean or intended to cause pain or suffering. It was simply a personal need to counter an opinion that was driving me crazy, and is also one of those things that a minority expresses loudly, while the majority seems to have no reply, and if they do, no courage to speak it.
Well, I said my piece, got my thoughts off my chest, and felt all the better for it. It wasn’t an earth shattering subject, my opinion will not be remembered as one of the great philosophical moments of the century, but it mattered that I reacted vocally and quickly. It felt good. It was soul-lifting, frustration-relieving and generally deep down satisfying to speak my mind. It also helped to galvanize my views, taking them from a vague feeling of discontent and discomfort up to the level of conscious, careful and clear thinking. My reaction also served to spur others on and to affirm that what I was thinking on my own was a true reflection of what others were thinking.
God doesn’t seem to mind these little moments of frustrated self-expression. In fact God seems to approve of them given the number of times we read in the Psalms about how tough David is having it. Ok, his problems were a lot bigger than mine. I can assure you that I wasn’t responding to someone who wanted to kill me or overthrow my kingdom. At the same time the mere fact that David’s various laments were recorded gives us permission to let loose when something weighs us down.
Jesus Himself encourages us to leave our burdens with Him, to take a load off our shoulders so He can give us something more manageable. He doesn’t, however, tell us what to put on Him; there are no minimum or maximum size requirements, no limits on the frequency we let Him help us, no measure of what constitutes a burden worthy of His attention. Jesus just invites us to turn our weighty issues over to Him so that we can receive His easy load.
Of course, just like my actually writing my rant on Facebook, we actually have to turn things over to Him, which means we actually have to talk to Him. It’s not enough just to assume He knows what we need, or that we know what He has in store for us. In order for Jesus to take on our burden we have to be in touch with Him; the lines of communication open so that  when we need Him, or He has something for us, we can get the message across. All it takes is a little regular prayer. At least that’s the way I see it.

Hi there!

This isn't my usual Pensive Pastor posting. It's a copy of a rant (admittedly a rare event) I posted on my Facebook page. The message came about as a result of one fellow's repeated efforts and comments to form a Facebook group that would try to preserve church music as it is, or mythically was. I live in the 21st century. What was, was, and what is now is what matters. So, here's what happens when I reach my breaking point with folks.
 
I'm sick and tired of people trying to stop the growth and evolution of church music. What's wrong with material written by people who are dead, and performed on instruments found in the real world, rather than the pipe organs now almost completely limited to the lofty confines of a church or a few select auditoriums.
I've had it with the digs at contemporary words that express the feelings of contemporary people in terms that contemporary people use.
I've had it with folks who think that they have cornered the market one what we should sing, what books we should use rather than simply letting music and worship grow and mature the same way every other human activity does. 
Plus, the Bible never asks us to sing an old song to the Lord. Neither does it mention organs. Instead, it calls for stringed instruments (like guitars) and cymbals (like drums) trumpets and harps. So, theologically speaking, there is no place in the church for organs, period. 
I've had it with those people who are so fascinated by our history and what's gone on in the past that they seem to miss that what's happening both inside and outside of the church now is equally valid and should inform how we move on from here. Hindsight is fine, but keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the past leads nowhere.

Let our praise and worship speak from the voices and hearts alive today, and let our music come from the heart, wherever our hearts lie, even if comes out in tunes like Shine, Jesus Shine. And by the way, Luther used the tunes to (his) contemporary drinking songs to accompany his lyrics. 

I'd like to start a group stopping anti-church music change groups, but then I'd just be playing certain people's little game, so enough said.
Let the new stuff flow, good or bad, along with all the other good or bad stuff that's already out there; as long as it's directed to God worshipfully, I think that's good enough.

September 27th

Surfing the web one afternoon, I came across two requests for help on a website designed for that stuff. Just as a quick side note, no, I do not normally visit those self-help sites; it just happened that one caught my eye, so don’t worry, I’m not always “on” in Pastor mode.
Anyway, it struck me that two folks, in fairly rapid succession, and with no apparent connection, should both be curious about how to lose weight quickly and easily. I guess it’s a pretty common thing; I too have constantly been battling the bulge, but I’ve been trying to do it by watching what I eat, exercising, and generally trying to be careful and take care of myself.
These folks, however, wanted easier, quicker solutions. One person wanted to lose 30 pounds in 10 weeks, something that is only possible if you absolutely starve yourself, or get some professional surgical assistance. There is no healthy or non-surgical alternative. That’s all there is to it. The body can only do so much to change, and losing that much weight in that little time is absolutely outside its normal abilities.
Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other opinions out there. Lots of folks offered unhealthy alternatives, like weird diets, pills, alternative medicine or crazy exercise regimens. Like believers in some bizarre religion, each spouted the benefits of a particular diet, supplement or work out plan, even though each of those schemes reads like a bad infomercial or advice from a snake-oil salesman. What’s worse, they are giving their bad advice as if they are authorities, when in reality they have little training and no real qualifications. Well, that’s what happens when you ask for something without expecting to pay for it. Mind you, there are enough charlatans that are perfectly willing to take your money if you are willing enough to get bad advice and pay for it, too.
For me, whether it’s weight loss or any other topic, I try to stick to folks with recognized, well published credentials. It’s a lot safer, a lot smarter and in the long run, a lot cheaper to pay for good advice once, rather than having to overcome the more than likely bad physical and financial repercussions of bad advice.
That’s why I stick to the Bible and the Presbyterian Church in Canada for my spiritual advice and guidance. I know that those are two reputable sources with long histories of success in helping people lead better, healthier, happier and more successful lives. The Bible is a great source of teaching, inspiration and comfort. The PCC’s assorted doctrines offer a clear plan for living based on years of expert and inspired study and interpretation of the Bible by a great cloud of witnesses whose own lives demonstrate the effectiveness of the ideas they present.
I realize that these sources of advice might not be as exciting as the opinions one finds on the internet, but on the other hand, they’ve been very helpful for a lot longer than Internet advice has been around, and when push comes to shove, a Bible still works even when the power goes out. At least that’s the way I see it.

