What's Wrong in Babylon? Racism and Diversity

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Here is a link to my new post on my New Blog!

Iranian Pastor's Letter!

If you made it here than simply click the link below to my new and fresh blog. Go ahead and subscribe to it.

http://bcrain.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/pastor-imprisoned-by-the-iranians/

From Proving Christianity to Living It.

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This is the link to the new post at the new blog.

Blog has moved

New Post http://bcrain.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/hope-in-the-curse/ Hope in the Curse.

Moving this Blog

Hey Everyone. I would like to say thanks so much for reading my blog! I have been working on something exciting and would like to invite you to join me on my new blog. It is again called Frequent Thoughts, but the layout is better and such. For now I will be posting the links to the new blog each time I write one, but soon I will be archiving this blog for the sake of the new and improved one. So go ahead, take a look bcrain.wordpress.com Read the intro blog and enter in to everything.

The benefit of this new one is that you can comment using your Facebook account! So I am looking forward to my blog being a bit more interactive! Click here to go there!!

Old People - What good are they?

 Old people are Old. It sounds fitting for a children's story. When we think old people we think Dentures, grey hair, wrinkles, decay, illness, doctor visits, extra care. All in all, old people consume time and money. Just think of all the baby boomers and their children whom will be and are cashing in on old age pension while we flip the bill. Let's admit, there are a lot of old people. In most of our communities in canada there are large populations of elderly. 

When we age we often think, "I am a whole year older," and before we know it we are 65 and complaining about it. One time, I ran into someone who said it like this: "I have live 50 years." A simple change, but their birthday was a celebration of a life, of a history, of a story. 

Let's think for a moment all us young-ins (cause let's admit, not many old people will be reading this), what does it mean to be old? It means we have a story. It means that the 65 year old lady has had the privilege of living 65 years of a story. What is that story?

You've seen them. They are in grocery stores or malls, or even walking down the street with a walker or taking baby steps to get around. Instead of thinking of Euthanasia, have you thought, "I wonder what their story is?" Next time you go out, do just that. Instead of thinking how they are slowing you up in line because they forgot their pin number or don't know how to use their debit card, wonder. Wonder where they have been and what they have seen. 

In the past year I was recently surprised when talking to an elderly lady who I lived close to. One day we finally had a conversation and I found out she was a world traveler. I am not sure her age, but she has lived a full life story. 

I worked at a church in New Brunswick for a summer and had prayer meetings every Tuesday morning. They ended up being Tuesday's with Chester. Chester was this kind elderly man who sat near the back of the church. I remember praying for his wife, only to find that she passed away. He is a gentleman who has story after story of seeing God work in his life and of traveling around to preach. I am sure we did more talking than praying, but at the end of the summer I looked back to see the rich experience I had in community with this gentleman pushing 80 years, 80 years of life! 

So is this an argument for the elderly? Yea, in a way. But, it's also a reflection on a view we hold of age. What does it mean to get old? Does it mean to get dentures, grey hair, and life in a retirement home? No. It means more opportunities for life. More opportunities to build upon your life. We often will say, "That'll be a great story for the grandchildren." What legacy will we leave behind?

My thoughts regard the church and the christian. First, the community of the church needs all ages. Like I needed Chester, Chester needed me. Together we grew. I saw his experience, he saw my vigour for experience. We stirred one another in the faith. How often do we ask people to tell their story? Second, each christian has a story. A story to share and story to live. What is your story? 

At one point, Paul was asking if he needed a letter of recommendation for the Corinthians or if they needed a letter. Paul has been here before. This is his second letter to the Corinthians! Imagine the letter of recommendation, "Dear Ariniastus, Paul is legit man! Welcome him." Paul says this, "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ" (1 Cor 3:2-3a). 

As we walk our christian walk, we are forming a letter of recommendation, a letter from Christ to each other and to the world. This means, we have something to offer. A bit later, Paul tells us more of this letter but calls it a jar. This jar holds a treasure. The jar is nothing and can easily brake. Its privilege is holding the treasure. The letter's privilege is what is written on it. We have a story. If we have Christ in our lives who has given us life, then our story is pretty legit. It is one full of hope. Often we look at our lives forgetting where we have been. We think we have nothing to offer, but as christians and the church we do. In fact we have more than something, we have the message of Christ. So again I ask, What is your story?

Our King's Coming: Apocalyptic to Prophetic

Click the Title to hear the audio message.

Have you ever asked the question, "What is the gospel according to Jesus?" It's a bizarre question with him being the gospel. But I was intrigued when I first saw Mark 1:15, "'The Time has come', [Jesus] said. 'The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.'" This 'good news' is the same word and meaning as gospel. Jesus' gospel is that the kingdom is near.

