Way of Life

Crazy Love - Chapter 2

2012-02-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

This week we talked about everyone's favourite topic: death! OK, so it's not really a favourite topic for many people. In fact, death is probably a topic that most people want to avoid talking about at all costs.

The book points out the obvious (but much avoided truth) that we don't know the day and time our lives will end. The Bible encourages us to be prepared for the life after this one and in this chapter Francis encourages us to consider how we're doing with our preparations.

The book tells the story of Brooke Bronkowski, a teenage girl whose life was cut short in an accident, but whose joy-filled life in Christ was an inspiration that led hundreds of her fellow students to want to know Jesus.

Please watch the video and/or read the chapter and then consider the following questions. As always we invite you to share your feedback via the comment button.

1. If your life were to end today, what one word would people most use to describe you? For Brooke it was "Joy". In our group one person thought they'd be known for their giggling, another for their diligence. Others had a hard time coming up with a word.

2. Are you happy with the one word that would be used? If not, how can you change that, or live so that there is a word that describes you? In our group we felt that life is lived to the fullest when the one word that describes you derives from your relationship with Jesus. A life lived just for yourself is unlikely to yield a great impact on others.

Crazy Love

2012-02-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

On Thursday night we started our book study on Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski. Chapter one has the peculiar title "Stop Praying". The point of the chapter is that sometimes as Christians we become so accustomed to prayer that it stops being special. Click on the video below to see how Francis describes how that can happen.

Once you've seen the video and read the chapter, consider these questions and feel free to post your answers by clicking on the comment button.

1. What would be the first words out of your mouth if you were suddenly face-to-face with God?

One lady in our group said "I don't know what would come from my mouth, but I'm a cryer so I know what would come out of my eyes"; meaning tears of joy. Another person said it would be "thank you thank you thank you" and another said "I'm really, really sorry". What would you say?

2. What can you do in your prayer life to make sure you're praying TO God and not AT God?

Our group said things like "Visualize God on His throne before you speak"; "Remove yourself from distractions so you can focus on God"; "See His face before you start to talk". What can you do?

We'd love to have you join us on Thursdays at 7:00 pm at Way of Life for the next 9 weeks. You don't need to have the book in order to participate, though we do have a couple of copies still available. And if you can't join us I encourage you to follow along here and share your opinions with us. God has a big, huge, Crazy Love for you and exploring that love is a great thing to do! God bless you!

Salt..on the road

2012-01-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

Last week's post talked about how Jesus said that his followers are to be Salt and Light in the world. Boiled down, it means that we help make the world a better, more Godly place.

On the weekend a group from our church accompanied the Love Lives Here team for their Friday night "Love Bus" ministry.

Where most of us avoid or quickly pass through the rougher areas of town, The Love Bus intentionally goes into those areas and seeks to contact the people there. Their mission is to bring Salt and Light, decency and truth, to people who often live with very little of either.

They give them a warm drink, something to eat, a pair of mitts, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a new friend to pray with. This kind of Ministry won't "fix" everyone; it won't identify and analyze the shortfalls in our social safety nets; it won't instantly cure the woes of the inner city. But that's OK. Love Lives Here reminds us that ultimately, outcomes are in Jesus' hands. We can do our part, being Salt and Light to the world, and rest assured that He will do His part.

In the words of Lois Tverberg "We honour God more by trying to love as he loves than by trying to know all that he knows." If you're interested in the mission of the Love Bus, you can check them out here: http://www.loveliveshereregina.com/

Salt of the Earth

2012-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

We were talking this week about what an incredible honour it was when Jesus said that we (his followers) are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).

Salt has many amazing properties:

- Every living cell requires salt to regulate the amount of water it contains.

- Salt is the original preservative; meat that would be bad in days can last for months when it's salted

- Salt is a powerful antibacterial agent; that's why gargling it is so effective against a sore throat

- Salt is enjoyed by most everyone; try eating potato chips without any salt and see if they're anywhere near as tasty

- Salt has value; and when Jesus spoke these words it had a very high value. Wars were fought over access to salt. Early Roman soldiers were paid in salt, not money. That's why a good soldier is said to be "worth his salt".

But what does this mean to us? Jesus hasn't transformed us all into literal crystals of sodium chloride, so what does it mean to be the Salt of the Earth?

It means we, like salt, are needed for life - Jesus promised to bring life that is truly life to those who believe in him and the world needs us to spread that message of life.

It means that we, like salt, fight against decay and infection. We keep the truth of Jesus alive, and in a world of slipping morality and ethics, we hold fast to what is good and right. Even if it's misunderstood or unpopular, if we live out what Jesus taught us we will stand out and we will resist decay.

It means that we, like salt, should be enjoyed by most everyone. Some people think Christianity is boring, but that's not the life Jesus had in mind for us. We can fight that perception by focusing on what our relationship with Jesus delivers instead of what it restricts. Isn't a life with a purpose more enjoyable that one without? Isn't it fun to know that you were formed with love by a God who treasures you? Don't you find comfort knowing you can turn to the Creator of everything in your time of need? We need to tell people about the benefits we enjoy being in Jesus so they can enjoy him, too.

It means that we, like salt, have a very high value. Far higher than we could earn on our own, a value Jesus has given us out of love. In fact in Matt 5:3 and 10 he reminds his followers that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Surely we are very valuable indeed for Jesus to share his kingdom with us. Surely it's a high calling when Jesus says that YOU are the Salt of the Earth.

Mirror, Mirror...

2012-01-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

The mirror is not always my friend (not sure how you feel about it at 6am) but it's a good thing to have. Without the mirror how would I know what I look like? How could I be sure I'm not walking out to face the day with schmag all over my face?

The words of Jesus are like a spiritual mirror; they describe what hearts dedicated to him look like, and by comparing our lives to the mirror of Jesus' words, we will learn how well we're doing at following him.

There is perhaps no better mirror than the collection of Jesus' teachings known as the Sermon on The Mount (Chapters 5-7 of Matthew's Gospel). At Way of Life we're starting the year off by looking at ourselves through this mirror.

This week we looked at the opening blessings Jesus spoke of; they are known as the Beatitudes. You don't have to read far to realize the things Jesus values, that he says are blessed, are not valued by most of the world: poverty, meekness, righteousness, mercy, mourning etc. This mirror tells us that the closer we follow Jesus, the less likely we are to look just like everyone else.

When we hear stories of oppression, tragedy, desperate need, the world quickly turns the page - those things are too disturbing to dwell on. But Jesus' words say where the need is the greatest, his attention is the greatest. For the church of Jesus our challenge is not to know what Jesus would do - he's made that very plain. The challenge is to know if we are willing to follow him into the tough areas, and serve the people we find there?

If we don't, we may not like what we see in the mirror; because it won't resemble the vision Jesus gave us.

Time

2012-01-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

The start of a new year is a natural time to think about time itself. Psalm 90:12 says: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a wise heart". Not because counting the days makes us smart, but because appreciating the gift of time does.

Did you know that God is probably going to make you a multi-millionaire this year? Perhaps not in money, but if this year is like last for you, you will receive an "account" of over 21 million seconds. How will you use your millions?

As Pastor Jerry Shirley points out, the letters in the word "time" give us an indication as to how Jesus used his, and how we can follow his example.

T stands for treasure. Jesus challenged his followers to say who could add a single hour to their life. Of course none could, because the control of time is out of our hands. We should treasure the time that we are given, because once spent, it is gone for good.

I stands for invest. We don't know how Jesus spent every moment, but reading the Gospel accounts you can easily see that he travelled quite a bit, and along the way took time to teach, to worship, to heal and to bless the people he encountered. Rather than spend all his time on himself, Jesus invested his time into people, and teaching the good news of the coming Kingdom.

M stands for Manage. When do we see Jesus panic? When is he stressed or complaining that he can't get everything done? It never happens because Jesus managed his time. Managing time is about managing ourselves and getting our priorities in order. The big items, whatever they are, family, God, work, causes; have to get the time they deserve and all the other things have to fit in around the big ones. If you don't carve time for what's important, the small stuff will always get in the way and crowd the big stuff out.

E stands for Enjoy. Jesus encouraged us to rejoice and enjoy the gift of life. Yes, there is work to do but even Jesus took time away from people so he could pray and recharge himself. That's one key part of enjoyment, but it's not the only part. Life is not meant to be suffered through, but rejoiced in. We should be on the lookout for things to celebrate and enjoy each and every day.

When you do all these things, you're well on your way to using your time as Jesus used his. Best wishes to all for 2012 and let's pray that Jesus will lead us to use our millions wisely!

The Candle of Love

2011-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

This Sunday was the last of Advent, and it is the Sunday of Love. Talk about a big topic - the Love of God!

The Scriptures tell us God created out of love, Jesus came out of love, even that God IS love. The love of God is a topic that can take a lifetime to study.

Since we couldn't cover ALL of God's love this Sunday we looked at some things Jesus said about love in John 15:5-17. One of his key points in this passage is that true love must remain.

For Jesus, love is not love unless it endures. Some in the world say that's not fair, through no one's fault a love can die off over time; feelings can change. "It's just one of those things" they say. But for Jesus, love involves much more than our feelings, it should involve and engage our whole person; mind, soul, body, spirit, heart - however you want to break it down, when it comes to love we need to be "all in".

If you think of love as a fire, do you light a fire on a cold night and expect that it will burn all night and keep you safe and warm? If the fire dies out and you freeze, was it "just one of those things"? Or would you be sure to keep the fire alive by bringing it new fuel? Love, like the fire, must be fuelled: when we feel like it, and even moreso when we don't. Jesus, for his part, keeps the fire of his love constantly glowing for us...he's left it to us to feed the fire from our side, and remain in his love.

Best Wishes for a very blessed Christmas from all of us at Way of Life! Our Christmas Eve candle-light service is at 8pm and we hope to see you there.
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The Candle of Joy

2011-12-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

In this, the third week of Advent we looked at the Joy of Jesus. In his life there were many joyous events: his birth, his wonderful teaching, his many miracles. Those are all great joys to remember and to treasure.

As special as they are, it's important for us to remember that joy didn't come to an end when Jesus ascended to heaven. We can experience joy in the here and now, if we're open to it. One of the most amazing stories of joy is found in Acts, Chapter 5 starting at verse 17. There the Apostles are tried in front of the highest religious court, ordered to be flogged and to stop talking about Jesus.

The Bible says that they were set free after their beatings, and they didn't moan about their fate; nor did they cry about the injustice of punishing them even though they had committed no crime. Instead, we learn that they rejoiced, because they had been counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Name of Jesus. And they never stopped proclaiming the Good News that Jesus came to save us.

Jesus told us that the day would come when people hate us, just for loving him. Everyone who loves Jesus will face resistance, many who proclaim the Good News that he came to save us will face persecution and injustice. Like the Apostles we will then have to decide whether to focus on our hurts, and be filled with sadness; or whether to focus on Jesus, and so be filled with Joy. Imagine what it says about your closeness to Jesus if the world which is against him, comes against you as well!

Rejoice in his love, and be sure to wish everyone you see a Merry Christmas!
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The Candle of Peace

2011-12-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas is now less than 3 weeks away. This past Sunday was the day of peace, and I wonder: are you feeling the peace? If you are, congratulations, because most people are not.

When Jesus was born the angel promised peace to God's people, and Jesus promised the same to his disciples...so where is our peace? Why do so few of us feel at peace?

It turns out the issue isn't a lack of peace, but a lack of understanding. Christians have bought into the visions of peace they see in lottery commercials and promos for retirement plans. That "far-off sandy beach" peace isn't the peace of Jesus.

His peace comes from knowing him and leaning on him. His peace is what allowed the Apostle Paul, through all his trials, beatings, opposition and physical difficulties to say this about the peace he'd received from Jesus:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 NIV

If you are yearning for peace this holiday season, you won't find it by quitting something, you won't find it by "getting away" from something. Lasting peace can only be found in Jesus. He's ready to hear you whenever you're ready to speak. Try it out! You have nothing to lose but your stress, and everything to gain, including a peace beyond understanding.

The Candle of Hope

2011-11-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday was the start of the Advent season, the four weeks of preparation leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth on Christmas Day. The first week is the week of Hope, in honour of the hope that Jesus represents for all humanity.

Jesus' name explains the hope he brings us. His Hebrew name "Yeshua" combines the Name of God "YHWH" with the word "Yasha" meaning salvation. Jesus teaches that the Lord our God will save all who put their hopes on him, the Son of God.

This week we lit the candle of hope and were reminded that as certain as his hope is, it's not always on the time frame we want. John 5 tells the story of a man who was paralyzed for 38 years, but who never gave up hope. He came to the pool of Bethesda every day looking for a miracle...and on the day he met Jesus, he received the miracle.

It's a vital lesson for us who fume at 5 minutes spent at a red light, or who walk away from a store because it's two minutes late in opening. Our Salvation in Jesus is assured, even if we don't always understand or appreciate his timing. The only way we will fall is if we give up on hope.

What's on the Menu?

2011-11-22T05:46:00.000-08:00

When you see a picture of a drive-thru, there are certain things you automatically expect. You expect that you should be able to pull up and get a burger or a coffee, and get it quickly. You don't expect to pull up and be able to get creme brûlée or a flaming baked Alaska. That's not what drive-thru's are for.

What would you think if you were behind a red car at the drive-thru, and the driver was loudly demanding happiness? What if she refused to move the car until she received joy or satisfaction? You might be tempted to think she was not quite right - you can't find those things on a drive-thru menu.

Author Paul Tripp points out that sometimes Christians are like the driver of the red car. We act as if the present world can give us happiness, joy and satisfaction, when those things aren't even on the world's menu. The world can't serve up what only Jesus can prepare.

Certainly there are many beautiful things we can enjoy in this life; the embrace of a loved one, the peace of a sunrise, the joy of a new birth. They're all beautiful, but they're all fleeting moments. God's creation is good, but Christians must remember to love the Creator more than his creation. God's the only chef whose menu has eternal happiness, joy and satisfaction.

Looking Where You're Going

2011-11-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

Pastor Richard Exley tells an interesting story about the time he was called to lead Gateway Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.

To do so, he and his wife Brenda had to leave their treasured cabin in Beaver Lake, Arkansas behind. As they drove away from this favoured place, Brenda's eyes were filled with tears and, knowing that the place meant as much to him as to her, she asked him why he wasn't crying too.

Richard thought a moment, and without trying to sound superior, he explained the difference in their reactions. "You're grieving what we are leaving - I'm looking forward to what lies ahead."

As Way of Life church plans for the future, we've been recently reminded just how deeply some humans can resist and resent change. The challenge for all of us is to have faith in God instead of our circumstances. So much faith that we can embrace the path He has put us on, even if we don't know where it goes. So much faith that we can savour what we've left behind, instead of mourn it.

If we can't let go of the past, it's like imprisoning ourselves. Abraham's nephew Lot had a good life in Sodom; but when the city was to be destroyed, God told Lot to get out. The instructions were clear: Leave the city behind, and do not look back. God was telling Lot to focus on the future, not the past.

Tragically, one person in the party was not able to let go of the past. Lot's wife looked back, and she was lost. Not every choice between looking ahead and looking back leads to instant results like these, but every choice to look forward with God keeps us moving in the right direction. My prayer for us all is that we keep looking ahead to the good things he has in mind for us.