September 20th

Surfing the web this afternoon, I came across two requests for help on a website designed for that stuff. Just as a quick side note, no, I do not normally visit those self-help sights; it just happened that one caught my eye, so don’t worry, I’m not always “on” in Pastor mode.
Anyway, it struck me that two folks, in fairly rapid succession, and with no apparent connection, should both be curious about how to lose weight quickly and easily. I guess it’s a pretty common thing; I too have constantly been battling the bulge, but I’ve been trying to do it by watching what I eat, exercising, and generally trying to be careful and take care of myself.
These folks, however, wanted easier, quicker solutions. One person wanted to lose 30 pounds in 10 weeks, something that is only possible if you absolutely starve yourself, or get some professional surgical assistance. There is no healthy or non-surgical alternative. That’s all there is to it. The body can only do so much to change, and losing that much weight in that little time is absolutely outside its normal abilities.
Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other opinions out there. Lots of folks offered unhealthy alternatives, like weird diets, pills, alternative medicine or crazy exercise regimens. Like believers in some bizarre religion, each spouted the benefits of a particular diet, supplement or work out plan, even though each of those schemes reads like a bad infomercial or advice from a snake-oil salesman. What’s worse, they are giving their bad advice as if they are authorities, when in reality they have little training and no real qualifications. Well, that’s what happens when you ask for something without expecting to pay for it. Mind you, there are enough charlatans that are perfectly willing to take your money if you are willing enough to get bad advice and pay for it, too.
For me, whether it’s weight loss or any other topic, I try to stick to folks with recognized, well published credentials. It’s a lot safer, a lot smarter and in the long run, a lot cheaper to pay for good advice once, rather than having to overcome the more than likely bad physical and financial repercussions of bad advice.
That’s why I stick to the Bible and the Presbyterian Church in Canada for my spiritual advice and guidance. I know that those are two reputable sources with long histories of success in helping people lead better, healthier, happier and more successful lives. The Bible is a great source of teaching, inspiration and comfort. The PCC’s assorted doctrines offer a clear plan for living based on years of expert and inspired study and interpretation of the Bible by a great cloud of witnesses whose own lives demonstrate the effectiveness of the ideas they present.
I realize that these sources of advice might not be as exciting as the opinions one finds on the internet, but on the other hand, they’ve been very helpful for a lot longer than Internet advice has been around, and when push comes to shove, a Bible still works even when the power goes out. AT least that’s the way I see it.

September 13th

The Spider was centered perfectly within its web. It stood there, patient, immobile, unwavering, poised to welcome whatever prey fell victim to its sticky trap, and what a trap it is.
A spider and its cobweb are an amazing combination of flesh and machine working as one. The threads of the web are pulled taut, like the string of a violin, so that the slightest touch produces a vibration. Those threads are woven in a way so that the spider, having placed itself precisely at their hub, can not only tell when its next dinner selection has arrived, but where. This means that the spider wastes no time in striking at whatever tasty morsel comes its way, because its web not only serves as the dinner bell, but as the capture device as well. This is how the spider and its web form a brilliantly devised union of flesh and machine.
Few scientists have studied the psychology of the spider, so we do not know what it thinks when it waits for its prey from within its well-spun killing machine. We don’t know if it is pondering the eternal verities about life the universe and everything, its mind wandering into deep philosophical discussions with itself while its feet keep on the alert for the vibration of an in-coming meal. Does it mentally drum its fingers in impatience? Does it look with frustration at all the delicious tidbits that fly right past its trap? Does it wonder with great expectation at what wonderful delight might land as its next meal? Or does it simply sit there, thinking only: “Any moment, now...”
Alas, we will probably never know what train of thought runs through a spider’s brain, but this little eight-legged creature does offer a valuable bit of insight into our relationship with God. You see, the spider is ever-vigilant for its next meal, and because it is so immediately in touch with it’s webby environment, no dinner caught on the sticky threads ever escapes the spider’s attention.
God, too, is ever-vigilant and constantly in touch with creation, but, of course, without the spider’s stomach satisfying intent. Instead, God is perfectly in touch with creation as both ruler and provider. As ruler, He watches over us to ensure we keep on the right track. As our heavenly Father, He keeps an eye on His earthly children in order to instruct and protect and provide for us. Through Jesus, our heaven-sent brother, God ensures that when we get in over our heads, or we are ready to serve, or we simply need a prayer-partner, we have a place to turn.
Not with a sticky web, but with embracing arms, God reaches out to us, not to trap us, but to make us welcome. Even when we aren’t paying attention, God looks after us. Even when we drift away, God waits patiently for us to drift back, usually helping guide us home with reminders, hints and suggestions that are sometimes subtle, sometimes pretty obvious. It is the perfect union of God and creation, of Spirit and soul, of heavenly Father and earthly children. At least that’s the way I see it.

