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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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”

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?

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.

March 4th The Edge

When I go mountain hiking in Italy the scenery usually consists of trees, trails and rocks. It’s what you might call a living mountain, so there is a lot of vegetation obscuring what would otherwise be a beautiful panoramic view. I’m also very busy trying to keep my balance, control my pace and generally stay out of trouble because the paths are often uneven, steep and a little tricky. So, despite making good progress upwards and having the possibility of some great vistas, I usually enjoy a much more limited range of vision.
Occasionally the view I get to see changes quite dramatically. On the one little mountain next to my parents hometown there is a spot where there was a bit of a landslide. At this point in the trail there is no vegetation. All you can see is the supremely steep, rocky slope that leads to the town below, the countryside covered in corn fields and vineyards and a whole lot of clear blue sky. It’s a spectacular panorama. It’s decidedly worth the trek to have such an unobstructed view of the world. It’s also quite terrifying.
It’s a strange thing. When you get to that place, the trail is actually wider, flatter and safer. There are a few spots leading there that are much more challenging, narrow, nearly vertical hardscrabble trails that call for one’s full attention. But those spots don’t expose you to the full scope of your height up the mountain. They are twisted and angled so that you can’t see over the edge, so you don’t get a sense of the dizzying heights you’ve reached.
The view over the landslide puts you right at the edge, or so it seems. As I said, the trail is quite wide (for a mountain trail) and quite safe. It just doesn’t feel that safe, owing to the fact that it’s about the first time you really see how far you’ve gotten, and even though it’s more than a meter wide, being able to see virtually straight down two or three hundred meters over a great rock covered slope can be quite overwhelming. In fact, I can understand how some folks become paralyzed at great heights because it’s a pretty nerve wracking experience being able to see just how far you might fall.
As God’s children we are spared from such terrifying views. Although we have the potential of falling a great deal out of God’s grace, we are never allowed to feel the full scope of His anger or disappointment over our failings. Even when we do mess up beyond reason, God holds back the full extent of his, for want of a better word, wrath. Jesus paid the whole price for our sin and error; we only get a limited amount of what we truly deserve.
And just what is it that we get from God when we mess up? Guilt; disappointment, a sense of foreboding, a feeling of rejection. That’s as bad as it gets. God doesn’t make us suffer; we aren’t punished for our sins. We might get close the edge of destruction, but Jesus takes the leap for us. We have been spared by His Cross. We are a fallen people, but God loves us to much to let us stay on the ground. He keeps us safe in His love, so safe we will never know just how close to the edge we might be.

February 26th Perfect

She was a very pleasant young woman. Very capable, very well prepared, she led me and a colleague through a bit of paperwork with grace and aplomb. It was the perfect bank experience. “Perfect!” she exclaimed when we sat down and settled in. “Perfect!” she declared as I offered her my personal information. “Perfect!” she gushed as Chuck and I signed our documents. If we had any doubts about our worthiness this young woman quickly dispelled them with her constant declarations of “Perfect!”
Perfect, it would appear, is the new “Awesome!” Whatever the task, occasion or event, you are wont to hear folks declare that it is “Perfect!” It’s the “in” word, the current catchphrase, the trendy talk of the day. It’s awesome how quickly it has taken hold. It might even be the most perfect choice ever. It is also starting to grate on my nerves.
We usually talk to exchange information; we sometimes talk to fill in dead air; we sometimes talk to acknowledge or request an action. Proclaiming my completed signature as “Perfect!” is not a compliment to my handwriting; it is simply a polite acknowledgement. The trouble, for me, is that the word means something else. Yes, it’s complimentary, but no, it’s meant to describe every little mundane task we might accomplish. So, while it does express one’s satisfaction with another’s effort, it simultaneously diminishes the true meaning of the word. It’s nice to recognize that we are ready to work, but simply sitting down around a desk together is not a sign of perfection.
When we take something and overuse it, or use it in the wrong way, it loses value and becomes meaningless. Just as words can become trite space holders, our faith can at times be empty and without worth. That’s not a criticism; I’m simply stating how even God can become just another word when we don’t think about Him carefully. When we only go through the motions of faith; when our actions do not match our beliefs; when we mention “God” as thoughtlessly as some folks say “Perfect!” our faith is as empty as the recent overuse of the word “Awesome!”
The good news is that our faith can become vibrant and alive as quickly as it faded from relevance. A simple realignment of priorities is all it takes to go from god as a word to God as our heavenly Father. To recognize God as the only one worth calling “Perfect!” or “Awesome!” and to reclaim Jesus as Lord and Saviour rather than a word to use when we hit our thumbs with a hammer is all it takes to get back on track. Our imperfect faith will be made perfect through Jesus. Our limited words of praise and thanks will be raised to awesomeness through the Holy Spirit. All it takes is our willing submission to the one and only awesome and perfect God of all creation.