Who's Your Mommy?

2011-11-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

In the book The Gift of Church Jim Samra challenges Christians for whom church attendance has become a chore. Church was never meant to be a destination; it's meant to be a lifestyle. Jim frames the challenge this way: If in the Spiritual family God is your Father, and other Christians are your brothers and sisters, who is your mother?

He invites us to appreciate the perspective of Cyprian, ancient bishop of Carthage who wrote: "No one can have God as his Father who does not have the church as his mother". In effect, he's asking you where you are getting the nurturing, caring, teaching and loving you need for spiritual growth?

The church is the place God has given us to go and be fed the Word; to help and comfort us in difficult times; to praise and to worship God; and even to correct us when we go astray. The church provides maternal care for us as we navigate life and grow to become more like Jesus. No, the church may not be perfect - it's too human for that, but the Christian experience is incomplete without her.

How Smart is Your Jesus?

2011-10-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

In most churches, when a new believer is baptized they make a public proclamation that Jesus is their Lord. Human nature is such that once the glow of that day begins to fade into memory, other things will try to take Jesus' place in your life.

None are more persistent than the "learning" of the world. Paul said in Colossians 2:3 that in Jesus "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge". That means that in spite of all the new discoveries and new attitudes that come our way Jesus still has the final word on what the truth is.

How to be right with God; how to live a good life; how to treat your fellow humans. All these topics have many answers from the world, but if Jesus is your Lord, then his answers have to be your answers, too. "What Would Jesus Do?" has become a bit of a cliche in our world, but the question is valid for all believers. If the wisdom we're learning from the world doesn't line up with what he taught, then it's not going to be to our benefit. Because if Jesus is our Lord, then his answers, even if culturally unpopular, are the best, smartest ones for us all.

May you have a blessed week!
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A Simple Answer

2011-10-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I often find the simplest answers are the best ones. When I ask a question and the person goes on and on without seeming to make a point, it makes me wonder if they really know what they're talking about.

That's one of the reasons I love to read the story of Paul and Silas in prison, in Acts 16. The two of them had been locked up for the "crime" of freeing a slave girl from a demon and deep in the night the prison was struck by an earthquake. The doors swung open and the chains fell off the prisoners.

Yet incredibly none of them fled...if they had, the jailer would have been condemned to death in their place. Once Paul assured the panicked man that all was well, he fell trembling at the Apostles' feet and asked a simple question: What must I do to be saved?

Paul and Silas could have taught him about core doctrines, they could have lectured him on Christian behaviour. They could have had him sign a statement of essential beliefs, perform a religious ceremony or memorize a creed. But instead of complicating things, they gave him a brilliant, simple answer: "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."

When people ask about our faith we need to have the wisdom and the honesty to answer as simply as Paul and Silas did. There is room for doctrines and instruction down the road, but the simple answer is that believing in Jesus is where salvation begins.

Did You Hear That?

2011-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought you heard something from God, but weren't sure if it was really him? Have you ever wanted to hear from God, but he doesn't seem to speak?

This Sunday we talked about how important it is to know the ways God speaks to us; because knowing helps us be ready to hear. God speaks in many ways, but the most common are by:
1) Scripture
2) The Holy Spirit
3) The Saints (your fellow believers)
4) Scenes (as revealed in dreams and visions)

Jesus said that God's people will hear his voice, and we can expect to hear it through the four "S's". Scripture is the voice of God as recorded by his chosen communicators, and it teaches us the tone and content we can expect when God speaks to us. It helps to recognize and discern if the voice we hear is really from him. The best advice a person can receive about listening to God is the advice that Eli gave to his young apprentice Samuel, in 1Kings 3:9: "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’

Jesus said God is ready to talk to you. The next time you think that voice you heard was from God, why not tell him that you're ready to listen?
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His Kind

2011-09-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Jesus once taught his disciples a very important lesson about just who were His kind of people...and it was one they had to learn the hard way.

It all started in Matthew 15. A group of Pharisees came and told Jesus that he and his followers weren't God's kind of people, because they didn't follow proper rituals. Jesus told them you can't measure God's kind by external things, by what goes into them; you measure them by what comes out of them.

I'm sure the disciples thought it was great to see Jesus show up the stuffed shirts and self-proclaimed experts, with his clever answers. But I don't think they applied the lesson to themselves. To get them to do that, Jesus took them on a trip.

They travelled to present-day Lebanon. Soon after arriving a non-Jewish woman started begging for help. Her daughter needed healing. The disciples tried to get rid of her, but she was so persistent they could not. You see, they were sure Jesus wouldn't be helping her, because she wasn't God's kind of people. They finally asked Jesus to get rid of her. She begged for his help but he told her it wasn't right to throw the children's food to the dogs. Meaning I won't give you, you dog, a miracle that belongs to God's children.

But the woman was undeterred. She told Jesus that even the dogs get to have the crumbs the children drop under the table. Seeing how great her faith was, how certain of his healing power, Jesus gave her the miracle she wanted, and her daughter became well. And the disciples learned that God's kind of people aren't measured by tradition, law, ritual or even shared blood. They're measured by faith. Even if they look different on the outside, they're the same where it matters. All those who believe in Jesus are God's kind of people.

Storm Lessons

2011-09-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Matthew 14:22-32 tells the story of (literally) "a dark and stormy night"

Jesus' disciples were attempting to cross the Sea of Galilee one evening, but were caught in a sudden and violent storm. They battled the wind and waves for dear life all through that night. Then, between 3am and 6am, they saw something coming across the waves. It was Jesus, walking on the water.

If you're familiar with the story you know that Peter actually walked on the water, too. At least for a time, but human doubt and weakness caused him to almost drown. Jesus saved him, and when the two re-entered the boat, the storm instantly subsided. This Sunday we talked about four "Storm Lessons" we can take away from this incident.

1) Storms Come for Everyone. The disciples were in the boat crossing the lake because Jesus told them to. To believe that every good thing that happens is because God approves of what you're doing, and every bad thing is because he's angry is bad theology. Jesus promised blessings to his followers, not a life without storms.

2) Let Go of The Boat. All night long the disciples had clung to the boat as the thing that would protect them from the storm. But when Peter saw Jesus walking unharmed and unconcerned across the deadly waters, he had a flash of insight. He realized that for protections you can't trust the work of human hands (the boat), you have trust Jesus. And that means letting go of the boat or whatever human-made thing you're clinging to and trusting in.

3) Look to Jesus. Peter looked to Jesus and was able to walk on the water. (How cool would that be?) But when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm, when he worried about the power of wind and wave, he began to sink and was in danger of drowning. Distractions in life will always try to take our attention away and to overcome them we have to look to Jesus. Always.

4) God Will Save Us from Storms. Peter and the disciples were helpless in the face of the storm, but Jesus, who had no boat, was perfectly safe. In Deuteronomy 31:6 God says "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you." God always keeps his promises and we should never let the fury of the storm take that truth away from us. He is with us and he will save us.

If you haven't read this story for a while, I invite you to read the whole of Matthew 14 and see if there are other lessons there that you pick up on. Have a blessed week!

Root of Faith

2011-09-13T04:09:00.000-07:00

Chuck had dreamed his whole life of going to see the Grand Canyon. He was in his 60's when his dream finally came true and he was able to travel to Arizona to take in that awesome sight. When he got there it was early in the morning; it seemed like he had the whole lookout to himself. He was amazed and he stood there a long time, leaning on the rail and drinking it all in.

After a while a thought passed through his mind; “This canyon is a mile deep. Imagine being able to spit a mile.” He knew it was childish mischief, but also harmless. So he took a swig from his water bottle, moved back a step and got ready. His plan was to twist and step back up to the rail just at the moment he spit so that it would fly far over the edge and he could watch it drop. But in his excitement Chuck misjudged the distance. In the blink of an eye he flipped over the rail and was falling through space.

As he fell, he desperately flailed for something to stop his fall when miraculously, his hand felt something. He grabbed onto it for dear life. He came to a sudden stop and hit the canyon wall with a thud. When he looked he saw that his hand had caught a root that was sticking out below the viewing platform. He didn't know how long he could hold on so he cried out: “Is there someone up there who can help me? Oh God please help me!!” To Chuck's amazement, the voice of God answered: “You're safe - I put the root there to catch you. Now I want you to let go of the root, and I will lift you up and set you back up on the platform.”

Chuck thought about that for just a moment and then cried out: “Is there someone else up there who can help me?”

Chuck wanted God, but he didn't want to let go of the root...the root was the illusion we often get that we hold our destiny in our hands. We like to believe we're in control, even though Jesus famously challenged his disciples to try and add one hour to their lives...which of course they couldn't do - because God is in control. My question for you this week is: What would you do if God told you to let go of the root?

As always your comments are most welcome. Have a blessed week!

You Fool

2011-08-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a fascinating and very challenging book by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle. It's called Erasing Hell, and it discusses the difference between what we want to believe about Hell and what Scripture actually says about Hell.

In one thought-provoking section they look at Matthew 5:22. Jesus says that people who insult their brothers and sisters or who say "you fool" to put each other down, are liable to the hell of fire.

Think about that: whoever calls his brother a fool may be headed for hell. Do most Christians act like they believe that? How do we treat people who disagree with us; especially fellow Christians? Most of us won't say anything to their faces, but what have we posted on Facebook? What do we say behind their backs? What have we blogged or tweeted about them?

The authors feel that when it comes to hell, we waste time fighting over meanings and interpretations because we want to avoid the truth. Are they right? Because the truth and meaning of what Jesus is warning about is very clear. He's not teaching doctrine, he's discussing destiny. He wants us to know who the real fool is when use our words to attack others. That challenges me to choose my words much more carefully than I have been. How about you?

God's Reach

2011-08-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

One of the "Big Lies" that causes people despair is the belief that they've wandered so far from God, and done so many wrongs, that they've gone beyond the reach of God's gracious mercy. The truth is that there is nowhere you can go that God can't reach out and rescue you.

If you want proof, look at the life of John Newton. John was a rebellious son who grew up to be an unmanageable, profane sailor who couldn't seem to get along with anyone. Though sailors are famous for having salty tongues, his captain noted that John was perhaps the most profane man he'd ever met; having used every curse word the captain knew and then invented some more to boot.

John disrespected everyone, and became so impossible to manage that his own crew starved him half to death, with no results. When the ship docked in Africa, he was sold to a local slave trader and forced to work on his plantation. John had gone very far from God indeed.

But some friends of his father rescued him from slavery, and God began to work on his heart. Although it took him years to put all of his old ways behind him, John's life became a perfect example of what God can do with even the most wretched human being.

John became a minister in the church of England; he wrote a popular book of hymns, at least one of which, Amazing Grace, you have probably heard and sung many times. John inspired others to do great things, including the famous philanthropist Hannah More, and the man whose 20+ year campaign ended the British slave trade, William Wilberforce.

So for anyone who thinks they've wandered too far from God to find their way back, look at the life of John Newton and you will see that there is nowhere on earth that God's Amazing Grace can't reach.

Given and Taken Away

2011-08-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our church was singing "Blessed be Your Name" and the song wouldn't stop echoing in my head. The bridge in the song says of God:
You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be your name.

Today I received two pieces of news that show the truth in these lyrics. On Sunday, August 14th, the Lord gave, and He took away.

Now giving is something we're usually good with, isn't it? It's easy to celebrate what we're given. It's easy to say "Blessed be Your Name" when we get something from God. So naturally we rejoiced when we heard that the Way of Life church family has grown with the arrival of beautiful, healthy new baby boy! Nothing symbolizes hope and joy like the miracle of a new born baby - truly it's one of the most awesome of God's gifts.

Something was also taken away, and human nature is such that we don't like that. A very beloved and inspiring man, Henry Schapansky, moved from this life to the next on Sunday. Though I didn't know "Uncle Henry" well personally, I still feel the loss. I know Henry best through the stories of others. The effect he had on everyone he met is an incredible testament to the faith and love of the man. It seems most everyone in the province has a favourite "Uncle Henry" story and their faces always light up when they talk about him. And now we can't chat with Henry or enjoy the gleam in his eye any longer. That's been taken away from us.

Will we still say "Blessed be Your Name" in the hard times? How we react when someone is taken away says a lot about our relationship with God. To feel the pain of parting is normal for all humans, but thanks be to God that death of the body is not the end of our life story. Henry has received the gift of eternal life, eternal joy in the presence of the God who made him, kept him, challenged him and blessed him. Yes, we will have to press on without Henry but when we consider what he's been given, we should still choose to say "Blessed be the Name of the Lord".

Godspeed brother Henry, we will meet again. Thank you for loving and giving of yourself.

Finding Your Way

2011-08-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been lost? I hear it can be very frustrating. (C'mon, I'm a guy - was I supposed to admit I've ever been lost?) Most people don't like that feeling of not being sure of where they are or how to get where they're supposed to be. That's why GPS units sell so well.

But as Pastor Jeff Strite points out, there is a GPS that far pre-dates our satellite technology, and is far more vital. God's Positioning System is how God lets us know where we're at, and calls us to where we're supposed to be.

The first example of his GPS is in Genesis 3 - the familiar story of Adam and Eve and their decision to choose to do something they know is wrong. When God comes to see them they're lost and confused, hiding behind fig leaves, behind trees, behind blame and excuses. So he starts asking questions in order to show them that they've wandered away from him and are now lost. Because until you know you are lost, you're not going to stop wandering away, are you?

Today God still speaks the message of GPS to his people, through the Holy Spirit. God's desire in pointing out our lost state isn't to make us feel bad or be weighed down with guilt. His goal is to bring us back to where we should be; where he wanted people to stay all along; where Adam and Eve were at the time of creation. At His side.

When that feeling we've done wrong comes (we call it "conviction" in churchese) it's easy to blame or resent God, but you soon learn that doesn't make the feeling go away. It's easy to try and fill your life with noise and distraction to drown it out, but the signal of God's Positioning System never stops because he never stops calling you back. So what do you do when you feel the call of his GPS and you're tired of running? Why not take the advice of the Apostle John and follow the call back to God?

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John1:9 NRSV

It may be hard to admit you've made a mistake, but the reward is more than worth it! I invite you to have a talk with God this week, admit your mistakes, and enjoy the benefits of his wonderful cleansing power!!

Pray What?

2011-08-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

We were talking about prayer this week, specifically about the approach that Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:9-13. This passage is of course very well known as "The Lord's Prayer". In this prayer Jesus demonstrated the essential ingredients of prayer.

Blog space doesn't allow us to cover all of them, but as you read Jesus' words you notice that he showed us how to address God; the importance of knowing who God is; a Christian's hope for the future; about declaring our dependence on God for the necessities of life; and the importance of forgiveness to name a few.

Although Jesus promoted balanced prayer, I'm not convinced that we who make up his church do a great job of following his example. I think that too often our prayer life becomes unbalanced; it's just a shopping list where we present to God all the things that we want to have, and all the situations that we want changed.

Because our prayer life can become so overbalanced on the side that's about "ME", I think that we should purposefully choose to have prayer times that are only about "HE". Times when we pray about God, who He is, what He has done, how He has blessed us. Times when we pray without asking.