September 6th

Presbyterian Music Camp, or PMC for short, is a wonderful place filled with laughter, friendship and, of course, music. The talent level is, on average, pretty high, but nobody cares if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket. Worship is creative and meaningful, but nobody cares that short pants and T-shirts are the order of the day. The workshops are interesting and cover a wide variety of musical interests, but nobody cares if you choose just to hang around to read or catch up on your napping.
The only thing people really care about, (other than not eating with your elbows on the table) is one another. Sure, we all have an interest in music as our central theme, but our interest in one another’s well-being is at least equally important. In fact, during our closing worship, which invites folks to share their experience over the week at music camp, what is spoken of most often is not the music, but the love and support PMC offers.
It is truly a remarkable environment. A diverse crowd of people of all ages, musical abilities, family backgrounds and employment come together to form a loose but cohesive group. We bond together so that no one is missed or overlooked at our gatherings. We take care of each other so that no one is ever left feeling lost or alone. We encourage each other so that the novice and the expert can build each other up, all of these things making for a week that many see as the highlight of their year.
This amazing event is possible for one reason, and on reason alone: Jesus Christ. As a Presbyterian event it is centered not on music alone, but on making music for God. It is, however, not just meant for Presbyterians; it is a Christian camp, welcoming anyone of faith with an interest in music, and it is this very Christianity that makes the week the wonderful, remarkable experience that it is.
Coming away from camp and getting back into my normal routine, I can’t help but think about what it would be like if that PMC experience could somehow be a more permanent event. Yet with Christianity as only a background note in the lives of most folks, the sharing and caring of the past week is not that easy to achieve, because it’s simply not the order of the day.
Some folks, in fact, are wont to say that there is no God, let alone anyone like Jesus Christ. They even argue that there is no need for a god, since logic and reason will offer us all the guidance that we need. Logic and reason, however, would seem to dictate otherwise. When in a purely Christian environment, a bunch of very different people came together to form a place of joy, comfort and mutual support. That was Presbyterian Music Camp. When outside of that Christian environment I find myself in a dog-eat-dog world ruled by cash and self-interest. It seems to me that logic and reason alone just don’t cut it. We humans need God in our lives if we are to be truly happy and fulfilled. Of course, a little bit of music doesn’t hurt either. At least that’s the way I see it.

August 30th

I don’t want to capitalize on misery too much, but a recent mistake aired on national television causes me to talk about a rather unhappy issue because of the important lesson it offers all of us. Thus forewarned, let me share with you a sad event in one person’s life. A woman had a small facial scar that bothered her. She also had what she believed to be rather thin lips. Unable to afford a plastic surgeon to help her, she decided to take matters into her own untrained hands and inject silicone silicone into the offending areas of her face.
As you might suspect, the results were not nearly as attractive as she had wanted. Now, in my judgement, she didn’t scar herself too horribly, but there is no question that she didn’t help her looks either. Now, as I started out in this missive, I was at first reluctant to talk about her misfortune, but at the same time, she’s a perfect example of something I see a lot in my business.
As a minister, a person called to help others improving, strengthening or establishing a relationship with God I have noticed that a lot of people are trying to do the job for themselves. I don’t mean that they are taking over my office; I don’t mean that there is anything wrong with praying to God and working on your relationship on your own. I mean that a lot of people are going ahead and actually creating their own god.
That’s right folks, as hard as it might seem to believe, a lot of folks are investing in a do-it-yourself approach to faith that is based not on any long-standing and well documented heavenly being, but on fictional and imaginary beings that have more to do with human ego than spirituality.
This might seem harmless, but I’m afraid for the souls of those self-inspired folks. I’m afraid of what damage they’re doing to themselves; I’m afraid of the way they might mislead others; I’m afraid of what God will think. After all, from what I’ve observed, experienced, studied rather thoroughly, there is only one God. This one God created the universe, humanity, everything we know and are. Lots of folks know this for themselves. Somehow, despite years of trying, years of doing, years of teaching, years of history and years of life-improving reality by the church, there are still lots of folks trying to figure it out, too.
Now I know that there are lots of reasons for folks to try to make do for themselves. The church and people of faith aren’t perfect. What’s more, the temptations of a secular, scientific and money driven society are hard to resist, especially when God’s requests seem a lot less fun than what other things ask of us. Nevertheless, true spiritual fulfillment isn’t something we can just find or create for ourselves. Yes, we can find God alone, but there’s more to faith than that. Sure, there is a certain degree of “doing it yourself” but in my experience it’s just not enough. Not to seem self-serving, but a good church can do wonders for anyone. It offers a sense of community, a place to learn and a place to work together. At least that’s the way I see it.

August 23rd

I has been just over a month since the death of Michael Jackson. I remember watching him and the Jackson 5 when he and I were both pretty young. I also recall watching his career, not so much as a devoted observer, but as one of those things that’s part of my cultural background. Since I’ve always listened to pop radio, I couldn’t help but know when MJ had scored another hit. On the other hand, I wasn’t that interested in him to actually go out and buy his records. Not that I didn’t enjoy his music, it’s just that my taste for spending money on music ran in other directions.
I realize, however, that there were lots of buyers for his records. He was no doubt a very talented and captivating entertainer. He may even have been truly the king of pop, as many folks have referred to him, but I’m not entirely convinced. I can think of a lot couple of other musicians that were at least equally influential and popular as he was. Maybe they didn’t sell quite as many records, but I know that their music and influence on the industry was at least as great, if not greater, than MJ’s.
What got me thinking and writing, however, was not the title or his popularity, but the great show made over his death, and the way people spoke of him. One person went so far as to say that MJ’s influence on pop culture was as great as William Shakespeare’s on the English language. That’s a pretty big claim, and one that I don’t think would stand up to close scrutiny. Nevertheless, it was indeed said, and quite seriously, which gives me an indication on how important some people think MJ was.
What gets my goat is not just how overblown people have made MJ’s contribution to the world, but also the almost Messianic way folks seem to drool over him. Sure, he sang pretty well, was an amazing dancer and no doubt had a good influence on many people, but to put that kind of weight on an ordinary mortal seems highly unnecessary and very dubious, at least as far as I’m concerned. On the other hand, it also tells me how needy people are for something or someone to believe in. There seems to be an emptiness built into us that we are constantly seeking to fill. So desperate is this need that some folks fill it with almost anyone, even just a pop idol like Michael Jackson.
That, however, is a pretty limited and ultimately unsatisfying solution. The reason for that statement is pretty simple. The hole in our soul is there not just as an empty space, but as a direct result of our separation from God. In other words it’s a God shaped hole that only our heavenly father can fill properly, completely, and satisfyingly. No-one else will do because no-one else can match our need the way God does. And just to make sure we understand how He can fill the hole in our soul, God sent us Jesus. He might not have the musical and dancing talent of some people, he might not be as entertaining as some, he might not even be as interesting as a few people in the world are. Nevertheless I know that getting to know Jesus is far more fulfilling than any other relationship we can have. At least that’s the way I see it.