February 19th Knowing our story

“They trek for days through crocodile-infested swamps and up rain-lashed mountain jungles, but the members of the Malaya Historical Group are not seeking treasure or ancient artefacts. Instead, they're after rusty wreckage.
Over the past decade, the six amateur Malaysian military historians have helped locate the confirmed or suspected crash sites of 30 World War II aircraft -- helping bring closure for the families of more than 40 missing British and American air crews.”
I quote directly from an article I read on the Associated Free Press website.
The story intrigued me: volunteers taking the time to research forgotten history in difficult locations so that others might know what happened to their loved ones. It’s a touching thought on various levels, from the self-sacrifice of the amateur sleuths to the closure friends and families find after years of not knowing.
The Malaya Historical Group know the importance of knowing our stories and they do something about it, even if it means danger and discomfort. The  question that knowing brings to mind for me relates to our story as people of faith. Each of us has his or her own personal story, but for all the uniqueness of our own journeys, we share a common root in Jesus Christ. Our story is invariably His story.
His story is also the story of many, many others, even if they don’t know it. While our nation might not recognize a particular faith system, Christian values and history have had a major impact on its formation. While our legal system might not deal with commandments, its morality and ethics are founded on the 10 laws God laid down for us. Even our very existence on earth is owed to Christ, who was with God from the beginning and through whom all things were made.
So here’s my question: are we willing to take some risks and let the story be known to those who don’t realize it? The Malaya Historical Group searches the jungles to uncover the stories of airmen that have no connection to them. Their only desire is to fill in gaps in their history and to offer those stories to the families that have no idea of the fate of their sons or husbands. It’s an affair of the heart, and an example of what we can do as well. Well, actually, it’s what we are asked to do on Christ’s behalf.
His story matters. It is the one story that everyone should know but does not. It’s the one story that can make a huge positive difference to anyone who hears it. It’s also the one story that can change the world for the better if those who know it are willing to share it and, more importantly, live by it. And here’s the great thing about telling His story: there are no crocodiles or wild jungles to conquer. Telling Jesus’ story might push us beyond our comfort zones but it’s worth that risk, especially when you consider the risk Jesus took to make His story ours.