Yes, it goes against human nature, but you may find the exercise is a real blessing and draws you closer to God. If you'd like to try but aren't sure where to start, why not turn to the Psalms? There are many examples of pure and joyous praise that we can read and pray back to God. Psalm 66 is a particular favourite of mine (the opening verses are below) but regardless of how you do it, I'd like to encourage you to spend some time this week in praying without asking. You might even enjoy it!

¹ Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;

² sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise.

³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.

⁴ All the earth worships you;

they sing praises to you,

sing praises to your name.”

Scripture copyright NRSV, 1989 Thomas Nelson Publishers

Summer Camp

2011-07-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is my first post since returning from summer camp. The Saskatchewan PAOC is blessed to own a beautiful camp on Adamson Lake, a half-hour south of Prince Albert.

I've been privileged to serve at the Jr. Teen camp there for the last three summers, working both in the background (as a kitchen helper) and up front (as head counsellor). Sometimes people ask me why I do it. They wonder why a person would want to put in a 120-150 hour work week in the height of summer. Today I thought I'd try to explain why I think it's better than a week at the beach.

Regardless of what role you take, summer camp can be a busy, chaotic, messy, exhausting, challenging time. But it can also be the most blessed and rewarding experience of your whole year.

Summer camp is a chance to enjoy the outdoors, but it's not really about the outdoors. It's about the God who made us, and who made every good thing for our enjoyment. Even if you hate mosquitoes a week serving at summer camp will give you the chance to pull away from your everyday life and focus on your relationship with God. Everything about camp, from the bad cell reception to the twice daily chapels, from amazing music to good Biblical teaching all serve as a wonderful boost to your spirit!

I believe that when you come to serve, rather than be served, you grow closer to the heart of Jesus. He has challenged all of us who follow him to serve others. Throw in the chance to contribute to the spiritual development of the pre-teens who will be our volunteers, pastors, board members and missionaries of the future, and how can you resist a week at summer camp? I know I can't!

When your church starts asking in the spring for volunteers for 2012 camps, I encourage you to think hard and to pray about the contribution you could make, and the blessings I know you will receive, from serving at Living Waters Camp. It could be the best week of your whole year!

Photo credit: Sandy Lockhart Photography, Warman, SK

The Driver's Seat

2011-07-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

I was in a Christian book store this week when I saw the top license plate you see here. I loved it right away! We've all seen a lot of the one on the left. It seems like a good sentiment at first, but whenever I see it I can't help but think: who exactly thinks that God should be their co-pilot?

Isn't the co-pilot the one working and striving to receive the recognition and the rewards that go with being as good as the pilot? Isn't a co-pilot the person with less experience, less skills, less gold braid on their shoulder? ? Isn't the co-pilot the one who's there to learn and be guided by the pilot?

In reading the book of the prophet Daniel recently I'm amazed at how it shows over and over again that regardless of who has the upper hand in human eyes, God is always in control. In Daniel we see kings issue orders: kill the wise men who don't know my dream; incinerate the men who won't bow to my idol; throw people who don't pray to me into the lion's den.

But the plans for evil and death are frustrated every time. In every case people who allow God to be their pilot, who conduct themselves based on what HE thinks is a good idea instead of what WE think, find that God is with them. If it feels like your life is out of control, do what Daniel did. Move over to the right-hand seat, and let God take the controls. He may not take you where you think you want to be, but know that God will always take you where you need to be.

I'll be away Counselling at summer camp over the next while so it will be a couple of weeks before there's another blog update. May God bless and keep you all wherever you find yourself this summer.

Untying the Rope

2011-06-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Pastor John Ortberg, in his book It All Goes Back in the Box writes about things that prevent us from being all that we can be - he calls these ropes.

Whatever your rope is, Ortberg believes you can't begin to be free until you name and identify what is holding you back. Fear, doubt, past failures, these things can stop us from even trying to be all that we can be.

When God first called Moses to lead his people, did Moses say "Awesome, I'm your guy!" or did he say "Who am I that I should go to Pharoah...I am slow of speech and tongue." Of course, it was the second quote. Moses could see lots of things that made him inadequate for the job. But God wanted Moses to go beyond his confidence, beyond his perceived ability and step into a role that he couldn't possibly accomplish without God.

When we cast off the ropes that limit us to what we're confident in or comfortable with, we'll be free to serve like Moses served. We'll be free to serve in God's power instead of just our own. When we do that, look out world!
.

Into The Fire

2011-06-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Into the Fire. Under the Gun. Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Catch 22.

The English language has a lot of expressions that describe what it is to be faced with a tough decision. On Father's Day we talked about a Dad who found himself in just such a position. His story is found in Judges 11 and his name is Jephthah.

We don't talk about Jephthah much in church because he's a bit of an embarrassment. He was chosen by God to lead Israel, which he did, but along the way he sacrificed his daughter in fire. Not the kind of leader we want to celebrate or emulate!

But Jephthah's dilemma is one we face on a regular basis. If you read the Scripture it will show you that he had two choices: break a stupid, rash and illegal vow to commit a sacrifice of whoever greeted him first when he got home; or sacrifice his daughter. From God's point of view the choice was black and white. Spare the girl, swallow your pride and break your vow.

But Jephthah was looking through eyes dedicated to seeing things in the context of his culture instead of God's way. In his culture a man who broke a vow, especially a vow to God, would be dishonoured and driven out. He chose to preserve his own sense of honour over preserving his daughter.

I think there are many dilemmas we face today, many times we feel we're put in the fire, that are actually quite simple and easy choices, if we look at things through God's eyes instead of what is popular in our time. Let me know if you agree or disagree!

OptionS

2011-06-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

This Sunday marks Father's Day in

Canada

and our church has been participating in a special project since Mother's Day. We're part of the "Baby Bottle Campaign" to raise funds for the OptionS pregnancy centre.

Abortion in North America is a sensitive political issue but the team at OptionS don't focus on politics, they focus on people, and I think their approach has valuable lessons for all of us. The story below is excerpted from the director's recent newsletter:

I was sharing my story with a class of high schoolers when I referred to my past abortion as the "wrong choice". A young man interjected to say "You shouldn't be saying your abortion was a bad choice". I said I understood why he was saying that, but asked him to let me finish before he decided. I continued to share how my life was infected with pain, pain that oozed out of me and affected others around me.

I told the students I was adopted and I later learned about the emotional pain my birth mother endured after placing me for adoption. "I hope you can see that there is pain for the mother no matter whether she chooses adoption or abortion - but there's one difference". And as they waited for the answer I slowly raised my hand and said "I'm here". And I saw the shock on their faces and I showed them the statistics for adoption versus abortion in this province.

The same young man said his aunt and uncle had been trying to adopt a baby, they'd been trying for years. He wanted to know why it took so long. I looked at him, I looked at the screen, then I looked back at him. "Why do you think?" I asked softly. His eyes turned down toward his desk.

The next day I read his evaluation. Though it's not required he had signed his name. He said: “I would recommend this presentation to any class. She really opened up my mind on abortions and all the problems that come with having one. I really enjoyed Melony's presentation. It was amazing.”

In a typical year, there are less than 5,000 adoptions in

Canada

, and over 95,000 abortions. Almost one-quarter of all pregnancies in our country end in an abortion. I hope you will consider standing with us in support of OptionS in their mission of bringing truth and compassion to girls and women faced with the hardest choices of their lives, and a world that tells them abortion is the "easy way" out.

Please visit the OptionS website at www.reginapregnancy.com to learn more.

'Tis the Season

2011-06-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

No, not the Christmas season. In Regina when June hits and (most of) the snow is melted away it becomes Garage Sale season. Next week, on June 16, 17 and 18; Way of Life is having our 3rd Spring Spectacular rummage sale.

Volunteers are working long hours getting everything ready and donours continue to amaze us with their generosity. Without the donation of thousands of gently-used items, the sale could not succeed.

This year the proceeds are going to help the Brother's Keeper orphanage in Kasama, Zambia; Love Lives Here Ministries (aka the Love Bus); and our Youth Group. If you have items you would like to donate, please call the church office, and if not we hope you will drop by and do some shopping in support of these wonderful causes!

What Can a Pig Teach You?

2011-05-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we took a fresh look at a familiar story: Jesus' trip to the region of the Gerasenes as recorded in Mark 5:1-20 (also Luke 8:26-39 at Matthew 8:28-34). Perhaps the most outstanding detail of the trip for most readers of the Bible is the dramatic drowning death of 2,000 pigs.

But to focus on the pigs is to forget that the story is about Jesus. There are many amazing events in the story: how the victim of the demons was able to break any chains, how the demons acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, how Jesus spoke with them, how the swine were unable to bear for even a few minutes what the man had suffered for (probably) years, how the villagers begged with Jesus to leave the area.

But the most amazing event of all is that Jesus left. On the boat ride over Jesus had rebuked a storm and shown his power over nature. Once landing he freed the tortured man and showed his power over spiritual forces. Yet despite his incredible power, when asked to leave, Jesus did!

This has important implications for Christians. In the past we had a majority in North America and tried to enforce our morality on society through rules and laws - but we have no evidence of Jesus ever forcing himself on anyone. He presented the truth of God's love and let them decide.

There's no question that moral standards in our society are slipping, and we can never condone what God opposes just to be popular. The question for us is will we fight that slippage with the tools of the world or by following the example Jesus left us? Will we enter the marketplace of ideas stridently denouncing everyone and everything we don't approve of, or like Jesus will we walk in love, offer the truth of God's love, and invite people to decide?

The Christian Atheist - Final Week

2011-05-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

Good day blog readers - my apologies for being a bit late with this post - exciting things are happening at Way of Life - it would be too soon to post them here, but as soon as we can share them, we will.

This past week saw us finish the book and we're happy to announce that every person who started with us finished reading the book - Well Done!!

Chapter 12 - When You Believe in God but Not in His Church
Craig starts the Chapter with irrefutable evidence from Scripture that for Jesus, the church has always been the vehicle to spread his Word and draw a people to himself. It's understandable that outsiders may not "get" the church, but we asked: why do so many believers feel like church is an optional add-on to their lives?

Craig quotes Erwin McManus reminding us that the church does not exist for us, we are the church and we exist for the world. Do you find it hard in today's individualistic society to promote the idea that the world is not about us, our stuff, our happiness?

He challenges us to consider whether we are going to GO to church or LIVE church. What's your biggest obstacle to living as the church Jesus envisioned?

Afterword: Third Line Faith
The Afterword asks us all to consider how committed we are to our faith in Jesus. He compares the commitment levels to three lines in the sand.
   Line one is believing in the Gospel enough to benefit from it.
   Line two is believing in the Gospel enough to contribute comfortably
   Line three is believing enough to give my life to the Gospel
Which line are you across?

For those of you doing home study, I know you've been reluctant to post your observations, but I hope you'll comment on this post and give us your overall impressions on the book. I pray you all have been blessed by reading it.

The Christian Atheist - Week Five

2011-04-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

a
Wow! We've had another amazing week at Way of Life, God has showered his goodness and his love over us again and again. Before moving on to the book study I want to thank everyone who came to our brunch on Resurrection Sunday - the fellowship was warm, and the food was fantastic. Thank you all!

Chapter 8: When You Believe in God but Still Worry All the Time
The English word "worry" comes from the old German word "wurgen", meaning strangle, constrict or choke. Have you ever felt literally attacked by worry in that way? If so, what was the cause of that worry?
In the book Craig lists several Scriptures that describe worry as sinful. Does this information help you to avoid worry, or does it make you worry all the more?
Craig gave a two-part prescription to avoid worry: 1. Do what's wise 2. Think about the right things. Then he asks us to imagine how our lives would be transformed if instead of worrying, we prayed to God and asked his help with situations we face. What would that look like? Would it change you?

Chapter 9: When You Believe in God but Pursue Happiness At Any Cost

Craig described the story of two church ladies who loved "Wedding Crashers" but then told the Pastor and his wife not to see the movie because there were many "bad scenes". Why would they care what the Pastor thought? Is Christianity incompatible with fun? If these ladies are Christians what should be their primary motivator be: a) their desire for happiness, b) the approval of the Pastor or other church members, c) doing things Jesus would be proud of?

Craig points out that often we compromise our beliefs because we're trying to achieve complete happiness on earth; almost as if we're trying to make heaven on earth. Do you believe we can have a pain-free, all happiness life here on earth? Do you think we try to?

Thanks for reading! Only two more weeks to complete this wonderful book. If you can join in the discussion on Thursday night at 7 at the church, or here on the blog, we'd be blessed by your presence!

Pencil Lessons

2011-04-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

We received this wonderful e-mail from a very special friend and I wanted to share it will you blog readers. I hope it's as much a blessing to you as it was to me.

Before sending the Pencil out into the world, her Maker gave her five important lessons to remember:

1) The things you do will leave a mark.

2) You have the ability to turn around and fix your mistakes.

3) What's really important is what's inside of you.

4) In life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, but they will make you better.

5) To be the best Pencil you can be, allow yourself to be held and guided by the One who came for you.

Every Pencil, and every Person, is made with a reason. Every person has a purpose and unique God-given talents. You will not come out of the box perfect, but with regular sharpenings you will fulfill the purpose for which you were made.

Always remember that what's inside is the most important part of who you are, and always allow yourself to be guided by Jesus, the One who came for you.

The Christian Atheist - Week Four

2011-04-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

Well, another week has come and gone at light speed, and we had another enjoyable and informative week looking at this wonderful book and using it as a lens to examine our approach to Christianity. We looked at two more chapters this past week, and our "take" on them follows.

Chapter 6: When You Believe in God but Won't Forgive
It's far more common in our world to hear people say they "Can't" forgive than that they "Won't". The author used the word "Can't" which implies that it's within our power to forgive if we're willing. How do you feel about that?

Craig refers to Jesus command that we not just forgive, but that we should actually pray for people who have wronged us. Have you ever done that? If so can you share some details of the experience, what it did for or to you? If you never have, what has stopped you?

Chapter 7: When You Believe in God but Don't Think You Can Change
Christians often encourage others that they can change if they rely on the power of Jesus...so why don't we believe that we can change, too?

Craig feels that past failure becomes an invisible barrier to change. The memory of pain is so powerful that we don't even want to try and change, lest we get hurt or disappointed again. When you look at areas you want to improve in, do you believe your current condition is "just the way God made me" or do you think you have a choice?
What do you think is the biggest barrier to change: Ego? Laziness? Lack of commitment? Past experiences? What do you think?

We're not having a Book Study on the 14th. Our next meeting will be on April 21. In the interim we pray that God blesses you abundantly and that you continue to walk with him at all times and in all things.

The Christian Atheist - Week Three

2011-04-04T14:48:00.001-07:00

We reached chapters 4 & 5 of this wonderful and thought-provoking book last week. Following are some of the discussion points we shared in our Thursday night group. Feel free to add your voice to the conversation by clicking the "Comment" link below.

Chapter 4: When You Believe in God but Not in Prayer
We read some funny stories about prayer; Craig let his children pray for a dog even though he didn't want one...and a stray wandered into their lives right after. A Pastor asked his congregation to pray against the bar in their neighbourhood, that it would be shut down. When it burned to the ground, they were left with some explaining to do!