When thinking about the end times, my mind automatically drifts to movies like, I am Legend or Day After Tomorrow, or even 2012. My mind drifts towards apocalypse. The problem with that obsession is the focus it gives for life today. Christianity becomes about getting to heaven, instead of the richness of a life giving God who has come and is coming to save the world. There is an in-breaking reality of the kingdom that gives us hope. This is the prophetic view of the end.

We tend to have hope in a heaven that we will enter when we die, but if that is our only hope then why even live today. Our hope of heaven is not something far removed, but a very present in-breaking reality. His kingdom is here and coming. We see it whenever we see someone healed, someone saved, someone freed, someone restored from guilt, pain, or oppression.

Revelation 21 gives a great depiction of a new heaven and a new earth. When I read it, I begin to think this: I see glimpses of this today. I see glimpses of God dwelling with man. I see glimpses of him taking away tears and mourning. These are all proof that God's kingdom is near. This brings me hope to live in today. This gives me hope to be an ambassador for that Kingdom.

This was the topic of this weeks message. Take a listen if you so desire.

Our King's Command: Love One Another

Here is Last weeks Message that came from my blog.
Matt 22: 34-40 & John 13:31-38 are the texts to begin this message.

Click the title to check it out.

Below are the two blog posts that coincide with my message.

Part Two: Loving as Christ  http://pskip.blogspot.com/2011/08/loving-one-another-pt-2-love-as-christ.html
Part One: Loving Yourself http://pskip.blogspot.com/2011/08/love-one-another-loving-yourself.html

Loving One Another Pt 2: Love as Christ Loves Us

Two days ago I posted about Loving One Another: Loving Yourself. Today I want to take that a step further because you can't love others simply by loving yourself. There is more to it of course. So here it is: to love one another we must love ourselves in Christ and love each other through Christ.

We are to love as Christ loves us, but the question is how? How can I possibly love as Christ loves us? How does Christ love us?

Through looking at the conversation in John 13:31-38, here is my observation:

The conversation is about Christ leaving. The command to love one another is in the middle. Peter quickly comes back in saying, “wait wait wait!! Where are you going?” 

Jesus then says that Peter will not follow him now, but will later. Where did Christ go after this?  The answer is simple. He went to the cross and to the father. 

Peter ironically says he’ll follow Jesus even if it costs him his life. Though Jesus responds by questioning Peter’s devotion, Jesus knows Peter will follow him. Later Jesus reinstates Peter (after Peter disowned Jesus) saying this: ‘“I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God’ (John 21:18-19a).  

What did Jesus mean then when he said that the disciples could not come now but will later? He meant that he was going to die for them (and the world). And then go to be with the Father.  Later they would die for him and the sake of his kingdom. 

Back up now. What does it mean to love one another as Christ loved us? Christ laid down his life for his friends. This is how he has loved us. He gave his life for us. Is this not our call as brothers and sisters in Christ: to give our life for one another. When we give a cup of water we bless Christ. Jesus said this: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus then calls us friends, not servants . . . if we do his command. What is his command? “Love each other” of course (John 15:17).

This is a sacrificial thing. This thing called love is not mere feelings, but actions. When you have a child it takes time, money, time, money, care, time, money. This is a sacrifice. This is love. When you promise to love your spouse for better or worse it means to sacrifice for them in better and worse. We get lazy in the better part and forget to love our spouses. Then, when it comes to worse we have forgotten that love takes work. If we would only love, sacrifice ourselves on behalf of the other, in the better times, I bet we would see less divorce and pain in marriage in the worse of times. This is just a theory. 

This is the same for the church. If we would love one another more in the better times, there would be less church splits in the worse. There would be less offense in the worse. The Karen people of Burma take a while before they trust you. But when they do, it is for life. If you screw something up, they don’t stop being your friend. They forgive and move on, because they trust you and know you make mistakes. 

This is not the same for our culture. We are easily offended people and do not let people into our lives. We are protective wolves, guarding our very hearts. If someone gets a bit close and we see them make a mistake we instantly put our guard back up. This is especially true for a church who has lost many pastors in the past ten years. The trust is not there. 

I see that many churches are good at guarding. This is a great thing. Protection is key to a community. But what about when it comes to letting someone in to the most private areas of your life. I know that I have problems sharing with people the secrets and painful areas of my life. I can deal with it on my own. Pause! What am I doing? I am not allowing other people to love. I am not sure our problem is that we do not love one another. I believe our problem is that we don’t want anyone to love us. We crave it and cry for it at night or when no one is watching, but yet we are terrified to let people in and sacrifice for us. After all, what if they hurt me?  