August 16th

We have a very silly dog named Mentor. She wants to be with us, to the point where she gets underfoot and trips us. She bounces all over guests when they arrive, which is a very welcoming sign for her, but kind of scary for new folks that don’t know her. She knows better than to beg, but whenever we eat, her nose finds itself conveniently close to anything edible. When she sleeps, she freaks us out with open eyes and legs pointed in every direction but one that looks comfortable. And, of course, she is always desperately in need of attention, so much so that it is more of a turn off for me than it is an endearing trait.
Goofy as she is, Mentor is nevertheless a pretty bright girl, with skills that would put the average mutt to shame. She’s also very energetic, which means that I can push her as hard as I want when walk her, knowing l that I will be exhausted way before she starts breathing hard. She’s also a great companion, even if she’s rather needy. All this goes to say that I actually don’t mind having her around. I’m not sure that I would go so far to say that I adore her, but I certainly don’t dislike her in any way.
Mentor, on the other hand, adores me and the whole family. Whenever we return home she greets us with the greatest welcome imaginable. She’s always ready to follow when called, always up to a walk, especially with me, and more than willing to just hang around us, something that is made all the better when it involves lying in bed.
Now, I’m not really a pet person, but I find Mentor to be the perfect starting point for describing what God calls for in our relationship with Him. Think about it. The intelligence gap is just about as great (if not greater) the need is even more absolute, and our dependency on our creator goes well beyond just having a merciful provider.
While a dog, like Mentor, just needs attention and the occasional strenuous walk, we need much more from God. Not only do we require all that the earth has to offer, we also need that spiritual support, nurture and feeding that God alone can provide. Above all, we constantly need forgiveness and mercy for all the ways we mess up the good thing God has given us. Without that, we are nothing, a fact demonstrated by countless lives seeking fulfillment but not finding it.
A dog’s life is pretty sweet and a nice addition to our lives. Unfortunately we can never know each other like we might know a fellow human being. The limitation of our relationship with any animal is that we are two very different species. Our relationship with God, on the other hand, is one that we can enjoy in a close and personal way that Mentor could never enjoy with me because we humans are made in God’s own image. Furthermore, God made us not to be pets, but as His children. As such we are not just a happy addition to God’s life, but a much beloved part of it. We might not be equals in the relationship but that doesn’t keep either one of us from enjoying and benefitting from it in a wonderful, holy way. At least that’s the way I see it.

August 9th

To monetize or not to monetize, that is the question. At least that’s one of the questions asked for on the website that hosts my blog. And, just in case you didn’t realize I was blogging, or what a Blog is, it’s an online version of these Pensive Pastors you enjoy reading every week. Anyway, I have the option of monetizing my Blog, if I want to. To monetize, in case you’re wondering, means to make money by having advertising included along with my assorted thoughts.
To make the deal sweeter, the hosts promise that the ads will reflect the content of my writings. Thus, one would expect a lot of Christian and faith related material appearing alongside my faith-based thoughts. It’s not a bad idea, really. All I have to do is nothing, other than subscribe to the service, and as long as readers click on the advertisers and visit their websites, I can earn a little extra cash.
On the other hand, I’m not really in ministry to make cash. In fact, our Presbyterian system here in Canada looks at my income as a stipend. A stipend is basically a living allowance, rather than payment. In other words, if anybody ever thought I might be in it for the money, the very system I work under puts that thought to rest.
It also denies my personal response to the offer made by my Blog host. I just don’t want to be seen as profiting from my readers, any more than I want to do so. I share my thoughts freely, just as you have the choice to read them or not.
This isn't a matter of financial martyrdom or anything like that. I’m not throwing my Pensive Pastors to the wind willy-nilly. They are offered as a gift for those interested in a little personal inspiration or guidance. They are also presented in response to the particular ways God has blessed me. So, just as God has given me a unique set of gifts freely and willingly, I freely and willingly offer them to you.
Ultimately, that’s what I think God has in mind for all of us. You might have noticed that there is no paycheck coming at the end of our lives. God doesn’t even send us partial payments while we’re on this earth. As a matter of fact there is every indication that God never intended for us to either be paid or to pay for any service He offers, or we offer in His name. The world, as conceived and created by God, doesn’t operate on a cash system. Sure, the way we’ve worked things out means that the use of money is pretty much inevitable, but that is strictly a human convention.
Yes, I could profit from these things you read on a regular basis, but I would rather not, thank-you very much. I would rather offer them to you as long as I’m able and you’re interested, in the same spirit God gave me the gift of gab and you the interest and desire to read what I have to say. If, along the way, we bless one another in some way, that’s great. On the other hand, if all I ever gain from these thoughts is a way to honour my creator, that’s good enough for me. At least that’s the way I see it.

August 2nd

Canada has a pretty good health system. It’s not perfect, but given the fact that any citizen can get their medical care for pretty much free, whether it’s a heart attack or a broken big toe, we Canadians don’t have much to complain about. Sure, there are the odd cases in which our national health service fails to meet expectations, but after having dealt with many, many recipients of it’s services, I can assure you that it really, relay, does work, and it works rather well at that.
One bad example, however, can sour our opinion. We see it happening in the United States right now: as that nation debates the pros and cons of a national system like ours, lots of folks are letting their opinions be known. One such voice is from a well-funded lobby group that would rather have health care remain in public hands. They have weighed into the debate by using one of the not-so-positive outcomes of our health care system. Thus, despite the first hand evidence of someone like myself, who has not only received excellent care, but who has also held hands with a whole bunch of folks being tended to in one hospital or another, our universal health care system is being portrayed as an example not worth following.
I watch this with a combination of bemusement and distressed. On the one hand I find it funny that people are so gullible as to believe just one voice, especially when that voice doesn’t necessarily have the best interest of the everyday, ordinary “people” (as in “We the People,” from the first line of the American constitution) in mind. On the other hand, I find it very distressing that people actually can be swayed by such a biased and obviously not the normal case argument.
Of course, it doesn’t take much for we humans to get distracted from the truth. God’s people throughout the generations have often been distracted by just one voice. They’ve been led astray by priests, kings, mothers and prophets. They lost their way because of one person complaining, or one finger pointing, or one little thing going wrong. They’ve been led down the garden path by a single stray sheep.
At the same time, one single solitary voice has changed our lives forever. One tongue speaking words of love and blessing has calmed many an upset heart. One pair of hands has healed and supported countless numbers of people that have fallen by the wayside or have been struck low with spirit-sick souls. One man has led countless generations along the paths of righteousness and truth.
Of course, that one man, Jesus, had some pretty solid backing. His case was and is irrefutable, His arguments infallible, His integrity untouchable. Thank God for that one voice in the wilderness, because we really need it. When it’s such a simple task for us to be lied to and believe it, I’m truly thankful that there is one trustworthy voice that can help us discern truth from error, enjoy better lives, and have the best possible spiritual health. We are truly blessed that God sent Jesus to call us out of the darkness. At least that’s the way I see it.