February 12th Lying Dormant

We’ve had some pretty unusual weather down here in the South-western tip of Ontario this winter. Snow has been a rare sight because the temperatures has been rather high compared to what we normally expect. The result of this warmth is ground that is soggy rather than frozen. Where normally our lawns would be a solid lump of brown they are a muddy mass of green. For those of us that are not winter’s most ardent fans, this is something to relish. Not seeing one’s breath or having one’s hands freeze is a good thing for we summer loving folks. For the fruit farmer, things are not so good.
Fruit farmers need the ground to freeze so that the seeds in the ground and the trees can go through their proper dormant cycle. The plants must have a time of extreme cold so that they can do whatever biochemical wonders they do in order to prepare for the spring. I’m not sure what happens if the plants or seeds don’t go dormant; all I know is that like so many of us, they too need their rest. We humans don’t necessarily hibernate during the winter; fruit trees do and they need the ground to freeze for it to happen.
Strangely enough, even when we sleep or seeds lie dormant, stuff happens. Our bodies repair themselves. Seeds prepare for the spring. To lie dormant is not to be lazy; it is a natural part of the routine and cycle of life. Without sleep or proper rest we humans would suffer and perhaps even die. Without going dormant seeds will not germinate properly.
Since rest is such a vital part of us you won’t be too surprised to learn (or to be reminded) that it is a God ordained thing. Very early on in the creation story God rests after the six days it took for everything in the universe (as well as the universe itself) to be created. The six days of work followed by one day off is the pattern God set for humanity as well. Once a week we are ordered to take a rest and refrain from all work. God knows we need it.
The pattern of rest and recuperation goes further, however. Farmers are instructed to leave the land alone every seven years, allowing it to do its own thing rather than planting and harvesting deliberately. Even in matters of finances (oh oh, he’s talking about money…) debts are to be forgiven and slaves released after a certain period. Lying dormant isn’t just a good thing, it seems; it’s an order!
Why is it then, that we prize being busy so highly? A life full of appointments and to-do lists is not necessarily a good life. In fact, when we’re too busy and don’t rest enough our bodies suffer as do our souls. We need time for our bodies to heal and rebuild. We need time to reflect on our lives and make sense of what’s happening. We need time to rest. It is a holy thing. It is a God-ordained thing. God rested on the seventh day and it was good. Time for me to take a break now. How about you?

February 5th The Survivor

Pant with pockets are great things. They allow for the storage and easy carrying of small items upon one’s person, while offering a little bit of organization. Permanently affixed, they are always there when you need them and, as long as you take care of them, rarely fail.
The downside of pockets is that they tend to hide one’s prized objects. Tucked away safely in their little clothy hideaway, coins, screwdriver bits, screws, important notes, empty candy wrappers and computer memory sticks (also known as flash-drives) are safely but invisibly in place. While that invisibility is great for maintaining one’s secret stash a secret, it’s bad when it comes to washing one’s leg covering apparel.
Many objects survive a good cleansing; coins actually benefit from a bit of a wash every now and then. Other objects, like Kleenex and flash-drives, do not thrive in the wet, spinning environment of a washer. Kleenex tend to spread their soft tissuey goodness all over the other items in the wash; flash-drives just tend to die; the soap, the water and the overall violence of being tumbled about is not conducive to the survival of electronic objects.
There is, however, the odd exception to the rule. Just last week a new flash drive, carefully place in my pocket so I wouldn’t forget to bring it to church, actually survived both a tumble in the washer and a spin in the dryer. Despite having been soaped, soaked, turned and churned in the washing machine; even though it had suffered the heated revolutionary violence of the drying machine, it came out shiny clean and thoroughly unscathed.
It was pleased, impressed and relieved at having made this discovery. Previous run-ins between automated laundry devices and similar electronic components resulted in the demise of said wee objects. No washers or dryers were harmed in the performance of these experiments. They are built for wet, rough and tumbly situations so it’s no surprise that they live through the experience; flash-drives, however, are made to fit in pockets, are intended to travel about in pockets, but not necessarily for being washed and dried when left in those handy clothy storage units.
We humans are not built to be put away in safety. God doesn’t slip us in to His pocket so that we can be safely transported about. We are not set on His heavenly shelves to gazed upon with adoring eyes. We are built for the rough and tumble of life, the ups and downs, the heatings and beatings. We are survivors; we can endure some pretty amazing things. But more than survivors, more than just making it through the rough patches, we are victors, winners both by design and by the grace of God.
Through Jesus, we have the victory over life’s trials and tribulations. His mercy sees to it that we beat out sin; his healing sees to it that we overcome pain; His love ensures that we don’t just survive this life, but enjoy it for all it has to offer.