My answer: We need to grow up. We need to not worry when people hurt us and we must continue to love, continue to be open for love. If you are perfect then stop reading this because I am only talking to the majority, known as the imperfect. 

Jesus’ Answer to “What if they hurt me?” is this: Forgive as I have forgiven you. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all apart of one head: Christ. We don’t have love, but once again, like loving ourselves, we can love with the love of Christ. Look at how he has loved us. Absorb his love into your system and let it flow from you. “This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us.” So then, “let us love one another, for love comes from God” (1 John 4). Remain in Christ and his love and you will be able to love one another. In fact, you wont be able to help but love.

Love One Another: Loving Yourself

Jesus gave a new command to his disciples the night before he was crucified. I can imagine how emotionally charged the night would have been: he just showed the disciples how to serve each other by washing their feet, then Judas is filled with satan and leaves to betray Jesus. Then, we are back to Jesus says, “Love one another,” and “I am leaving guys and you can’t come . . . yet,” all in the same breath.  

My question is, “How do we love one another?”

Earlier, Jesus gave the greatest commandment: Love God with everything & Love your neighbor as YOURSELF. You must love yourself? How is this different than selfishness? This is a struggle for most of us. What is loving myself if it is not being a bit selfish sometimes? 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8) 

Loving yourself is different because God gives us his pure love. When we are of the world our love for ourself becomes obsession.  We get addicted to loving ourself and loving ourselves becomes at another’s expense (especially our loved one’s). This is why Christ gave the command to love another so many times: to eliminate selfishness. Other places he tells us to deny ourselves. How can we both love and deny ourselves? Generally, we know how to love ourselves right? The problem is not loving others.

I’m not sure if their is a difference between Christ’s time and now when it comes to this command, but sometimes the reason we cannot love one another is because we have no idea how to love ourselves. Maybe it is a form of selfishness, but it looks different. 

These are the people who get angry at themselves easily. These are the people who cannot find motivation to make a meal for themselves when there is no one to eat it with. And further, they want to get out and exercise, but why does it matter? There is not much purpose in their lives unless they are busy. Yes, busybodies. These people need to find themselves doing something in order to have purpose. 

This has been me. At home in evenings, not wanting to eat, get out, or anything. Movies are no good. TV fails me. No patience to read. 

What do I find at the end of the day? Hate. Hate, not only for myself but, for my loved ones as well. I end up mistreating the ones I love. I don’t want to, but when I hate myself it becomes automatic to hate whoever is around me. It comes out as being short and usually not joyous. Why? Because I hate myself. 

The Result: Not obeying Christ. His command is to love my neighbor as myself, but I hate myself. The good news is that I realize my worthlessness. This is good. But where is the part when I discover the LIFE that Christ gives in my worthlessness? Yes! I have worth because he gives me life! Christ, show me this worth that I may love myself that I may love others. 

I am not alone in this. There are many many others. We need to come to a place in our christian walks where we can say, “YES I AM WORTH IT IN CHRIST!” In fact, there is a time where we need to declare it! This does not take away from God, but on the contrary, it gives glory to God. Christ died to take our sin. He died to take our worthlessness and hopelessness to give worth and hope. He ascribes it to us. He implants worth into our depravity. When others SEE how God has changed our lives and given us life, then we have lived out our purpose. Then, we can give an account for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). 

The result then is that we can love one another. We can then obey Christ’s command, the greatest command, the most repeated command I see in scripture. We need to love one another. Jesus, in the midst of betrayal and right before going to the cross, gave this command: Love one another. 

My life, and I am wondering if this is your life as well, is saying, “Sorry God, I can’t even love myself, I have no love for others. In fact, I hate myself, I am not worthy!”

In great care and in his most loving, fatherly instinct God says this: “You are worth it! I gave you worth! Was my son on the cross not enough for you? Did he die in vain?”

Let’s wake up. Let’s get out of self hate and self pity and say Yes, I am worth making this sandwich. I am worth the exercise, I am worth, rest, I am worth my job, I have worth because of Christ. Then we will love one another. Maybe it will still not be automatic, but at least we will have a great start. So how do we love one another? Love yourself with Christ’s pure love for love comes from God (1 John 4:7). Jesus says this: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love”(John 15:9). Remain in his love and you will love others.