The truth of Scripture is that God asks us to pray honestly, continually, and with the expectation that it will be a two-way communication. Yet no one can compel God to do anything which leads some people to ask: Why pray at all? What would you say?

Craig's church prayed and worked to raise funds for a new building for three years and got nowhere. They felt abandoned by God - they were having six packed-out services a week and couldn't raise the money. Then someone suggested they add a new site instead of a new building...and now they have 9 sites in their native Oklahoma and churches in four other states as well. Have you ever found your prayer was unanswered because what seemed right to you wasn't what God had in mind? When did you realize what was holding you back?

Chapter 5: When You Believe in God but Don't Think He's Fair
Craig starts this chapter with a couple of heart-rending stories of very bad things happening to very good people. We've all seen or experienced life's tragedies and because of the depth of human pain, some people conclude that God lacks the power to do something, or lacks the compassion to do something. What would you as a believer say to a person who holds that view of God?

Craig's friend says you don't have to understand everything to believe something. Most people don't understand electromagnetic transmission, wave/particle duality, quantum mechanics or liquid crystal illumination, but they believe their cell phones, which rely on these things, work. So why do people refuse to believe in God because they can't understand everything about him?

The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, yet God sent his own son to save sinners and win them freedom from death. Would you rather that God is fair and pays the wages earned, or unfair, in having Jesus pay the bill for us all? When we say God's not fair, are we really just saying he doesn't do things the way we want? What do you say?

Thanks for checking in - and remember to keep reading, I know the book has a message for us all. If anyone reading this blog needs a copy, we still have several in the church office available for only $5.

Have a blessed week!

The Christian Atheist - Week Two

2011-03-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to our interactive discussion of Craig Groeschel's The Christian Atheist. We gathered again this week to discuss chapters two and three. Below are some topics we found to be of particular interest, as well as some questions for the home participants to answer via e-mail or by opening a conversation through the "Comment" link below this post.

Chapter Two: When You Believe in God but are Ashamed of Your Past
In this chapter Craig tells us some events in his life that brought him great shame - including the "frogocide" incident on pages 47-48. He says that he "learned to equate what I did with who I was".

He points out that God doesn't think you are what you do; "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come" (2Cor 5:7) God says our sins are not our identity. A question for you to answer is: Why is our language so full of words that describe people by their acts: killer, benefactor, molester, helper, booster, sinner?

Craig then shares stories from the Bible and his life of people who did shameful things, but recovered to do great things. Have you seen people in your life who have made such a dramatic recovery from their shame, and been greatly blessed by God? Can you share some details of their story while respecting their privacy?

Last question for this chapter: If God has the power to create miracles and blessing from their pain and shame, will you admit He has the power to do it with yours?

Chapter Three: When You Believe in God but Aren't Sure He Loves You

On page 65 Craig says that to answer the question of whether God loves you, you have to know who He is. Why is knowing who He is more informative than what He does? (HINT: think of the previous chapter and re-read pages 65 and 66)

When growing up people often project the image of their earthly fathers onto their mental image of God. Looking back, do you think you did this? If so, how did your father affect your beliefs about God? Has your relationship with Jesus today altered those beliefs?

On page 71 Craig offers a bold experiment. He says the truth of God's love is that you could take the famous scripture from John 3:16 "God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" and insert your own name, and it would be just as true. We went around the circle on Thursday and confessed this truth in each other's name. I invite our blog readers to take a moment to pray and confess this scripture in your own name. Admit before God that he loves YOU so much that he sent Jesus, so that YOU would not perish but have eternal life. The truth is, God has created you very special, God is love, and He loves you very much.

Have a blessed week!

The Christian Atheist - Week One

2011-03-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Last night was our first week of Book Study - thanks to all those who came out. For those of you who couldn't make it, and for our web friends who don't attend church here; here are some questions we discussed last night.

Please share your responses by using the "Comment" link below; or with me directly via e-mail at wayoflife@sasktel.net.

In the Letter to the Reader, Pastor Craig talks about two typical people that he often meets. Travis is vocally anti-faith, saying: "I don't believe in 'gaw-duh'". Michelle says she's a Christian, but her lifestyle doesn't match up. Think about which one you met most recently: a Travis or Michelle? What did you feel as they were revealing their beliefs and actions? Who is harder for you to deal with, a Travis or a Michelle? Why is that?

In the introduction A Recovering Christian Atheist, 16 year-old Craig asks how he can know if he's been good enough to go to heaven. His Pastor tells him to stop chasing girls, drinking beer and being a general hell-raiser. If you were sitting in the Pastor's chair, what would you say to a 16 year-old who asked you the same question?

In Chapter One When You Believe in God But Don't Really Know Him, Craig says it's incumbent on us to seek God out and spend time with him - it's the same pattern we follow in human relationships. How many of us met our best friend or future spouse sitting home on the couch waiting for them to come and get us? When you think about people who seek God, who are "Thirsty for God" what are the things you see them do? How does a person seeking God behave, look, talk?

In concluding the chapter, Craig points out that getting to know (really, deeply know) God will bring many changes in our lives. He's absolutely right and I hope and pray you will read along with us and that you'll be blessed by the stories of ordinary Christians who struggle with the same questions as the rest of us.

Please remember to share your feedback on these questions. We'll be back next week to discuss chapters 2 and 3! May you have a God-blessed week.

Hand-Me-Downs

2011-03-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

Most of us have received Hand-Me-Downs at some point in our lives. Clothes, books, toys or other items that a friend or family member couldn't use, so they passed them on to us.

The Bible is concerned with Hand-Me-Downs, but of a different type. The second commandment (Exodus 20:5-6) talks about good and bad things that are handed down. None of us can deny that our choices and actions influence those of our children, and the people around us.

In church this Sunday we talked about three key Hand-Me-Downs that we feel Jesus wants all Christians to be passing along...and coincidentally, they start with the letters H, M and D.

The first is the right attitude: HUMILITY. In Philippians 2:5-11 Paul points out that being humble was the attitude of Jesus, and should be the attitude of his people as well. If Jesus, who is one with God, can humble himself to serve others, and then to suffer and die, surely it should be possible for us to be humble servants to our fellow humans.

The second is the right behaviour: MISSIONALITY. Jesus (Matt 14:14, Mark 16:15) told his people that they should spread the good news of life. A Christian who sits back contentedly, secure in their own personal salvation, is far from the heart of Jesus. His heart ached to see people in right relationship with God. If we have the right attitude of humility then surely our compassion will drive us to share the Gospel (which means good news). And we were reminded that the mission field is not restricted to foreign lands, the mission field is the heart of every person who doesn't know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

The third letter is D, but this choice has to come before the others. It's the DECISION to follow Jesus. There are easier choices, there are simpler choices, there are more popular choices. But as Jesus pointed out in Matt 7:13-14 the road to destruction is broad, but the road to life is through the narrow gate. The road to life is found only by believing in Jesus (Mark 16:15).

If you have Decided for Jesus, are you doing your part to Hand Down the best of things to your children, grand-children, friends and neighbours? If you're on the fence, please spend some time reviewing the words of Jesus in the passages referred to above and spend some time thinking about what a life lived his way looks like.

If you'd like some more information about how Hand-Me-Down attitudes, behaviour and choices affect others, e-mail me and I'll send you a couple of fascinating case studies that I don't have room for here. Thanks and may God bless you all.

Yes & Amen

2011-03-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

Michael W. Smith, in his new book "A Simple Blessing" talks about the promises of God, which he says are 'yes' and 'amen'. Yes is easy to understand, it means His promises are for sure. Amen means 'let it be so', so 'yes and amen' means God's promises are dependable and certain. If we shape our lives according to His principles then we can be absolutely sure that blessings will result.

Some believers are missing out on God's promises because they misunderstand what his real blessings are about. They don't feel blessed, because they are looking for a thorn-free rose garden blooming with all the stuff that will make their lives comfortable, prosperous, and pain-free, but that's not what God promises.

He doesn't necessarily promise to take all our problems away, but he can use hardship to shape us into his image as we press through those problems. Even as we walk through the greatest hardships of life, we have the assurance that God will eventually lead us to that new and perfect garden we long for.

You see, God's blessings are his to choose and to bestow. Yes and Amen is to trust that His will is always for our best.

The Constitution, TV & Our Brains

2011-02-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

Do you know the preamble of the U.S. Constitution? I do. I can recite it from memory:
"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty"... and I'll spare you the rest of it.

Why do I know this? Was I born with a supernatural photographic memory? No. Did I Google it? No, I know it because as a child I watched cartoons on ABC every Saturday. ABC ran commercials called "Schoolhouse Rock" and in one of them they sang the preamble to the constitution, which I still remember. If you're around my age you may still be able to sing "Conjunction Junction" or "I Hanker for a Hunk of Cheese."

Why the trip down memory lane? Because TV producers have for years, and still to this day, deny that what they put out over the air affects people. Whenever we get crimes that are copycat versions of what happens on TV, "experts" come out of the woodwork to say you can't blame TV, it doesn't make people do things. That's only true up to a point. Bad ideas promote bad conduct, and human brains don't come with an "erase" button. The stuff we feed up there is kept up there and can change the way we think and feel. Not everything is as harmless as knowing that an English conjunction ties together clauses.

The next time you sit yourself, your kids or grandkids down in front of a TV, think of some of the images you've seen and things you heard on TV that have stayed with you for years and decades. Look at that TV Guide critically and ask if what's going to appear on screen is really something that you want imprinted on your brain, or your family's brains? Ask if there's one chance in a million that Jesus would sit through the program you've chosen. You may never look at TV the same way again.

Counting

2011-02-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone; our family is back from vacation and this Sunday I shared a lesson I learned on holidays about counting.

Not HOW to count, I think I had that one already, but WHAT to count. During our travels we met many people from the developing world whose standard of living is far below what we Canadians enjoy. You might expect that many of them would resent the inequality and harbour a grudge against tourists.

Yet our experience was the opposite, most people are welcoming and friendly, eager to share their culture and beliefs; happy with their lives. It may seem hard to understand unless you can see things through their eyes. For by and large, these people have a wisdom we lack. Instead of counting the troubles in their lives, they count the blessings. They live in line with Jesus' advice from Matthew 6:28-31.

Let me invite you, as I invited the church today, to take 10 minutes this week to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and do some counting. Put two headings on the paper: Troubles and Blessings and start filling things in under each heading. Even though we seem to focus more on our problems than blessings in our day-to-day lives; you may be surprised by which column ends up longer. Go ahead and try it! If you're really brave you can post a comment saying how many you ended up with in each column. Maybe, as I did, you'll benefit from the reminder that WHAT we count makes a big difference in our lives!

What's Your Plan?

2011-01-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Dr. Tim Kimmel says that for most of the world, Plan A for their life is to please themselves. That's an observation that's pretty hard to argue with. That's the way the world is. But should we resign ourselves to it, or should we dream about the way the world could be? In Matthew 20:26-28 Jesus was being pestered by some disciples who wanted to know what their reward would be for faithfully following him when he set out a different plan:

"...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” NIV

Jesus asks us to follow his plan; call it Plan B: to put the needs of others ahead of ourselves. There are things each of us doesn't like to do, whether it's the mundane things like vacuuming or dishes, or the grand gestures like evangelism and missions. There's no way to reach our full potential unless we're willing to put our comfort on the back burner.

The Bible is full of great examples, men and women who showed us that the way to greatness is Plan B, living to serve instead of be served. Imagine how different history would be if:

Noah said "I don't build ships"

If Rahab said "I don't shelter spies"

If David said "I don't fight giants"

If Joshua said "I don't battle Jerichos"

If Daniel said "I don't do Lion's Dens"

If Paul said "I don't do missions trips"

Or most difficult of all, if Jesus said "I don't do crosses."

To learn more, check out Dr. Kimmel's book "Moving from What Is to What Can Be".

It's winter holiday time, so there won't be any blog updates for the next couple of weeks. Bless you and thanks for reading!

What Are you Craving?

2011-01-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

Author Lysa TerKeurst, in her book Made to Crave talks about how God builds craving into us. His hope is that no craving will be greater than our craving to grow close to Him.

Lysa reached a crossroads in her life where she was unhappy with her weight and she realized that she craved food more than God. She went to food for comfort in times of stress, to celebrate in times of joy, and for solace when she was sad. Lysa planned to lose weight not by destroying her cravings, but by feeding herself God instead of food.

She took her inspiration from Psalm 78:18 and the story of how Israel put God to the test by demanding the food that they craved. The end result? Out of the whole nation, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to reach the Promised Land. Lysa realized that she wanted more from her life than years of wandering in the desert. She wanted the abundant life God promises to His people.

Moving forward, every time she craved a food that was not part of her plan, she prayed. She moved her focus from food to God. And for any of us who have ever dieted, you realize she must have prayed a lot. The end result was becoming a healthy eater, and gaining a closer relationship with God.

What wonderful advice for any of us who crave anything that takes our focus away from God; imagine the benefits if we took that craving and fed it with time devoted to prayer and God's Word!

How Great Is Your God?

2011-01-12T07:20:00.000-08:00

The headline may seem like a silly question - after all if you believe in one God, as we do, isn't he the same for everyone? Recent research out of Thomas Jefferson University suggests that we don't all think of God the same way. The vast majority of the population either consciously or unconsciously casts God into their own image. Of course this turns the truth on its' head, since Genesis 1:27 says that we were made in his image.

Still, most people assign God one of four personalities: Authoritarian God, who punishes wrongdoing; Critical God, who makes rules and points out our shortcomings; Distant God, who isn't always there to do what we want, when we want; and Benevolent God who is ever loving and forgiving and doesn't judge anyone, anywhere.

The fact is, all of these images capture one part of God's personality, but they limit and distort it. Take any one of them alone and you get a miniature version of God - trapped into a little box based on what we think he can and can't do. To me, that kind of God may be easy to understand, but he's not a God worth following.

If you find that you've put your idea of God into a box, let me invite you to spend some time reading his Word, some time in prayer and meditation, some time hearing the Word proclaimed in your local church. When you do these things regularly you can begin to open your mind to all the ways of God. I think you will find that the more you know God, the Greater he becomes.

A New Mission for 2011

2011-01-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all our readers, I hope everyone had a memorable and blessed Christmas season!

In church on Sunday we talked about the truth that humans are all born with a longing to understand eternity. Every human has a hungry heart and the question is whether we will feed good and healthy things to our hearts, or the moral equivalent of junk food?

My prayer, and our church's mission is to introduce people to Jesus and invite them to take Jesus, the bread of life, into their hearts - there is no healthier or better way for people to live than by welcoming Jesus into their lives.

In order to keep feeding ourselves with good things that we can share with the people around us, we have taken on the challenge as a group of believers to all read the entire Bible this year. Jesus said "The seed is the Word" and for our church in 2011, "The feed is the Word".

On Sunday we handed out reading plans that will help us all read the Bible every day, in the way that works best for each of us. There's a chronological plan, a plan that follows the order of books in the Bible, and a plan that divides the Scripture by topic (History, Law, Gospel, etc.)

If you'd like to take the challenge with us, contact me at wayoflife@sasktel.net, I can send you one or all of the reading plans to help you!