January 29th In Camera: A variation on last week’s thought

A friend of mine is very much a photography fanatic. Fortunately he is also a fantastic photographer so his mania has an excellent and productive outlet. One of his recent purchases is what is known as a box camera. A box camera is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a large wooden box. There are a number of advantages to this machine, chiefly the fact that it takes much larger film than normal which means it can produce very high quality prints. For those of you unfamiliar with old-school film and prints, think of it as doubling the resolution of the best digital camera you can buy.
In many ways my friends prized possession is a throwback to the earliest days of photography. Search the web for pictures of photographers practicing their art around the turn of the 20th century: the cameras they used are a far cry from the modern devices used today, but look virtually identical to the device my friend recently purchased.
Modern cameras rely on computers and specialized electronic devices to capture an image. The first cameras, however, used chemically treated paper, or film, in order to record an image for posterity. Unlike their modern digital counterparts, which are filled with all kinds of gadgetry, cameras were once nothing more than empty boxes. They were designed to hold a piece of film inside, away from the light and a lens, which would permit just the right amount of light to hit the film when the photographer chose to do so. That simple process is a far cry from the guts of the simplest digital camera.
The net results, however, are the same: a record of an image. Yet in some ways, they are totally different. A film camera gives you something real you can hold in your hands. Digital images, on the other hand, need never be printed. As long as you have a computer, TV or your digital camera, you can see your image. If the power fails, however, those images are invisible. With film, as long as there is sun, you can see your picture.
It’s very odd: a simple device that made something tangible is now a complex machine that creates something intangible. Faith can be like that too. We can keep it simple. Believe in God, follow Jesus, let the Holy Spirit move you. Or we can overcomplicate it: throw in rituals and demands, require special behaviour and language, demand specific clothes and buildings. When we keep it simple it works. Read God’s word, love your neighbour, do good, share your faith and wealth with others. That kind of faith is tangible. We can grab it and hold it and feel it make a difference.
Complex, head-oriented faith with complicated rules and demanding behaviour steps away from God and drifts into nothing more than ritual and emptiness. While it might be impressive, it is also meaningless. Faith, at its best and purest, is simple. Our lives are complex enough already. Let’s keep things between God and ourselves simple, too. Why make life any harder than it should be?

January 22nd In Camera: Part 1

A friend of mine is very much a photography fanatic. Fortunately he is also a fantastic photographer so his mania has an excellent and productive outlet. One of his recent purchases is what is known as a box camera. A box camera is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a large wooden box. There are a number of advantages to this machine, chiefly the fact that it takes much larger film than normal which means it can produce very high quality prints. For those of you unfamiliar with old-school film and prints, think of it as doubling the resolution of the best digital camera you can buy.
The quality of this machine isn’t what I want to talk about however. What I want to share is my curiosity over its name: box camera. This is what is known as being redundant, or saying the same thing twice. Why is this so? Well, ‘camera’ is a latin word that means ‘room’ or ‘box.’ So, my friend actually bought himself a box box. Of course, the word ‘camera’ has taken on its own meaning in English, so there’s nothing funny about saying one owns a box camera. When you have extra knowledge about some things however, there is an opportunity for a bit of a giggle, or at least a wry smile.
The words ‘faith’ and ‘religion’ have taken a bit of a beating lately. Many folks in modern society relate those terms to narrow-mindedness, hatred, extremism and even terrorism. Religion is thought of as something for the weak-minded or for those who are so spiritually minded as to be no earthly good. Faith, meanwhile, is considered unnecessary in the light of scientific certainty for many people so they relegate it to the back burner of their consciousness.
As an insider in matters of faith and religion I have a deeper and broader understanding of both the words and their reality. They are more than just crutches for the weak or fantasy worlds for the ignorant; they are a vital (and I mean that literally, as in living) part of our existence because we are more than physical beings explained away by science. We are primarily Spiritual beings, created by a God of Spirit, endowed with life by that same God and completed only when our souls are in perfect union with our creator God.
One of the key virtues of an old school camera is its ability to keep light out. Darkness is the order of the day, except for that moment when the photographer lets in a brief, selected and controlled bit of light to create the desired image. For matters of faith and religion the exact opposite is true: light is the order of the day. Only when we are fully exposed to their truths can we understand our own wonderful, spiritual, God-created selves. We need to step out of the darkness and into the light. I invite you to let God brighten your day and shine in your lives today and forever more.