July 26th

I sit here relaxing in front of the TV, stone cold sober, looking forward to going out with the family in a few minutes. Our plans are simple: a little shopping, window and otherwise, and that’s about it. Oh, and we’re going to do it without any alcohol. It should be fun. Not great gut busting fun, but entertaining nevertheless. Of course it might not seem like that much excitement, but we don’t mind.

The TV, on the other hand, just presented a very different view about fun. The ad started out with attractive young people running in the park late at night. Nothing wrong with that. Then they started getting out of their clothes to reveal tight bodies and modest bathing suits. Again, nothing wrong with that. Then they rolled out big plastic sheets, the park sprinklers came on, and they all started sliding down the wet plastic. Once more, nothing wrong with that. Of course, by this point I had almost forgotten I was watching an advertisement. Never mind, it was fun, whatever I was watching, so there was nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that the advertiser didn’t seem to be getting the point across.

Finally, the commercial got around to selling their product. They were selling vodka. Drink responsibly, they said. Nothing wrong with drinking responsibly. I did, however, have to wonder why all those young people apparently needed to be drunk in order to have fun, so all of a sudden, the ad, at least for me, went from innocuous to just plain “everything wrong with that.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am not against drinking responsibly. However, I am also very much against letting or using alcohol to control, or even have the appearance of controlling, one’s behaviour. Quite frankly, there couldn’t be anything more wrong with that. Yes, Jesus drank real wine, but it was not so he could do better work. It was part of dinner. My wife and I have the occasional glass of wine, but never more than one or two glasses, and never, ever, to enhance our mood, or to help us loosen up. We like the taste, and go out of our way to enjoy it for just that reason.

God gave us mighty good physical and mental tools. They’re great at helping us get what we need, serve others, have a good time and generally live lives that please and honour God. Sure, some things can enhance what God has given us. Friends, healthy lifestyle, family and a good relationship with Jesus and God’s Word are the best mood enhancers you could ask for. Anything that artificially controls our moods, unless prescribed by a doctor, is not only wrong, it’s an affront to our creator.

God made us absolutely perfect. We need nothing other than what He gave us to be the best we can be. So, as far as I’m concerned, the best life possible is one lived to the fullest doing our best for God. That life can include any number of fun things, even including sliding down water soaked plastic slides late at night, without a single drink. At least the way I see it.

July 19th

It’s amazing the things people get up to, in more ways than one. For instance, I recently read about a fellow that designed and built the world’s fastest radio controlled car. About a meter long, the small vehicle was clocked at 161mph, or roughly 260 kilometers per hour. That’s pretty fast for any form of transportation, so just imagine the skill of the driver keeping this thing from going out of control while watching it from a distance.
Now, this technological wonder wasn’t cheap. As you can well imagine, the components to move the car along, keep it under control, and manage the power and speed without breaking apart cost a pretty penny. In fact, it cost the builder $4000 US. That’s a lot of money, but then again, it was quite an accomplishment, and there are other far more expensive hobbies out there. Imagine building a full size car that would go that fast quickly and safely, and you soon realize that this guy got off pretty cheaply.
Like I said, it’s pretty amazing what folks get up to, which leads me to my second example, that is actually a response one person offered to our high speed modeler. You see, one chap took exception to the fact that $4000 were spent building the device. He figured that since one of his cars could go 70mph and cost only(!) $300, he could do the same thing for less money. My response was, sure you could. Maybe. If you were lucky, because when it comes to speed, in a vehicle of any size, things are always more expensive than you might think. Plus, if you read the article describing the way the thing was made you realize that not only was there a fair chunk of change involved, there was a whole lot of talent and skill as well. In other words, while the little car wasn’t cheap, when you add it all up, it most likely couldn’t have been done for much less. So my response to the commentator would be: you try and do it for less, and do it a well as the other man did, if you’re so smart.
Ok, maybe it’s a kind of trivial thing, both the making of an ultra-high speed model car and the ensuing debate (mine included) but we humans are kind of trivial folks. Our minds aren’t always involved in deep and incredible things; in fact, we’re quite often stuck in little bits of thought that are hardly worthy of the great minds God has given us. But once again, it’s amazing what folks get up to, especially when you consider just how trivial and petty we can be. Me, I like to build models and do woodwork. A fellow pastor loves model trains and organ building. Another friend is a fabulous knitter. Still, even though none of these are what you might call ultra-important hobbies, we still do some pretty great things beyond those distractions.
The key to it all, I guess, is that we balance trivia with depth. God has given us brains large enough and souls sufficiently expansive to accomplish both the mundane and the extraordinary. The mundane things we do help keep us grounded. Our extraordinary deeds move us beyond ourselves so we can touch others in a way that both honours and pleases God, the amazing Father who loves us in both our amusingness, and our triviality. At least that’s the way I see it.