Advent Week Four - Love

2010-12-21T04:23:00.000-08:00

In John 15:12 the Bible (NIV) records Jesus saying: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." This Sunday, the last week of advent, we looked at the radical love of Jesus. He loved in ways that were unexpected, in ways that broke with tradition, and in ways that break with our human impulses. Four radical qualities of his love stand out in contrast to the world around.

The first is that his love is for everyone. Jesus came to a society that was divided into "us" and "them". Racial and ethnic groups barely recognized the humanity of people who were different. But lines drawn by humans meant nothing to Jesus and he showed and preached about loving all of humanity.

The second is that his love forgives. As God he would be right to demand justice; to demand punishment for all of us who fail him and do things we know are wrong. Instead he forgave people who sin, he overlooked their crimes and said 'come to me', trust in me and be forgiven.

The third thing is that it blesses. The love of Jesus brings many blessings in this life, he came to heal diseases and hurts and still does today. And his love assures us of receiving a joyous inheritance in the next life. We receive that gift because he came to us and blesses us.

The fourth thing is that it gives. Jesus gave himself so that we could be called friends of God. The love of Jesus is not a "feeling", it is love in action. It is love that was willing to give the ultimate self-sacrifice so that we could be free to love him forever. That is a radical love indeed!

Merry Christmas and God's blessing on you all. Thank you for checking in on our blog and see you again in the New Year!
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Advent Week Three - Joy

2010-12-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Less than two weeks to go!

One of our main goals in celebrating the Advent season is to slow things down and take the time to really savour all that Christmas means in our lives. We talked about Joy this Sunday and looked at it through the eyes of two men: the Apostle Peter and Charles Dickens.

Peter was able to proclaim Joy in the toughest of circumstances because of three wonderful characteristics. He lived in the moment, not letting the past or the future prevent him from loving in the here and now. He was motivated by a genuine love for Jesus (even when he messed up, it was usually with his heart in the right place). And he never lost sight of the Joy Jesus promised his people.

Charles Dickens discovered unexpected Joy one year when, desperate for money, he set out on a "little scheme" to write a sentimental, sappy Christmas book that would make him a pile of cash. But when he started writing about Christmas, his favourite memories and traditions, the story took hold of him and wouldn't let him go. The story of course was "A Christmas Carol" and Dickens came to believe it was a special tale that everyone in the country should share.

He put heart and soul into making it a lovely book, and he slashed the price so that people could afford it. His dreams of quick riches were dashed, but his story of how Joy comes from the love of Christmas, the love of Christ, has never gone out of print or out of fashion.

As Tiny Tim would say: "God bless us, every one".

Advent Week Two - Peace

2010-12-07T11:52:00.000-08:00

This week we celebrated the Peace of Jesus by looking at the life of a man known more for his boldness and courage, but one who counted Peace as one of the greatest treasures in his life. He is the Apostle Paul and he travelled all over the known world to spread the Gospel message.

At one point, probably at least ten years before his ministry came to an end, he recounted some of what he had suffered from people who were hostile to the Good News of Jesus:

"Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." 2Corinthians 11:24-27 NIV

Yet despite his repeated suffering and persecution Paul also wrote:

"The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:5-7 NIV

Paul challenges us, who think we know all about difficulty, to re-examine our priorities and worries. Rather than protect them like a mother bird on the nest, Paul encourages us to bring them to God, as he did. Paul knew from experience that there are no circumstances that God can't bless us in, and that His peace gives us the strength to become all that we can be.

The Christmas season can be a stressful time for many people and so when you are overwhelmed, I invite and encourage you to follow Paul's advice, and trade your worries in for God's peace.

Countdown to Christmas

2010-11-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

We Pentecostals aren't usually into a formal liturgy, but in our church we count down to the birth of Jesus by following the traditional weeks of Advent. This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, the week of hope.

For a personification of hope, we looked at Mary and Joseph. The earthly parents of Jesus had their plans and dreams disrupted and re-routed time and again, yet their hope in the promises and goodness of God motivated them to accept that God's will was right for their lives, even when it didn't seem very good to human eyes.

Then for a more recent example of the same hopefulness we shared a story that Philip Yancey related in Christianity Today. It goes like this: In the 1970's a leader took a Christian youth band on a tour that included a stop in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was concerned with putting a foot wrong in this extremely Muslim nation so he pre-scripted all the things the kids could say and warned them of dire consequences if they strayed; how they might put themselves and Christians working in the country at risk.

The concert was going well until one of the band members put down his guitar and told the audience: "I want to tell you about my friend Jesus. I want you to know how I've changed since I met him, and all the work God has done in my life." The band leader gestured furiously for the boy to stop, but he kept going.
When it was over, who should stride out of the audience and up to the stage but the Afghan Minister of Culture!

The leader's heart was in his throat as the Minister began to speak: "We have seen many young Americans, they usually come here looking for drugs and look like hippies. We have not seen nor heard from young people like you. God’s love is a message my country needs. How thrilled I am to hear you! You are a prototype for the youth of Afghanistan to follow in the future. I would like to invite you to expand your tour so that you visit every college and faculty and also give this same message on Kabul Radio. I will make it happen.”

They stayed and toured of course, and at every stop people would crowd around and ask about this relationship with God that they couldn't find in the Qu'ran. They asked about how He changes people. Nothing like this had ever happened in Afghanistan.

On the last day of the trip the teens met a man who was a legendary worker on the Afghan mission field: J. Christy Wilson. He was born in Iran where his parents were missionaries. He served God in Afghanistan as principal of a high school for 22 years. He also taught English to the Crown Prince and to Afghan diplomats.Wilson took the band on a visit a very unusual site, far from the tourist places. He took them to the only cemetery in Afghanistan where an infidel – a non-Muslim - could legally be buried. He first led them to an old, pitted gravestone.

“This is the man who first translated the Bible to an Afghan language. He worked here for 30 years and didn’t win a single convert.” He walked to another gravestone. “This is the man who replaced him, and these are his children. They baptized the first Afghani Christian.” He continued to lead them through the markers, giving them glimpses of the lives of the people who brought the Gospel to Afghanistan. At the end of the row he turned and faced the team with tears in his eyes.

“For 30 years one man moved rocks, that’s all he did, he moved rocks. Then came his replacement and he dug furrows, nothing but furrows. Then came others who placed the seeds, protected the seeds, and watered the seeds. Some of them lived their whole lives without ever seeing the crops. And now you kids, you kids, are bringing in the harvest.” The band leader watched in amazement as comprehension dawned on the faces of the teens. They realized they were part of chain that stretched back longer than a human lifetime and they knew that what happened to them was the result of an unbroken line of people who hoped to see the glory of God.

They walked and served in faith; even when they didn’t see the results they wanted they never gave up hope. It took many decades of service before there were any tangible results, but at every link in the chain, from the first missionary to those teens, there were people who worked and held tightly to the hope that God would provide the right result in his time.For the church today the challenge is clear. Can we hope and trust? Are we willing to move rocks for 30 years without seeing a harvest? Will we trust that God will bring the harvest on His time, and that His time is the right time? I hope that we are!
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Celebration Service

2010-11-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

The first rule of blogging is "though shalt update regularly". My apologies for the lack of any updates over the past couple of weeks. I won't bother with any excuses because I need to tell you about a very important notice.

This Thursday at 7:30 pm we're holding a very special service of Celebration to honour the life and gifts of our dear brother in Christ, Rudy Goebel. Rudy left this world behind and took hold of his heavenly reward this past weekend and Thursday will be a chance for friends and family to celebrate, fellowship and reminisce.

There will be a light lunch after the service, and in lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be directed to Dallas Valley Ranch Camp. Please join us if you can to celebrate the life of our remarkable and very loving brother.
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Fellowship Blesses

2010-11-07T05:08:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about some of the essentials of fellowship in talking about "The Fellowship Ladder" and this past week I was able to see the blessings of fellowship in action.

I was in Saskatoon taking a class at (our wonderful) Bible college. In the class we devoted a day and a half to having each student deliver a presentation on one chapter of a book we were studying. Each presentation was followed by in-class discussion to explore the meaning of what was read.

It was an incredible experience and a wonderful example of the Bible's advice to "teach one another". Each of us gained a deeper understanding of the book by learning how others approached it and what they took away from it. We all walked away with more than we could have gotten on our own: we were blessed by our fellowship. That's why God created it; not because we'd never ever disagree, but because gathering together brings blessings and benefits we just can not get alone.

If you don't have a chance to learn from other believers I would encourage (I'll even beg if it helps) you to join in with a small group or Bible study (we have room for you on Thursday nights!) and be prepared to be touched and amazed by what God can show you through your Christian sisters and brothers.
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Fail Proof Prayer

2010-10-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

Author Jim Reimann has taken a classic Christian devotional, Evening by Evening, written by 19th century preacher and author Charles Haddon Spurgeon (left) and updated the language and quotations to make it more accessible to modern readers. I recently received an e-mail with Spurgeon's reflections on prayer and wanted to share an excerpt with you:

Prayer is the fail-proof course of action for a Christian, regardless the situation. When you cannot use "the sword of the Spirit," you can use the weapon of "all kinds of prayers" (Eph. 6:17 - 18) ... Swords and spears must be polished and sharpened, but prayer never rusts, and even when we may think it may be the most dull, it cuts the best.

Prayer is an open door no one can shut... Prayer is never out of season... It gains us an audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the middle of a business transaction, in the heat of the day, and in the shade of the late afternoon. And in every condition ... your covenant God welcomes your prayer and answers it from His holy place.

Prayer is never futile, for true prayer always has true power. You may not always receive what you request, but you will always have your real needs supplied. When God does not answer His children to the letter of their prayer, He answers according the spirit of their prayer. If you ask for coarse-ground meal, will you be angered because He provides you with the finest flour? If you seek health for your body, should you complain if He uses your sickness to bring about the healing of your spiritual problems instead? Isn't it better to have your cross sanctified rather than removed?
Evening by Evening copyright 2010 Zondervan

The Fellowship Ladder

2010-10-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks we've been looking at what fellowship is. The Bible says it's a good thing but there aren't a lot of explicit instructions about building good Christian fellowship.

We noticed though, that there are a lot of instructions in the Bible about what to do with, for and to "one another" - and what is fellowship but how we treat one another?

So we sorted through the almost sixty "one another" verses in the New Testament and arranged them in order of how often they appear. We arranged them on what we called the "Fellowship Ladder" starting with things that are mentioned once (Pray for one another; Die for one another) to the things mentioned most often (Love one another; Meet, Greet and Encourage one another).

Although not exhaustive, the practices on the ladder are ones we can follow to build a wonderful, Biblical fellowship. So many of the "one another" verses tell us to look to Jesus as an example that as a church we've been challenged to go beyond our comfort zones and build a fellowship Jesus is proud to call his own.

If you'd like a copy of the list of "one another" verses send me an e-mail and I'll be glad to pass it along. Thanks for reading and may God bless you all.
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Who's the Boss?

2010-10-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

We have a weekly Bible study on Thursday nights and we've been working our way through Matthew's Gospel. Last night we were in Chapters 22 and 23 when we realized how radically different Jesus' approach to bosses is from ours.

Jesus had little patience for the hypocritical religious leaders of his day, but in Chapter 23 he told the crowds and his disciples that "you must obey them and do everything they tell you" even while he warned "do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach". In Chapter 22, when everyone is wondering if he will be the Messiah who drives out worldly influence and unites people under God's direct rule he says "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's".

The apostle Paul tied together these ideas from Jesus when he said: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

We spent a long time talking about when it might be all right to rebel against bosses and governments - if ever. How different would our lives be if we believed and acted like God personally put each of our leaders and bosses above us, both the good and the bad? What if all of our focus and energy was on doing and being the absolute best that we can be, regardless of who the boss is? Isn't that the best kind of tribute we can give our real boss, Jesus?

I invite you dear readers, to post your thoughts about bosses/leaders/governments and when it might be OK to rebel by clicking on the comment link below.
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Being Perfect

2010-10-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

If you've been a Christian for a while, you've probably read and pondered this command from Jesus: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt 5:48 NIV)

At our recent conference the guest speaker, Darin Latham revealed a recent survey showing the top three places people pretend to be someone they're not. They were: 3. In the lobby of a fancy hotel; 2. In the showroom of a fancy car dealership; 1. In church.

Why is church number one? Why do we want to be seen like the plastic people in the picture when we're in a place that we should be able to relax and be most authentically ourselves? It may be because we misunderstand Jesus' command to be perfect. If he thought we could be perfect on our own, why would he have come and sacrificed himself to save us?

Jesus wanted to us show two things. First, that "pretty good" isn't good enough when it comes to God. Only the perfect can find an eternal home in heaven. The second was that we can't achieve perfection on our own. Salvation isn't a reward for the people who've made themselves perfect, it's a free gift for the people who admit "I can't do this on my own, I need Jesus."

Think of how we could transform the church and the ways we can support one another if we could set aside our need to be perfect and admit our messy, flawed, human selves. Don't try to be perfect, even if you fool all of us, Jesus knows better. Instead, focus on being you, a person who needs Jesus. It sounds like a small distinction but I think the results would bless us all.
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Reckless Words

2010-10-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

I was away this week at a retreat when I had to re-learn a lesson that I thought I'd learned a long time ago. I want to share it because perhaps like me, you find yourself doing things you don't want to do from time to time...

I'll spare the gory details, but I ended up having an argument that was easily avoidable. People were hurt with no good reason. I know the person I was arguing with has a good heart, but they said some things I didn't like and then didn't back down from those words. In response I "got in their face" to "set them straight" and we both ended up angry.

As soon as I walked away from the person I started asking myself how they could say those things that made me angry...when I realized I was in the wrong. Too late, I remembered that regardless of what a person says to me, only I can make me angry. My reaction is my choice, I own it, and in this case I chose very badly. As hard as it was to admit, the greater wrong was mine, for not handling things better.

So I went back to the person, apologized and thankfully, they accepted. As I type I look forward to the next time we'll get together and I pray that if we differ on something, I won't choose reckless words again. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:18: "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." When you find yourself disagreeing with someone this week, I hope you will choose your words more wisely than I did.
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What if?

2010-09-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Denise and I received the following e-mail from a friend...it's called "What if?" and it's one of those things that make you go "hmm" so I wanted to share it will all of you blog hoppers!

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

     What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
     What if we flipped through it several times a day?
     What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
     What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
     What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
     What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
     What if we used it when we traveled?
     What if we used it in case of emergency?

Do YOU know where your Bible is right now? When's the last time you flipped through? Have you gotten a message from it lately?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible ever being disconnected - Jesus already paid the bill.
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Rooted

2010-09-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

In his book Spiritual Rhythm, author Mark Buchanan compares the glamour of this life to the sheen of oil or gas spilled on water. From a certain angle it can be quite pretty, but it's actually unhealthy and unsafe. Those who don't get taken in by the appearance are blessed.

Buchanan goes on to say that those who look past glamourous appearances will choose what may look boring in comparison: being rooted. Those who surrender to the frenetic pace of the glamorous life will pass by in a blur of motion, growing more and more thirsty. In contrast, those who heed the Word are immovable and will drink deeply and be nourished by their roots.

Buchanan is in full agreement with the Apostle Paul, who wrote in Ephesians 4:14 that if we don't work to grow and mature in the faith we will be "blown here and there by every wind of teaching". Each of us can choose to be an oak or a tumbleweed, rooted or rootless...which will you choose?