Winnipeg: A Cross Cultural Life Change

Reflecting is helpful when attempting to live an honest life. It helps to see what went good and what has gone very wrong. Like the time I destroyed my sisters Barbie doll for sport. How was I suppose to know it wasn't for blowing up with my army men. Her head can be removed AND replaced very easily. But now I see: If you mess with your sister's Barbie doll your dad will crush your favourite Hot Wheels car.

Anyway. This reflection is on Winnipeg Challenge: A Challenge to reach out to Winnipeg with the love of Christ and to grow spiritually as well. Of course when you think missions trip you automatically think, "MEXICO" or "AFRICA." Not this time. This time we thought, "CANADA." Going, I thought we would be working with mainly muslim families in the inner city, but was I ever shocked when I realized who were working alongside: the Burmese people. Who knew? Who knew that I would be shocked to discover a new culture, shocked to find their boldness in prayer, and shocked to find that God broke my heart for them.

Most of the people in the Church we worked with are refugees. There are a large number of Karen people and some Chin as well. Both are people groups from Burma.

Here's the issue: The Burma (or Myanmar) government decided the Karen people are insignificant and are raiding their villages, raping their women, and stealing their children for soldiers. The Karen people are then displaced from their homes and farms to then be refugees in Thailand. Here is a link for a video about some of this: http://www.freeburmarangers.org/

Alongside of these beautiful people, I had the privilege of reaching out to their city: Winnipeg. We did prayer walks, met people, invited them to puppets, movie night, music, climbing wall, games and even to church. We learned about Islam and Buddhism. We reached to prostitutes and homeless. Is it not ironic that we were not reaching out to the Karen people, but working with them? They have seen the love of Christ in finding themselves alive from gunfire and raiders. They have seen, therefore they show the love and character of Christ.

I was blown away by all of this. This was a refresher because I had to leave my wife at home. Though we talked every day, it was difficult to understand why she had to stay behind. She did the paper work, paid the money, everything. Then this stunned me more: About 5 or 6 years ago my wife went on a missions trip to Thailand and you'll never guess where she spent a bunch of time. She spent it with the Karen Villages that are displaced in Thailand. God stunned me. He wanted to give me an experience and a heart for the Karen and Burmese people, similar to Nadine's experience. I am still blown away by God's wisdom.

There is too much to write, but there are two main reflections I observed: 1) The irony of working WITH the Karen and Chin people and 2) God giving me a similar experience to Nadine's.

Rest & Sabbath

Sometimes Monday is so hard. Monday could help to be a bit more subtle and lot more gentle in its approach. It just smokes you directly in the face sometimes. As a pastor, I have chosen Thursday as my day off, therefore making Monday the middle of my week in a way. But, yet it's still Monday.

Okay, enough banter. The stage is set. Monday's are set, but here's the bigger issue: Rest. What is rest and how do we do it?

I lasted through a few seminars once on rest and how sleeping and lying around actually is not necessarily rest. Leisure activities are actually sometimes more rest than sleeping. For example, for me I love hiking. When I hike I get energized and can do anything. Literally. I am like superman at this point.

After this type of rest there is different rest. Its called Sabbath rest. It is sometimes difficult to enter into this rest and I don't really understand it fully yet. So, in this case I give you the scripture to let it speak:

"It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of disobedience. Therefore God sent again a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.' For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:6-13)

There it is: there remains a rest and we must make every effort to enter it. That rest seems to be when we enter eternity. My question is this: Since we become saved now, can we also begin to enter His rest now? I am not sure about you but I am tired and I get tired of running a race.

For people like me, this rest is my hope to press on. This is my hope for life. Like hiking energizes, I pray so will the hope of rest. God grant us peace in the mundane and encouragement in this race.

It's funny. I took a break from this blog post and just came back. I had a sweet chat with a spiritual mentor and bam, rest. Sometimes it takes someone, filled with the Spirit, to show you the hope that you already have. Thanks God, today you gave me sabbath rest in some strange way.

Update on Mom: It keeps comin!

After her last tests this past Thursday, you can probably guess the results: Clean!! The cancer is completely gone! Like yesterday. Like Elvis and his mom.

The only other thing is she has double pneumonia. That's not the best news, but God and antibiotics should help that. Cancer is gone and we are praising God. The God who still does miracles, as the doctor said.

It's amazing how this can reflect in one's life. This past Sunday I lead the music in the worship service. And I have never believed the words more than this week!

"Stronger, you are stronger! Sin is broken, you have saved us. It is written, 'Christ is Risen.' Jesus, you alone are God!"

"I am free to run, I am free to Dance, I am free to live for you." "Through you the bling will see. Through you the mute will sing. Through you the dead will rise. Through you all hearts will praise. Through you the Darkness flees. Through you my heart screams, 'I AM FREE.'