July 12th

My favourite television commercial right now features a brain, an eye, and two tongues. Computer-generated, or maybe clay puppets, they are shown in way that is neither tasteless, gross, or unsuitable for younger viewers. Much more than seeing these objects acting in a rather animated fashion, is the fact that in its thirty seconds of air time, this little commercial tells us a story, gives us character outlines, and at the end of it all, makes you feel that you know exactly who those four animated body parts are.
It is really a brilliant piece of work, when you think about it. In just a few moments, with a few well written lines and some excellent voice acting, an a eye becomes a pesky know-it-all, while one of the tongues gives us the impression of being a harried, under-appreciated, smarter than it sounds, victim of the eye’s sharp, shall we say “tongue...” Meanwhile the brain comes off as the long suffering leader or perhaps older brother, who has to put up with siblings that are not necessarily ideal playmates.
Rather amazing, isn’t it? A thirty second commercial turns out to be a little slice of life that anyone can not only recognize, but feel included with, despite the fact that the characters are nothing more than anthropomorphized (a big word meaning an object that has been given human traits) body bits.
The auteurs of this wee gem clearly know human nature. They know how we interact, as is evident in the interplay between the characters on screen. They also know how we see and understand others, and use that information so that we, the audience-slash-customer not only form a simple bond with those animated, humanized figures, but also buy into the story they are telling, while in the meantime the actual product, is being sold, and quite effectively at that. I add that last bit because this is one of those clever ads that actually makes you remember the product being sold.
This ability to know the audience, to tell a story and let it’s meaning be understood, is what God uses in sharing Jesus with us. Jesus is a character all humans identify with immediately, the hero come to do good works that is set upon by evil villains. As God’s Son, we realize that He is something beyond us, something exceptional, yet as a human being dealing with temptation, family and other everyday things, we also realize that He’s lot like us, too.
In the story of Christ, we are not sold a product; rather, we are offered a way of life, and a goal in life that extends beyond our earthly realm. In that story we see a bit of ourselves, sometimes in ways that embarrass us, sometimes in ways that console us, sometimes in ways that challenge us. In that story we understand the forces working against God, and realize that sometimes those forces are us. Mostly, in that story we not only identify with Jesus, we realize that we are part of His story, too. In fact, without our story, there would be no Jesus-story. God sent Jesus for us, not for Himself. And that is a story that deserves both sharing and involvement because it is the story of our salvation, as much as it that of Jesus, our Saviour. At least that’s the way I see it.

July 5th

Looking back on my life, I realize that there are a number of places I have called “home.” Some of those places are very familiar, some not so. The first house I really remember as being home is mostly a vague memory. The first home I had a hand in choosing I remember much more vividly. There are a couple of places Lois and I called home that are just placeholders, they were so unremarkable, while others stand out in my mind not just because of their condition and location, but because of the wonderful things that happened there. Of all the places I have lived, however, none here in Canada have the same pull on my heart that one small town in Italy does. Maniago, the small bustling place my mother and father called home when they were children, the place where they grew up, the place where they met, the place from which they eventually departed for their great adventure in Canada, is the place that I feel is my heart’s true home.
Maybe it’s the consistency. I spent quite a number of summers there, visiting with all my relatives, and somehow, it seemed as if things never changed. They lived in the same homes, they did the same things, they were always the same people, and I was always welcomed warmly and made to feel at home. Maybe it’s the mere fact that Maniago holds pretty much all of my immediate family. With no siblings, all of my roots are in Italy, a truth that binds me to that place as no place in Canada does. That’s not to say I don’t feel at home here. I love my family, both immediate and extended, and I love Canada, in all its Chatham flatness and Vancouver Island bumpiness. Yet for all that I love Canada, there is something even more special about Italy, where my family has its roots, and where I find such a warm and consistent welcome.
It think all of us have such a location in mind. As you read this, you’re probably calling to mind your own special spot, that spot that is your souls’ true place, that spot that carries meaning and depth and connection like no other place in the world. And I think that all of us have an even deeper sense of a place beyond all places where we will one day find a greater welcome and connection than in any place on earth. Call it heaven, paradise, or what you will, but there is a place of joy and fulfillment, a place of contentment and completion, a place that transcends any human built home. It is a place promised by God to His faithful followers, a place being prepared for us even as I write and as you read this reflection.
For now that place is just a dream, a spot in our hearts that is longing to be filled. In the meantime, we can get a sense of our future home by living today what we hope we will find tomorrow. If we glorify God, if we celebrate our neighbours, if we pray, praise and serve without ceasing, if we do our best to live Godly, Spirit-inspired, Christ-like lives our time on earth will give us a sense of what it will be like in our heavenly home. Of course, the place God has assigned for us will be infinitely better than anything we can find here on earth, but I think it’s well worth the effort to get even the tiniest taste of what is yet to come by living today what we expect for tomorrow. At least that’s the way I see it.