When Enough isn't

2010-09-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at mobile blogging so please forgive me if the formatting is wonky.

I was out walking tonight and took this picture of a tree absolutely laden with georgeous berries. It makes you appreciate the wonder of nature where God has set it up so the needs of every plant and creature are all taken into account.

One day soon many birds will feast on these berries, building the strength to fly south, or to overwinter in our harsh climate. But what if one bird tried to eat them all? It would be a foolish and suicidal exercise. But change the bird to a human and the berries to 'stuff' and you see that we try to do just that. No matter what we have or how much we have we're convinced that some more or something newer would make us happy.

But if we can't even admit the concept of 'enough' how can we ever get there? When will we be satisfied? Jesus called us to be different and have different priorities from the world at large.

To start we might want to look at this tree and ask how many berries do I already have in my life? Do I really need more?

Choose Jesus

2010-08-30T05:30:00.000-07:00

Generosity - it's a word that means different things to different people, and it's one of the ways Jesus' church should be different from the world around us. For thousands of years the people of God have set aside a portion of their income to support their church, maintain a meeting place, offer programs, pay staff, support worthy causes etc. The Bible is rife with statements that exhort us to remember where all the good things we have come from (God) and to show our appreciation by returning a portion to Him.

I read in a recent survey that 73% of Americans who attend church regularly give 2% or less of their annual income to help support their church -this includes 21% who give nothing at all. I don't suppose the statistics in Canada would be all that different. No wonder churches are struggling to stay open when people who come regularly don't believe in Jesus or their mission enough to re-order their financial priorities!

How sad that they are passing up the Joy that comes from generosity. I love seeing the smiling faces in our church when we announce a successful fundraiser, or when people are bringing in items they've donated for Haiti, Brother's Keeper orphanage or the current clothing drive that wraps up on Sept. 12. Each of us has a different ability to give, but I hope all of us have the desire to honour God by giving.

The Apostle Paul famously wrote that "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" and my prayer for us all is that when it comes down to choosing Jesus or our money we always choose Jesus.

Summer Time Outreach

2010-08-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

This summer our church has partnered with Avonhurst Pentecostal to offer the "Sidewalk Kids Club" in Regent Park in Regina.

On August 17 hundreds of invitations were delivered in the neighbourhood for the two sessions (Aug 20-22; 27-29). During the one hour event the kids are taught how the Bible helps us deal with real-world problems, play games, hear stories, enjoy the antics of mad scientist "Doctor Quirky" and of course learn about how God loves them.
Thanks to the work of our dedicated volunteers it's been a wonderful example of taking the love of Jesus to our community. One story that really impacted me was about the numbers involved - on the first day there were about 45 children who attended all or part of the program, yet in all that time our crew saw only 3 parents. Of course I don't know the individual stories of all those families but it seems to be a sure sign that many of the children have little supervision or guidance during the day. Please join us in praying that the words our team shares will bless the kids who come and their families, so that they can draw closer together and they will feel the draw of the love of Jesus on their hearts.

What do YOU care about?

2010-08-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Author Shauna Niequist wrote about a friend who seemed to have it all. A challenging career, a beautiful home, vibrant mind, polite children, a wonderful garden, and rock-solid abs. This friend just seemed to have it all together in some very important way. So Shauna asked her about her life. The answer surprised her.

Her friend said it's not hard to figure out what is important in your life, what are the things you care about. Most everyone knows them already or can find them out quite easily. What is hard is figuring out what you are willing to give up, in order to devote time to things you care about.

Having and doing it all is just an illusion. But the people who have peace in their lives have identified what they care about, and they've pushed the other stuff to the side. Even if it makes them less popular, even if people whisper about how weird they are, they keep their attention on what they care about.

Giving things up can be hard, but it can be a way to free yourself for what really matters. Why not spend some time thinking and praying about that this week?

The Secret Formula

2010-08-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

Many people wish they could be closer to God; they would love to hear from Him on important issues, to know what He thinks would be right in a given situation, to feel like they really know Him.

But I can't find any reference in the Bible to say that wishing will work...in fact there's no secret formula to getting closer to God. Imagine if somebody told you they had a never-fail 5-step method to get any person in the world to marry you...would you believe it can work? Of course not, relationships don't work that way.

God is a person, and if you want a better, closer relationship with Him then you should treat Him like a person. That means talking to Him about all the things going on in your life - not just whining about the bad stuff. It means taking time to listen to what He has to say to you...to your heart, and what's recorded in the Bible. It means doing stuff He likes to do, listening to His kind of music, reading books that He likes etc.

You also need to make sure you take Him along when you do stuff you like to do. Sometimes you might even have to give up stuff you like because it offends your friend God. But most of us will give things up to keep a true friendship, won't we?

If you'd like to be closer to God, don't waste your time on wishes, and don't look for the secret formula, just spend some time with Him. He's ready and willing to spend time with you - He loves you!

You owe Me

2010-07-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

This past week we've gotten a lot of great news, and some not-great news as well. A couple of very good men that we know are battling serious health issues. As well, as the normal annoyances of life seem to be turned up to 11 lately; sickness, car trouble, etc.

When we struggle with circumstances it's easy to wonder why, and it's easy to ask why God doesn't make things better for us...if we love Him and serve Him, doesn't He owe it to us?

Don't feel bad, people have thought about this from the dawn of time - read the Psalms or book of Job for proof. If you struggle with this question, I advise that you get a blank sheet of paper, draw a line down the centre and then make one column "You Owe Me" and one "I Owe You".

In the "You Owe Me" list all the things you've done for God. I would list my years in Children's Church, Bible Studies, Alpha, Small Groups, putting on events, daily Bible readings, served on a church board, pastored, counselled etc.

Then on the "I Owe You" list goes what God has done for you. You quickly find the stuff on the side for what He's done is very heavy: created a universe just for us; formed us with care and love; provided everything we ever see, touch, hear, taste, smell, own, enjoy; and then, when we failed to live up to our potential He sent His son to die a criminal's tortuous death to set us free from a prison of our own making.

That's when I realize how silly it is to think that God could "Owe" me anything when I owe Him EVERYTHING. If you ever find yourself in the "You owe Me" place with God, I recommend you try this exercise, it really helps to get things in perspective.

mmm...cookies

2010-07-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

At Camp this week one of our campers asked our speaker, Kevin Janzen, why God doesn't let "good" people into heaven if they've only made a mistake or two? It's a great question because who of us haven't asked the same thing?

Kevin's answer was so good I have to share it with you here. He asked us if we like chocolate chip cookies, which most of us do of course. They he asked if we would like to eat a chocolate chip cookie with cat poop in it...there were no takers. None of us were willing to eat the cookie even if the piece of cat poop was extremely small and he could guarantee that we would never taste it.

To God, sin is like cat poop...He doesn't want to take even the teeniest, tiniest amount of sin into his presence. That's why we need Jesus. Only people who've had all the cat poop, er, sin washed out of them by Jesus can come into God's presence.

Flags, Who's in Charge and Citizens of Another Country

2010-07-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

As I write this it's July 3rd and Canada's birthday celebration is over, while the U.S.'s is about to kick off. I was pondering this morning about what kind of July 4th message to post on Facebook to my U.S. friends when I had one of those experiences that I can only describe as a smack upside the head from God.

Though I had said in my post earlier this week that I wouldn't be blogging for a while (and I meant it, too) God had other ideas and my head was filled with images this morning and a certainty that I had to post these ideas today.

Canada and the U.S. are incredibly gifted nations, and all of us who live here are blessed to be free from so many of the dangers, scarcity and strife that most in this world face their whole lives. But our Canadian or US passports are only temporary documents. The blessings we receive from our citizenship here in North America will die when we do. We face a danger: that we will build our lives on the material circumstances and human systems these countries provide instead of on the eternal Word of God.

Our highest calling is to become citizens of another, heavenly country. Through Jesus God has thrown open the doors of heaven, we have only to walk on through. The price is small, but more than many of us will pay. The Bible calls it "to die to self". It means that we surrender forever the idea that we can somehow make our own place in the universe, to accept that Jesus paid dearly to make a place for us, and then accept and grow into the place God made for us.

By all means celebrate the blessings your country provides here on earth, but never forget where your real citizenship and allegiance lie.

Meeting together

2010-06-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

We've spent a lot of time in the last year talking about how a church is a community, not a building. It's believers who unite and help each other and reach out to help the less fortunate around them. A solo Christian is like dry water - two ideas that don't go together. Summer is a time, with kids out of school that church attendance typically drops, with many out camping or enjoying the lake etc.

Taking time away to connect with family, enjoy the outdoors, or just relax and unwind is a good thing. If you find yourself away from your home church this summer, I'd like to encourage you not skip church on Sunday. Be brave and visit with a new community of believers - I've always found it to be a beneficial exercise. Moving outside our comfort zone and experiencing worship with a new group is a beautiful thing.

Let me close with these words from Hebrews 10: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.

This will probably be my last post for a couple of weeks, I'm off on vacation next week, then heading up to Living Waters Camp to serve as Head Counsellor for a week. Theoretically I can post to the blog with my smartphone, but I can't promise that's going to work. God bless you all and thanks for reading.

Impact & Influence

2010-06-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Pastor Rick Warren asks a great question in his new book "Better Together". If you had to name the event that most impacted your life up to now, what would it be? I doubt it would be something that was planned to be impactful, like a sermon or a training seminar. It's far more likely that it was a person.

People through the ages have tried to separate their devotion to God from hanging around with God's people (which we call "church") but it can't be done. God intended, and in fact directed us to learn about Him in community. He told his children to be a people that stands out for all the world because of how much we love each other.

God has put people in your life for the good they can do you, and there are people in your life for the good you can do them. Rather than pull back and try to be a "Lone Christian" I invite you to try it God's way. Start hanging with His people, be a regular at a loving local church, and get ready for great things to happen!

Wow

2010-06-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'd intended to write about connections today but that's going to have to wait for next week. I have to take the time this week to pass on kudos and thanks to the people who put on our "Spring Spectacular" Rummage and Bake sale this past weekend.

Our Evangelism committee members and other volunteers burned the midnight oil all week leading up to the event and did a great job of welcoming all our visitors. The people we approached for donations were wonderful, so wonderful that after two full days and many, many dollars raised, we still have a churchful of stuff left to sell. For a small church like ours to pull off a huge event like this proves that God is behind our efforts!

In order to maximize what we're raising for our charities (Brother's Keeper orphanage in Zambia, Africa; U-Turn youth crisis housing project; and our own youth group) we've decided to continue the sale this week. It will be taking place from 1pm to 7pm this Thursday June 17; and 9am to 7pm this Friday, June 18.

If you're able, please stop by and support some wonderful causes. If you can't stop in, say a prayer for the team - they need a lot of prayer support, and a lot of customers, to do a huge job like this!

Touching, and Being Touched

2010-06-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

This Friday and Saturday our church is holding a Rummage & Bake Sale. The run-up to the sale involves a lot of prep work and a great deal of commitment.

Over the past week we've been touched by the huge number of people outside our church who have responded to requests for donated items - the response is so overwhelming that we will be selling more items that come from outside our church than in!

It reminds us that most people want to touch others in a positive way. People seem to enjoy the opportunity to do some good. As Christians it shows us that our neigbours may believe differently than we do, but there are more things that unite us than divide.

Thanks to the generosity of the community we look forward to a successful sale that will allow us to offer support to three great initiatives: our own Way of Life Youth program; the Brother's Keeper orphanage in Kasama, Zambia; and Youth for Christ's "UTurn" crisis housing program.

Our Rummage and Bake sale is taking place at the church, 4545 Victoria Avenue East. If you're looking for some great deals, or love home-baked treats, come on out on Friday the 11th 10-3 or Saturday the 12th from 9-3.

Foundations

2010-05-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Can you think of a more ignored part of your house than the foundation? But with a poor foundation your house would be doomed.

In Luke 6:47-48 Jesus said that a life based on him and his words is the ultimate foundation. This Sunday we talked about six fundamental truths of our Christian foundation. Those truths are that Jesus is real, Jesus is God, Jesus is Ours, We are His, Jesus is with us (throught the Spirit) and that Jesus is coming back.

Each of these truths are sequentially more difficult for skeptics to believe, yet after centuries of trying to disprove them, the fundamental truths of the faith stand firm.

The great news for all of us is that foundations can be corrected. No matter where you are in life or what mistakes you may have made in the past you can correct your foundation by rebuilding your life on the foundation that Jesus supplied. If you'd like to learn more please contact us, we'd be happy to help.

Happenings

2010-05-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

It's a busy time at Way of Life, but it's a wonderful kind of busyness.

On Sunday the 23rd, on a long weekend, over 100 people came out to Avonhurst Assembly for a special Pentecost evening service. Folks from five different churches gathered, sang, shared and worshipped all for the same reason. They all wanted more of Jesus. It was an amazing experience and the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit were in evidence as we shared a close fellowship of believers.
Many thanks go out to Pastor Robert Thompson of Southside who had the vision of all our Pentecostal churches gathering together, and to Avonhurst for hosting the event.

At Way of Life; we're having a few events of our own over the next while:

Saturday the 29th is our Youth and Others paintball; all ages can come and meet us at Paintball Paradise at 1pm, if you haven't signed up call the church at 779-1084 to get your name in...and if you're worried that it will hurt too much let me say that the sting fades but the memories last!

June 11th and 12th we're having a colossal Rummage & Bake sale at the church, 4545 Victoria Avenue East. We're being blessed with donations from all over so it should be a wonderful event. The proceeds from the sale will be split evenly between Brother's Keeper orphanage in Zambia; the UTurn home for at-risk youth; and our own youth group. Please drop by and shop up a storm!

June 20th we'll be having an outdoor Sunday service in Pilot Butte combined with a Spring BBQ and Pot Blessing supper. It's great to be in fellowship with God's people and we encourage you to take in any or all of these events!

Looking for God

2010-05-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Last week we asked the question: are you brave enough to seek God? For those who answer yes, there are three simple things you can do to begin your search.

The first place to look is obvious: in the Bible. The Bible is a collection of written works that combined is a love letter from God to all people. He wants us to choose to love Him, but he's given us the freedom to decide. The Bible makes the case for just how much God loves you and cares for you.

The second is in fellowship. Humans are created to be in community - all the way back to Adam, God decided that humans shouldn't be alone (remember Eve?). The idea of a solo Christian would be a foreign one to Jesus. In fellowship we support one another and become more than we can be alone.

The third way is in prayer. For those who've never tried it seems a strange thing to do, but God has invited all people to share their feelings, needs and desires with Him. It's an amazing truth that the creator of the entire universe wants to hear from you.

If you've never sought God then I invite you, if you are brave enough, to try these three ways to find Him. Read the Bible daily for one month. Start at Matthew and read a few pages every day. Find a church that you are comfortable with and try attending for four Sundays in a row. The people, the music and the message will help you to meet with God is. And lastly pray - not as empty wishes or a to-do list, but talk to God every day and tell Him what's on your mind.

You may find that God is not who you assumed He was. The results will be truly amazing!

Are You Brave Enough to Look?

2010-05-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

A famous marketing expert once wrote that the best way to keep a business from failing is not to open it in the first place. I suppose the best way to keep your bank from being robbed is not to open a bank. The most sure-fire way to keep your e-mail inbox free of spam? Don't open an e-mail account.

A closed-up life seems like the safest way to live. But what's the point? Who wants to have a life that's boring, unfulfilling, and a step or two short of being a hermit when there's so much more available? When there are new wonders around the corner or just over the next hill?

Some people are like that when it comes to belief. They want to avoid doubt so they refuse to believe anything. It seems simple but it's really the cowards' choice. If you are brave enough to live with uncertainty, you will be brave enough to look into things. Being open means you might have to live without 100% certainty; but it has to be better than living a closed off life, doesn't it?

You can close your eyes to God, say you're sure He's not there and have a hollow shell of a life or you can open your eyes to look at who God is and what He has to say to you. In order to look, you have to be brave enough to face the risk you won't find what you're looking for. But if you seek God you can be sure he will speak to you and reward your bravery. Next week we'll talk about how to start your looking...

Inspired by "Me of Little Faith" by Jason Boyett

What's in a Name?

2010-05-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

If you call me "Pastor Norm" I will assume you know a bit about me. You know what I do, maybe you're heard me speak somewhere, or at a church event somewhere in the city. You may know me well enough to know some of my likes and dislikes, but if you're calling me by my title, you probably aren't really close to me.

If you call me Norm, you may attend our church. You may have worked with me at other jobs in the past. You don't bother with a title because you're close to me and you know me better. We probably see each other regularly and consider each other friends.

There are two people in the world who use a more specialized name for me. I've carried them around in my arms countless times, taught them to ride a bicycle, pulled out slivers, bandaged wounds, and prayed together when they're scared. They look me straight in the eye when they say things like: 'you need a shave', 'your hair is a mess', and 'Thanks, Dad'. The name is the giveaway to how intimately we know each other.

What do you call God? He agreed to adopt anyone who loves Him into his family; to give us the right to call him "Dad". Your name for Him may tell you a lot about how close you are to Him today.

My thanks to Pastor Craig Groeschel as this post was completely inspired by a section in his new book "The Christian Atheist". It was so good I had to adapt it and share it with you.

Aiming Higher

2010-04-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

Hard rules engraved on hard stone. A bunch of "don'ts" from a killjoy God. Standards that nobody can live up to.

That's how a lot of people view the Ten Commandments, but is that really what they are? Did you know that God doesn't call them rules or laws, but a "covenant"? The Ten were meant to form the basis for an agreement or covenant between God and His people. God who is perfect, illustrated the gap between His standards and ours in the Ten; and he called people to stop settling for being like the people around them, and Aim Higher.

The point of the Ten isn't to see if you can adhere to them perfectly, God knows you can't. The point of the Ten is to begin to make us aware of the gulf between us and God. The Ten gives us a standard to chase and aspire to; they put a call on our hearts that no matter how well we do, we can Aim Higher, love more, care more, be better.

We can't close the gap between God and us with our own goodness, so He sent Jesus to bridge the gap. Jesus life and teachings point in the same direction as the Ten. Follow them and you begin the journey to becoming the people of God. Why settle for less when God invited you to Aim Higher?

So What?

2010-04-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Easter is the most important day in the Christian calendar and this, the week after Resurrection Sunday we asked the questions: So What?

Jesus died, he rose from the grave; he changed and he ascended to heaven. 'So What' do I do now? If I accept Jesus, what does that mean for me? Where do I go now? The truth is, you don't have to go anywhere. Christianity is a Way of Life, not a religion. What you do is important, but it's nowhere near as important as how you do it.

Asked about how a believer should change, Paul surprised people by saying: "Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you." 1Cor7:20. If you read on Paul was talking about their jobs and their place in the world, none of which are as important as welcoming the inner changes that Jesus brings to your life.

It's summed up brilliantly by a woman who was asked what line of work she was in. She said: "I'm an agent of Jesus Christ, cleverly disguised as an office clerk". So don't worry about what you have or don't have, what job you have now or want in the future. When your priorities are in order, the details will all work out. Focus on your role as an agent of Jesus Christ and you will find that the rest falls into place as it should.

Love & Respect

2010-04-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

When you read Ephesians 5:33 it seems pretty elementary: "So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Who wouldn't want to be loved and respected? How can you argue with it?

Relationship Counsellor and author Emerson Eggerichs thought that way until one day he had a flash of insight about this verse. Combined with his years of counselling experience he began to see these words as keys to understanding relationships. Women and men look at relationships differently and this different perspective can lead to misunderstandings and strife.

If men could learn how women see love, they would be better able to fill that need in their relationship. If women could learn how men crave respect, they in turn would be better able to fill that need in their relationships.

Love and Respect is a relationship program based on men and women discovering their differences (and their similarities) and using that knowledge to improve communcation in their relationships and ultimately to make their relationship stronger, happier and more loving.

Way of Life will be conducting the Love and Respect program on Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm. The program starts on April 15 and will conclude on May 13 or 20. Anyone (married or not) is welcome to attend, merely call the church office at 779-1084 to let us know that you'll be coming.

Yeast and Missions

2010-03-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

At Bible study this week we were discussing Matthew 16:6 where Jesus warns the disciples to "Beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees". Jesus didn't mean that you shouldn't bake bread with the religious leaders. Yeast referred to their teaching, teaching that was untrue and needed to be avoided.

We talked in our study group about bad yeast and false teachings that abound today, and our group had some examples of teaching they'd like to see stopped: The idea that we need more and more stuff to be happy; the idea that normal aging is somehow bad; the idea that people determine what is right and wrong rather than God; the idea that we can change the meaning of what marriage really is by human legislation.

There are all kinds of false teachings out there and God's people will have to be diligent to hold on to the truth. We'll also have to stand up from time to time and speak out for what's right. The one thing we can never do is turn the battle against bad teaching into our main mission. As Easter Sunday approaches, it's good to think about what our mission should be.

Jesus' main focus was people; he spent his time teaching good things, and showing God's compassion and power. If we desire to follow the Way of Life that Jesus laid out for us, we should be sharing our experiences of his teaching, compassion and power with the people around us. That's the Mission for all Jesus' people.

Light Show

2010-03-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

In just the last week or so we've been privileged to have contact with three groups doing wonderful work all around the globe. Our Youth group has been raising funds to support missionaries in Siberia who are helping homeless and at-risk youth in the city of Altai. The adults in our congregation collected hundreds of items to be shipped to Haiti to assist in the earthquake recovery efforts.

And we recently attended a fundraising dinner and silent auction to support Brother's Keeper. This photo shows children at the Brothers' Keeper orphanage in Kasama, Zambia. The ministry was established just six years ago and the home is currently caring for or sponsoring 16 children. Zambia is an island of relative peace and calm in a fractious region of Africa, but they have not escaped the effects of the HIV epidemic. In fact 2/3 of all HIV-positive people in the world live in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. This is a major contributing factor to the high numbers of orphans, and Brother's Keeper exists to help the widows and orphans who are most at risk.

Africa, Asia, the Caribbean. These groups are at work in very different locations and circumstances but they all have one thing in common. United by their love for Jesus, they have chosen NOT to turn their back on situations that people would call impossible, but to shine what light they have. Not that they believe they will solve all the worlds' problems, but that they refuse to wring their hands yet do nothing.

Not all of us can go to these places and do the work that their teams do, but we count it an honour and a privilege to support them financially, prayerfully and materially whenever we can. In our own small way we believe we are adding our light to that of the missions teams and helping the love of Jesus shine more brightly in a world that needs it very much.

Thinking about Karma

2010-03-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

Karma may seem like a strange topic for a Christian Pastor; I know that a lot of people think we plug our ears and yell "nyah" whenever we hear things that don't fit into our worldview, but really that's not the case.

I've been hearing more and more about Karma lately and it got me to thinking, why is it that so many people, even Christians talk about Karma? Why do so many people seem to feel that Karma must be true?

At it's simplest, the concept of Karma is that the more good things you do, the more good Karma you build up, which in the end means good things happen to you. Of course the flip side is that the more bad things you do, the more bad Karma accumulates against you, meaning that bad stuff will happen.

A lot of people feel like Karma is in line with the teachings of Jesus. After all, he said if you get slapped on the right cheek, offer the left. If someone steals your shirt, give them your coat, too. If they force you to do work for them, do twice as much. Isn't that all building up good Karma?

On the surface it seems like it, but if you dig deeper you will find the difference between what Jesus was talking about and Karma is motivation. Under Karma you do good things so that the gods or the universe will owe you a reward - it's a selfish philosophy. In Christianity, we do good things from selflessness. We know that we can't buy God off, that ultimately even the best of people does things wrong (we call them sins) that can never be made right.

Jesus offers to forgive us from our sins, if we just are willing to listen to him. Our motivation to do the right thing is not force God to owe us happiness or success, but to show our gratitude for sending Jesus to bring us forgiveness.

If you're not sure which is true, let me invite you to perform an experiment. For the next few weeks watch what happens in your life and the lives around you. Is goodness always rewarded with goodness, and selfish or damaging conduct always punished? Or is the universe more complicated than that? Jesus said that God sends the sun and the rain on the good and the evil; and he said that our ultimate reward is not in this life, but in the next.

If you do try observing, please come back and post the results of your experiment for all of us to see. God bless you all and thanks for reading.

On The Podium

2010-03-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Games concluded yesterday with a bang. Canada won hockey gold in overtime to set a new Olympic record for winter gold (14), and if we didn't own the entire podium, we certainly can lay claim to the top step.

Sports victories tend to be overhyped - I mean really, what immediate import does this have on people's lives? Not much. But I wonder if one day we will look back at this as a watershed moment in Canada's history.

My generation's view of Canada on the world stage was greatly influenced by Olympic failures. At the Montreal Games, Canada become the only Olympic host nation not to win at least three gold medals (we won none) and then we repeated the "0" at Calgary in 1988. For my generation, being Canadian was about trying hard, playing fair and not expecting great results.

What will be the effect on this generation, whose Olympic experience is that Canada invited the world, and then dominated competition with 14 Gold, 26 medals and 50 top-five finishes? I believe they will still try hard and play fair, but I think their definition of "good enough" will be "best". The time when settling for "OK" was a national mindset may be coming to a close.

This has a lot to teach the church, because in North America at least, don't we feel like we've been shut out of the medals lately? Doesn't it seem like the opposition are the ones constantly celebrating victory? If a small and humble country like Canada can dream big and stand up against the powers of the world, why can't the small and humble church dream big and stand up against the powers of darkness?

Olympic records are set one race, one competition at a time. Our records will be set one soul, one caring act at a time. If Jesus is Lord of your life, why not dream big and plan big to see what you can do to help more people know him? If you think a gold-medal party is sweet, just wait until the day you see Jesus and he says to you, and the people you introduced to him: "Well done, good and faithful servants...step up onto my podium."

Our Olympic Destiny

2010-02-21T22:57:00.000-08:00

At this writing, the ninth day of Olympic competition just finished, and Canada sits in 4th with 9 medals. The U.S.A. is in first with 24. Thanks to "Own the Podium" many Canadians were expecting our Olympic destiny was to be #1. To add to the national anxiety, the men's hockey team has just been defeated by the U.S.

When you read the papers and look at the web, there are armies of angry people heaping scorn upon Canadians like Charles Hamelin, Melissa Hollingsworth and Denny Morrison. Of course most of us wouldn't have known their names or recognized their faces a month ago, but now there are thousands of experts who know what is "wrong" with them. People want answers as to why they "choked".

It turns out that only God knew what our Olympic destiny was, and He didn't share that with anyone. That's OK because he shared a far greater secret when he shared Jesus. Every athlete, whether an Olympic 'winner' or 'loser' can come to Jesus whenever they want - and unlike human fans, he will love them unconditionally and he will love them forever.

Let's make it our mission to pray that many of them get the chance to meet Jesus and get to know him as a result of these games. As we enjoy the temporary spectacle of Olympic glory, let's pray for their glorious Eternal Destiny.

Information Age?

2010-02-15T18:07:00.000-08:00

How many times a week do we hear that this is the Information Age? You certainly hear lots of cool statistics to back it up, like how much digital info is out there, how fast it's multiplying, etc. It has become one of those pieces of accepted wisdom that we don't even question.

I was reflecting on this very topic this week, and I have to say that I don't think we live in the Information Age; rather I think when we look back, we will say that this was the Opinion Age.

Look at the news; a generation or two ago your news came primarily in the form of stories which presented information about what happened, when, where etc. However as the years have gone by we've changed to the point where most of our news is filtered through opinion. Columnists, pundits, news anchors, and yes, even bloggers report from very specific viewpoints and are not shy about presenting it as seen through their personal filters.

For an example close to home you need do no more than turn on your radio. You can listen to the news on CBC and the stories will have a distinct slant as even the terms they use will frame the story into their left-wing, labour friendly world view. Turn up the dial a bit and you can hear Rawlco talk about the same events, but their stories are framed by their right-wing, business friendly world view.

Why mention this in a blog about Faith? Because this change is one the church has to respond to. Whether we think it's good or bad, it exists and we have to take it into account when we try to reach people with the message of Jesus' love. Our society has access to more information than ever before, but people have fewer beliefs than ever.

Opinion can be reached in a moment, beliefs are built over the longer term. Beliefs stay with us over the years, rather than change with the weather. The church will have to find ways to engage the people of the Opinion Age, then hold their attention long enough to show them the basis and benefit of belief. This can only be done by respecting each person's right to their own opinion and nurturing their ability to dig (and think) deeper to find a solid foundation to build their life on. Fortunately for us, God has formed humans with an innate desire to know who they are and who they belong to. The fact that God has given us the answer to those questions gives us a great place to start!

Way Of Life

2010-02-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's been a busy couple of months for RCFC. Our little church family has been meeting and planning and preparing to start a whole new phase of our Ministry. We have adopted a new purpose statement and are awaiting government approval for a name change.

Our new purpose is: To reach out and provide a welcoming place for all people to know God's love. This purpose statement reminds us that we will not wait for people to come to us, we will engage our community with the good news that God loves each and every one of them.

The new name (providing we get our approvals) will be 'Way of Life'. If you readers have ever had to name a child, you might have an inkling of how hard it is to pick a name that says all that you want it to say!

We reviewed upwards of 80 names and many variations on them before settling on Way of Life. We believe is speaks to our commitment to do more than play at being Christian. We intend to live by walking in the Way that Jesus showed us. We intend to care for the lost, hurt, disappointed, and broken and to help them see that there is a Way that will bring you peace, fulfillment, joy and healing. That Way is Jesus.

We invite you to follow along as we continue to transform and energize our church. By the way, there will be lots of notice given before the blog URL and contact e-mail change. Thanks for reading and God bless you all!

'Til we meet again

2010-01-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

This Sunday we cancelled our weekly service due to the treacherous weather and road conditions. This rare decision prompted some reflection on why we have this weekly habit.

To people outside the church this ancient tradition looks very strange, as though we were somehow attempting to curry favour with God by going to "His" house and acting holy once per week. Perhaps we Christians bear the responsibility for propagating this false picture. It's easier to explain going to church to people as some kind of duty, but that's a false picture.