June 28th

It would appear that American president Barack Obama killed a fly during a live to air television interview. How do I know this apparently (OK, truly...) trivial fact as if you haven’t already guessed? Yes, you are correct, it was considered a newsworthy event, making it onto national TV and all over the internet with a speed wildfire can only stand back and admire. Of course, you’re also probably thinking, good heaven, Pastor John has finally run out of things to say, so he has to dip into the realm of the ultra-trivial, he’s so desperate. Or, you might just be thinking I have too much time on my hands if I can pay attention to something that is barely newsworthy. Nevertheless, here we are, me pecking away at the keyboard preparing this tiny tome, and you busily reading it in order to find out just where my wheels have slipped off the rail from deep thought to shallow trivia.
Well, believe it or not, there is in reality a truly important lesson to be learned from this recent tempest in a tea cup of a news item. You see, it all has to do with attention to detail, and our willingness, in fact our seemingly never-ending need to satisfy our curiosity, even if it involves nothing more curious than a world famous man killing an unknown, if somewhat unfortunate, fly.
This curiosity is being ever more greatly satisfied both by the increasing presence of video and audio recording devices in just about every prat of our our lives, and the amazing ability to disseminate the information gathered incredibly quickly to every corner of the world. In other words, we are extremely hungry for every bit of trivia out there, and then some. Mind you, it’s not always extremely useful, but at some deep, personal level, we are actually interested in President Obama’s recent fly-swatting adventure.
If all this seems rather meaningless and a waste of time, I’d like you to think in far bigger terms, because God is very interested in the life not only of President Barack Obama, but every fly, flea and gnat going. Yes, you read correctly. God cares not just about what happens to us, His children, but to every single living creature in creation, no matter how seemingly tiny, trivial or annoying. Mind you, it’s way beyond our understanding how God does it, but we are fully capable of understanding why: everything, from a single to the very universe and everything in between, whether animate or inanimate, is the product of God’s hands. Yep, God made everything, gave life to every living creature, and, unlike some absentee landlords, is very much interested in everything about the work of His hands.
Sure, it might seem awfully trivial, and an amazingly incredible amount of work and attention to detail, but that’s the truth of our heavenly Father. He is deeply interested in every aspect of creation, and that’s a pretty stunning thought. I mean, if God cares about the fly that fell victim to an American President, imagine how much more does He cares about us. Well, God cares for us so much that He sent his only Son to live, die and return to life just so that humanity might be saved from itself. If God is that interested in us, I think it’s only fair that we should take at least a little of our interest from trivial things like presidents and their dead flies, and focus on God, the one who really matters. At least that’s the way I see it.

June 21st

Those of you who have looked at the back side of an appliance or some kind of electrical apparatus might have noticed red label signs that say something to the effect of “Warning: Warranty will be void if this seal is broken. No user serviceable parts inside.”
Those little labels serve to keep the uninitiated away from harm, and potentially harming the delicate components inside. In some cases, like clock radios or guitar tuners, both the danger to the user and to the components is pretty low. Still, manufacturers don’t want amateurs mucking about with a perfectly good unit, breaking it, and then filing a warranty claim as if nothing untoward had happened. Things like televisions and the 25,000 or more volts found in a couple of places, can be particularly harmful, and even fatal, to the inexperienced user, so the warning labels are as much for their protection as they are for the fiddly bits that make it work.
Being an experienced and trained technician, I tend to take the labels seriously, knowing full well that I am voiding all warranties and possibly exposing myself to risk, but I still break them when the need arises. Actually, I never void warranties, because I only open things up when they have already expired, but that doesn’t mean the risk of physical harm has abated. Furthermore, I only open what I’m trained on, so things like microwave ovens or gas stoves are strictly off limits.
I am also a skilled and trained technician of a different sort: I am a trained entry level Biblical scholar. My years of schooling and experience in the church have empowered me to delve into the Bible’s truths, insights histories and stories without fear or trepidation. This particularly helpful appliance, however is one that comes with absolutely no warning labels, and virtually no risk to the user when opened even if they are completely inexperienced. In fact, we are all expected and invited to crack it’s cover and dive in as often as possible.
Amazingly, even though there is no seal warning you of voiding the warranty if broken, the Bible is fully guaranteed by God, it’s author. It is guaranteed to guide you through life, if you let it. It is guaranteed to teach you about God, if you let it. Sometimes it’s guaranteed to leave you asking some pretty big questions, if you let it. Always, it’s guaranteed to work on you, in you and through you to move you closer to God, to be filled with the Spirit, and to be more Christ-like. It’s that good, and for the most part, it’s that user-friendly.
Sure, there are times when you might need a little help working through some of the tricky bits. That’s where trained professionals like myself are helpful. But generally speaking, especially when poking through the New Testament, it’s an amazingly helpful, reliable and accessible work that willingly invites you to probe deeply into its teeniest, tiniest components. So go ahead, ask for God’s guidance, crack your Bible open, and give it a go. You won’t be risking anything, but you will guarantee yourself a moment of blessing and a step closer to God. At least that’s the way I see it.

June 14th

I am old enough and, by virtue of my previous life working with computers, informed enough, to know the most intimate and thorough history of the popular tool we now know as the internet. I am fully aware of the technological breakthroughs that were made, starting from the first tentative attempts to reach out and touch someone electronically, to the latest ways in which we can do just about anything we want, in just about an instant, over just about any distance you can imagine.
In the early days it was a big thing just to connect to a remote location and get recognized. As far as actually doing anything useful, well, that was another matter altogether. The rate that information could travel down a telephone wire was so slow you could often go for a coffee and a short nap in between receiving the individual letters in a word. That’s how slow things were in the beginning. That was given you could make a good connection and be acknowledged in the first place. And, of course, you had to be able to maintain your link with your neighbour in wherever land. So, suffice it to say that way back in the first days of anything resembling the internet, things happened very slowly and with great uncertainty.
I suppose it was a lot like our first attempts at dating. We were unsure of what we were doing, hesitant about what to say, slow in getting our words out, and very often not at all sure that we had established a true connection with the love of our life (or at least the love of that moment.) Good, healthy and steady communication with our dates only came after many awkward moments, a few personal upgrades and a lot of trial and error.
That’s true of relationships in general. Over time we’ve all had to learn to connect with others, whether for purposes of dating, in order to work together, as friends, or for any number of reasons people get together. That’s true for our relationship with God, too, but a lot of times folks don’t take the time or make the effort to get past the first, hesitant steps. After all, knowing God truly and deeply isn’t something that just happens. It’s not just a matter of hooking up one day, at least not for most of us. Knowing God involves learning how to pray, how to read His word, how to understand His ways of communicating, and learning to love and trust Him despite the temptations and pain that sometimes push us away from God.
That’s not to say we ever know God fully or are in perfect relationship. Nor am I suggesting that there is a grade or a point system that says whether or or not our relationship with God is good enough. God knows exactly how to reach us; He’s got all the tools He needs. It’s up to us to reach out to Him and make a connection with Him. Some folks might never feel totally comfortable with Him, and that’s OK; God is patient, and takes whatever we offer. Some folks might feel so comfortable with God that they know Him as well as they know their best friend. The rest of us fall somewhere in between, and that, I believe, is good enough. As long as we’re connected, God will meet us where we are, and talk to us in ways that will bless us and move us forward. At least that’s the way I see it.