There are no "thou shalt attend church on Sunday" commandments. Christians began meeting weekly because that's what the Jews were commanded to do (and all the early Christians had been Jewish, after all). They soon began to meet on the first day of the week (Sunday) instead of the last (Saturday) to commemorate the day that Jesus returned from the grave.

We gather weekly to support and encourage one another, to show that among all the other priorities of life, we still set a day aside for God, and to learn from the Word of God. When we have a weather cancellation we miss the first one, but we can and should still do the latter two. Here's to meeting again next week!

Play and Power

2010-01-18T04:02:00.001-08:00

My apologies if this is a longish post, but there are two things I want to talk about today. Both are essential to well-rounded living, in my opinion at least :-)

The first is Play - it's good to relax and recharge the mental batteries by having some plain, simple FUN! This Friday we're having a "Fun and Games" night at the church from 6:30 to 9:00 to help people do just that. We'll have drinks and snacks out, and we'll play big-screen Wii, board games, and we have an interactive hockey trivia challenge for the sports fans. All are welcome to come and join us.

The second is Power. I talk to many people who wish that the church today was as dynamic as the stories of the early church. People long to see the Power of God manifested in the lives of His people. Truth is, you don't have to wish it. It's happening in many places, today. God has not dismantled His Power system, but we in North America have mostly gotten too comfortable to trust in and depend on God completely.

If we can trust and depend on God, we will plug in to His Power system. Like a standard power cord has three wires, God has three ways to flow His power to us. Those ways are through Prayer, Passion and Proclamation. Acts 4:31-33 shows it in action:

'After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart in mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.'

Those people were men and women just like us, men and women who relied totally on the Power of God to supply a powerful spiritual life. If you read the full text from Acts 4:23-37 you will see that they PRAYED as one, they were PASSIONATE about loving and caring for each other, and they PROCLAIMED the love of Jesus at every opportunity. I invite you to consider how we can change ourselves and our world for the better if we open up and work through these three Power sources.

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-11T06:22:00.001-08:00

Hello all, it's great to be back after a few blogless weeks - now that vacation time is over I thought I'd write about New Year's Resolutions.

Some might think I've missed the boat here, since it's the 11th of January, but this is the PERFECT time to talk about resolutions. By now over half the people who made them have broken them. That raises the question, why are resolutions so popular, yet so unsuccessful?

Some of you reading may have made resolutions and stuck with them, while others have not. The difference between the groups is in the approach. If a New Year's Resolution is a New Year wish that we make one day, it's not likely to succeed. If it's a true 'resolution' it's a decision that we make one day, and then re-commit to each and every day thereafter. Change won't happen on it's own, it will take our commitment.

Jesus talked about living up to your commitments in Luke 9:60. A potential disciple told Jesus he would give up all to follow him, then shortly thereafter asked to be let go to bury his father. Jesus said "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Jesus was not unsympathetic to the man's loss, but he was pointing out that if we make a commitment (or 'resolution') it will take dedication and follow-through to make it happen.

If you've made a resolution and are struggling, remember that you may have to re-resolve daily or even hourly to see it happen. If you've fallen off the wagon, get right back on! Today is as good a day as any to make a change that matters.

Christmas Traditions

2009-12-23T02:24:00.000-08:00

What's your favourite family Christmas Tradition? I was reminded of one of mine this week when I received a surprise package from Winnipeg; inside were two pans of "brown sugar gook" - an invention of my late grandmother Mamie. Gook sounds odd, but let me tell you it's delicious!

Christmas was always a time when my Dad would take a break from his work, work, work schedule and do some baking - and what fantastic baking it was! But none of it was more treasured or more loved by us kids than the sticky, yummy pans of brown sugar gook. My heart soared when I saw what was in the bag - I don't think I'd have appreciated it more if my Dad sent me a million dollars. To have a childhood favourite again took me back in time and that's a special gift.

As you and yours gather together this Christmas season I hope we'll all take a moment to remember what it is we truly cherish about this day. God loved so much that he sent His son to be with us, and on Christmas day we set aside all our concerns and cares and invest some time in loving each other. I hope that in all the holiday hustle and excitement, you all find some time to love, and to be loved.

This is my last post until mid-January. God bless you all for reading in 2009 and best wishes for a fantastically blessed 2010. Feel free to share your favourite holiday traditions in the comment section!

Merciful and Mysterious

2009-12-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

During this advent season I feel that I'm particularly blessed because it's my job to reflect for an entire month on the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that Jesus brought to the world. We also remember at advent that Jesus has not completed all that he set out to do. He promised to return again and establish a permanent home where we can live with God.

If there is one thing that non-churchgoers struggle with, it's the idea of a "second coming" of Jesus. "Why didn't he fix everything the first time?" they ask. Or "Shouldn't he have said when he'd be back". Those are reasonable questions, and it's one of the enduring mysteries of faith that we don't know exactly why God set His plans the way He did.

But He did give us a reason why history is unfolding as it has. The reason is Mercy. God wanted there to be time for the life-saving message of Jesus to spread all over the globe. It's hard to understand in North America, but there are still billions of people on earth who have never heard of Jesus or anything about his message.

When will Jesus be back? I don't know, but I know that he will return. Why will he return? Because he loves us so much that he wants to save all who will call on his name. I'll leave you with the words of Peter on the subject, and invite you not to get so bogged down on the mysteries of God that you can't appreciate His loving and tender mercies. I hope that all have a wonderful and blessed week!

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2Peter 3:9

The Spirit of Christmas

2009-12-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

You could call today's entry a curve-blog (kind of like a curveball in baseball). I want to take a week off of my own musings to share the story of a group of people in Regina who are operating under the true Spirit of Christ, and Christmas.

The group is called Youth for Christ, and they are presently gearing up for the grand opening of Regina's first "U-Turn" facility. A U-Turn home provides a "family" living situation for youth at risk of becoming permanently homeless. All the clients must agree to attend school or work regularly and the goal is to give them a "hand up" rather than a hand out. The home will help the kids develop the skills that will move them from dependence to independence.

Youth for Christ will operate the home year-round (not just at Christmas) and this kind of investment in the poor and neglected among us is one that I'm sure Jesus applauds. If you would like to support the YFC U-Turn project, RCFC is accepting material donations on behalf of YFC. Currently there is a great need for beds, dressers, lamps and mini-fridges for the client bedrooms, as well as dishes, pots, pans, cutlery, cups, baking sheets to outfit the kitchen. Also needed are cleaning supplies, first aid supplies and non-perishable food items. YFC can also arrange to pick up larger items like furniture directly from your home.

Our church phone number and e-mail are listed at left, feel free to contact me if you have anything you'd like to share with YFC.

A Baby, Yes...but so much more

2009-11-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend marked the start of Advent for most Christian churches. During the advent time we reflect on the giving nature of Jesus and on his amazing mission to bring us life everlasting. The Baby Jesus is a natural focus of Advent, since babies represent all that is good, hopeful, joyous, loving and promising in the world.

Without taking anything away from the babyness of Jesus I encourage all of us to consider the second meaning of advent. Yes, Jesus came to bring a new relationship to God. He also taught us, as no teacher in history ever did, the right way to treat our fellow humans.

He did much more than that, though. Jesus also told us that life on earth is temporary, and that he would return and establish a permanent home for us. That is the second meaning of advent, the hope and expectation that Jesus will return. When he does, he will remove all sickness, disease, pain, tears and suffering from the world. He will establish a new kingdom, and reign there in joy forever.

As you prepare for your Christmas celebration, do reflect on the amazing gifts of the baby, but also remember that Jesus is coming back one day with the gift of eternal glory for everyone who confesses him as Lord of their life.

Counting the Cost

2009-11-23T05:55:00.000-08:00

I think one of the greatest challenges for a Christian, actually for any person, period, is to do the right thing without counting the cost. We tend to naturally weigh out the cost of a course of action before we take it and decide accordingly. Some of us are natural risk takers, others are quite cautious by nature.

But it's also true that we admire people who stand up for their principles without worrying about how it will affect their health, wealth, or social position. On Sunday we looked at Telemachus, who single-handedly stopped the Roman gladitorial games - not by might or by powerful oratory, but simply by standing up and saying that it was wrong. We also looked at Joseph of Arimathea, who at great risk to himself stood up for Jesus and took care of his broken body.

Wonderful things happen when people act with integrity and lack of fear. In hindsight we say that the price these men paid was worth it, but how willing are we to pay our own price when the time comes? It's a question each person has to answer for themselves.

When the opportunity to stand up for what's good and right comes up in your life, and mine, this week, I pray we'll all act without counting the cost.

Putting God on Speed Dial

2009-11-16T06:43:00.000-08:00

If there's one theme that's been prevalent at RCFC over the past week, it's prayer. On Sunday the 15th we had a prayer vigil from noon to midnight. We prayed in conjunction with our denomination's "Pray Every Day" initiative; a program with the goal of having at least one member church praying every day, all year long.

There was a definite sense of the immanent presence of God during the whole day. It's a truly beautiful thing to gather with your brothers and sisters, sing songs of praise, and lay things at God's feet - I'd heartily recommend it!

Of course one of the most mind-boggling aspects of prayer is the simple truth that God, who created the entire universe and every single thing in it, actually wants to hear from you and me. It's amazing, but it's recorded many places in the Bible, including here. On Sunday morning we talked about what a person can do to make sure that they see results for prayer and we came up with a 3-point plan:

First is to prepare your heart - clear out the baggage and devote your heart to God.

Second is to pray in God's will - time spent with the Bible, and a dollop of good sense will help with this one.

Third is to pray God's way - Jesus taught us how to pray with the Lord's Prayer and in here in Mark.

As always, questions or comments about this post, or about prayer are always welcome. Thanks for reading and have a God-blessed week!

Fear, the Flu and What Would Jesus Do?

2009-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

I think even people living under the proverbial rock are aware of the H1N1 flu these days. There are news stories of churches that have banned handshaking and schools who have their student-athletes do "elbow bumps" so as not to transfer germs. Everyone asks the question: what is a reasonable level of precaution? How far is too far?

Germs and sickness are a reality of this life. There's no use in pretending that they can't touch us as Christians because that's untrue and unbiblical. Jesus warned us that we would face trials and difficulties in this life. Because sickness is a present reality, how we deal with it and react to it will be part of our lives as well.

The H1N1 flu has touched our church family in the past week, but that doesn't mean we will give up meeting together, caring for each other, or loving our community - far from it. Our real character is revealed in difficult times. Paul reminds us in 2Timothy 1:7, that fear is not from God. "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love".

Throughout history Christians have been moved by compassion to care for the sick and the weak, because that is what Jesus did. If he were among us today, he would still be doing the same thing. H1N1 and seasonal flu can be serious illnesses - reasonable precautions like good hygiene (the Saskatchewan government website has lots of good stuff here) go a long way to reducing the transfer of illnesses. We should all do our best to help control the spread of the flu. But the one thing we can't do is surrender to a spirit of fear.

Use It Or...

2009-11-02T03:18:00.000-08:00

Politics. A complicated word, and a topic that tends to divide people. I know that I refrain from getting political on the web or in the pulpit because I don't want political divisions to interfere with my main mission, which is to unite people in Jesus. So it's with some trepidation that I even go near a political issue, but here goes!

I couldn't help but be struck by the contrast between two political stories in the news this past week. Here in Saskatchewan we had a round of municipal elections in which barely 26% of eligible voters in our two major cities got up off the couch to go and vote. Of course there are legitimate reasons that people miss, I don't expect we'd ever get close to 100%, but 26?

In Afghanistan, they're preparing to hold a runoff election for President and the Taliban are threatening to block roads to polling stations, attack polling stations and cut off the hands of those who vote. You would think the turnout in Afghanistan would be lower than ours, for many reasons. They have no democratic tradition; no Taliban will vote; every voter is at risk of violence or death; most of the people don't have any transportation other than their feet; many women don't even register to vote for fear they will be beaten or killed. Despite all this, their voter turnout runs over 50%.

Sir Winston Churchill once famously said that "Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the others that have been tried". Could it be that voter apathy will one day lead to Canada experiencing "one of the other" forms of government? I don't think most people want that, but if we stay home we will get government that cares only for the opinion poll instead of the ballot box, and that means a government more likely to manipulate you than serve you. I wish I had an easy solution, but then I said politics is complicated, didn't I?

What Makes a Man?

2009-10-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

I was at a conference this past weekend and they showed a video. In the video they were doing man-in-the-street interviews, asking "What makes a man, a man?" It was funny for the audience to see guys struggle to explain, and to hear the answers like "when I started shaving", "when I paid my own bills", or even "when I lost my virginity".

When the video ended, the speaker did an unfunny thing: he asked us in the audience to discuss this question in small groups and see what we thought the answer would be. We all agreed that only God can make a man, but we couldn't decide what was the one defining thing that drew the line between "boy" and "man" (or "girl" and "woman" for that matter).

We finally decided it comes down to fingers. Yes, I said fingers! You see, when things go wrong a boy points fingers all around to try and deflect blame or find a scapegoat. A man points at himself and asks: what could I have done differently? A boy may make the same mistake over and over because he refuses to take ownership of what he's done. But a man rarely will.

If you can think of a better definition/dividing line to tell us what marks the difference between a child and an adult, I invite you to post a comment and share your ideas! I'm sure the others from the conference would like to see what ideas you have. Thanks for reading and have a blessed week!

Hope; a love story

2009-10-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hope is a short little word but this week our church has learned that there's a lot of depth behind it! We've heard stories of hope from people who had good reasons to give up. People who could easily have surrendered to hopelessness. Their stories take place half a world apart but still have one thing in common.

Our ladies attended a conference where Eloise B. shared her story of joy and forgiveness in the face of a brutal attack on she and her husband. They found the drive to persevere and survive because of their hope to bring the love of Jesus to Kenyans.

On Sunday we all heard the story of Paddy F, a young woman from the US Midwest. She lost her Dad to a permanent brain injury at three, was abandoned by her remaining family at eight and shuffled from foster home to foster home for years. Yet Paddy was able to make a home filled with love for her own family, after she found hope in her relationship with Jesus.

Through Jesus, all humanity shares the hope for a better present and a glorious future. If you are struggling with hopelessness I urge you to read 1Peter chapter 1, it illustrates the hope Jesus brings. If you have questions about hope or need someone to pray with you, please contact us.

Making the First Move

2009-10-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Christians often talk about the difficulties we face in sharing the Love of God with our neighbours. There are hurdles to be overcome to be sure, but I often think we use them as excuses for not reaching out to people.

I read a piece by a pastor recently who was leading a seminar on "reaching the community" to a group of churches. At the end of the day he asked if anyone wanted to try out the techniques they'd learned. He was greeted by a forest of raised hands. Then he told them he wanted to practice the techniques "at the local bar" and all the hands went down.

It seems that as Christians we'd rather wait for people to make the first move, and THEN we'll love them. But God gave us an advantage so we don't have to wait. The Bible tells us every human heart has a built-in yearning for God - that's why almost everyone has questions about spirituality, eternity etc. That advantage means that Christians can make the first move.

People who've never been to church or have left the church are often afraid - they won't reach out to us unless we reach out to them. This week, you may be in a situation where you want to talk about Jesus, and your heart says "do it" but your fears, emotions and your intellect say "don't". If you are, please leave your comfort zone behind. Follow your heart and make the first move.