Time for something a little different in the Blog department. Starting today and finishing on Friday, I'll be reporting about my attendance at the Presbyterian Church in Canada's annual General Assembly.

General Assembly is our big conference. One sixth of our minister's along with one sixth of our Representative Elders gather together in order to discuss, debate, and decide on the business of our national church. It's a pretty big affair that can at times have a huge impact on our church. After all, it's here that we make decisions on our doctrine and policies, and while usually it's important but innocuous, there are occasions when things get pretty heavy or even controversial. Thankfully, this is a pretty calm year, so the process won't ever be exciting, but it shouldn't be painful, either.

Yesterday was the beginning of the whole affair. It was marked by a simple dinner, a big worship service and then the installation of our Moderator. The moderator is kind of, but not really, the head of our church. His or her job is to represent our church at a national and international level, as well as moderate this assembly. That means they have no voting privilege; instead, they are responsible for the conduct of the commissioners (folks like me) and to see that the meeting runs along smoothly, efficiently, and with the kind of care and respect God expects of us. It's a big job that involves a lot of travel and the responsibility of being the spokeperson for our entire denomination.
This year's moderator, Harvey Self, is a man who served as a military chaplain, and is now ministering to a congregation in Orangeville, Ontario.
With the installation of our moderator and a few housekeeping details, our Sunday activities ended around 9:30pm.

Today started with breakfast at 7am, followed by worship. The worship was wonderful, with lots of music, a fine band, and a good message.
The business of the day was to prepare ourselves for our upcoming debate and decision process. Thus, we had a chance to meet with the head of the various committees presenting reports and recommendations we would be voting on. Since there are many, many committees in a denomination of our size, we had to be selective in our attendance; for me, the most notable of these briefings was with our committee on doctrine. Up for debate at this time is the role of clergy as what might be considered marriage commissioners for the state. Some folks feel that we should be getting out of the marriage business, and leave it solely in the realm of our provincial government officials. That means we wouldn't sign licences any more, and our services would be purely religious ones serving to bless the union of man and woman before God. As for me, I like the idea that I'm also performing a legal service for the Ontario government. It means, for one thing, that the happy couple don't have to do a lot of running around in order to have their marriage recognized by both the church and the state. Secondly, it gives my role as a minister recognition and value within our secular government. Thus, even though some folks think we shouldn't be doing a free service for the government, I think it's a honour and a privilege I'm not ready to give up.
Other briefings I attended were more purely informative, with recommendations that didn't generate a lot of controversy. These included discussions of our pension plan, information about what the folks working behind the scenes in the day to day planning and running of our national offices were up to, and a presentation on the breadth and scope of Presbyterian World Service and Development.

Of particular note in the presentation from PWS&D was the fact that it does all it's own fundraising, receiving only office space from our national office. That means that they do fundraising to the tune of some three million dollars, above and beyond what we give to national offices in the form of Prebyterians Sharing. That's an awesome feat, and a testament to the generosity and mission mindedness of our denomination.
The day concluded with a wonderful banquet at a local dining hall, and an opportunity for our leaders to recognize and thank the team from Hamilton that organized the entire conference for us. More on that tomorrow.

June 7th

You’ve probably come to the conclusion that I’m a techno-fan, so it should be no surprise to you that I like robots. Robots come in an amazingly wide array of shapes, sizes and functions, but unlike the dire and terrifying predictions of early Sci-Fi movies, they have not yet assumed human form and marched on our nation’s capitals ready to take over the world. In fact, very few robots can walk, let alone march, with anywhere near the ease or grace of we, their human creators, users and overlords.
Making a human-like robot walk like us has led to a great deal of research into how we walk, and this has led to a rather surprising discovery. In the earliest stages of learning bipedal motion, we adopt a very simple style that basically involves falling forward. That’s right, our earliest way to walk is to toss on foot forward and then, effectively, to fall forward with it until it hits the ground, at which point we toss the other one ahead, and so on. Apparently, it’s the simplest way for us to keep our balance while moving forward, and it’s keeping upright without tipping over that’s the big trick to walking.
The first way we learn to walk then, is the perfect way to get going. It requires little energy and skill, making it a natural “first step” in our progress to jogging or other more sophisticated or stylish ways of moving forward. In other words, as long as we keep falling ahead of ourselves under control, we won’t tip over out of control.
There’s a curious kind of message for people of faith in this concept of the controlled fall. No, I’m not talking about the big ‘F’ fall, as in the fall we took when we picked up the forbidden fruit and got knocked out of heaven, but the controlled fall as in, for every two steps upwards, there are the odd times when we end up falling flat on portions of our anatomy that are not intended to touch the ground.
We could, of course, avoid any and all risk of hitting the ground inappropriately or unexpectedly by not moving at all. But not moving at all isn’t a guarantee we won’t fall down either. Ask a soldier standing on patrol and he or she will tell you that it ain’t easy just to hold one position for a long time. So, if we’re going to fall down anyway, it might as well be under our own terms rather than simply because of exhaustion or the prodding of someone with an unkind or unhelpful disposition.
The benefits of the controlled fall are myriad: it gets’ us places; it lets us decide what we’re falling for; it shows God we’re trying; it keeps us busy, provides a little exercise, and who knows, after a while we might learn to keep moving forward in complete control, with grace and style, rather than just tossing one foot ahead of the other just so as not to fall down.
The final advantage to the controlled fall is that we’re never alone; when we walk, however imperfectly, in faith, Jesus is there beside us, helping us along, picking us up when we hit the ground, healing us when it‘s a particularly hard hit, and celebrating with us when we move forward. At least that’s the way I see it.