"You are the source of life"

He is exalted, the King is exalted on High, I will praise him!"

When God works in your life to this magnitude, there is nothing to do but praise him. Never have I found more hope!

Green Lantern: Overcome Fear

Last week I bought a new wallet after losing my pay check. The wallet is my favourite yet. It makes me feel powerful and courageous. It's a Green Lantern Wallet!! Needless to say, as I sat at the movie theatre my instinct was to raise my wallet high in the air as Hal Jordan repeated his oath as he faced major evil:

“In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil’s might, Beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!"

I was full of courage and strength at that point in the movie. Before this point we saw Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) face the elders to contradict their wisdom. Their wisdom says that Will power is the opposite of Fear, thus a Green Lantern must never have fear. Hal Jordan faced the elders with his new found lesson: Being without fear is impossible. True power is having courage to overcome fear. This is why the ring chose Hal, the over confident, quitter, non caring human, courage. 

I couldn't help but being encouraged at this point. Yes, its about admitting fear and overcoming it. Don't ignore fear. It will overtake you. Fear has less power when admitted. A part of fear's power comes from it being hidden, put in darkness. We have shame in fear. Scripture is clear when it says God "will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart" (1 Cor 4:5). throughout scripture God brings to light the deeds of darkness. Darkness is the hidden. And the hidden loses its power when it is exposed. Expose fear and find courage. 

Here is Green Lantern's fallout: Where is our courage? Oprah would be happy with the self and the will being all that is needed to overcome fear, but is that so true? Fear when in the open still has power. But, that is because we have to define what 'the light' truly is. Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). 

Sorry Hal, there is no exposer of darkness without Christ as the light. Darkness is still hidden until exposed to the one true light. We overcome fear by courage found in the power of Christ. In him we have courage, not in self. 

Overall, loved the movie. Graphics may have been a little much, but how else do you portray another world? Interestingly, my wife wanted more action. I thought that there could have been more, but character development was important. 

B+

Mom Update: A Miracle Bigger than Green Lantern

Here's how last Thursday went down:

Mom had to be in the hospital at 6:30 for her biopsy. Open rib cage kinda deal. After a preliminary test, they did it again, and again, and again. After the four preliminary scans they left the room for a half hour. My Mom thought something was terribly wrong. The doctor came back and said, "There was a tumor, but it's gone. This doesn't happen." He exclaimed! "This is a miracle," Finished the doctor, "you can go home."

Praise God that he still heals and that he still works. Through all the doubt and pain and sorrow, God pulls through. Is is greater, stronger, bigger than anything we can imagine. Green Lantern is a superhero from DC who, in whatever he imagines, can make appear through the power of Green Lantern's light. Even the Green Lantern can not imagine bigger things than God. I wish I could express an illustration or an anecdote to tell the greatness of God, but I fail, the world fails.

In the end all I can pray is this: God show me more of you that I may stare at your abyss of greatness!

This thursday Mom has one more test to check her whole body for more cancer. Pray saints of God, Pray!

An update on Mom

So last thursday my Mom had her Planning meeting and found out that the doctor who diagnosed her did not have the proper testing to do so. It could be an infection. Now we await testing which begins on the 21st I believe. Thanks for your prayers!

Sickness & Death: A Reflection

As I ponder bad news from last week I begin to first wonder, "What is profound that I am learning?" The answer is, "I don't know?" But, here's what I observed.

I knew my mom was going in for and waiting on results from a CAT scan. I knew my mother was not 100% in her health, but I couldn't remember a time when she was. So the news Last Monday was, in some ways, not a shock. In some ways it was a relief to know what it was. But the intensity of the illness was a shocker. It was lung cancer.

In talking with my sister about this, both of us recounted how we were in some strange way prepared for this. It was as if we knew a little before the news hit. Nevertheless tears flowed everywhere.

It was interesting being at work alone when I got the news. I was talking to my mom on the phone and it hardly was real. Reality sometimes takes a little while to hit. After her crying and wishing I wasn't 5 large provinces away, we prayed. It was in this prayer that I found strength. I found myself dwelling on the power of Christ. The reality of my one post on prayer hit me. My prayers do not hit the ceiling. They go to a God who loves to hear and answer my prayers.

The next step is waiting (yet another of my posts). Of course, I am not the one with cancer so it is not as intense, but she is my mom. I'll never forget the cry of my sister on the phone when she said, "I can't live without mom." For some, they would sense suicide or depression, but I knew it was simply deep love for our mom. Only our spouses top our connection with mom. She's mom.

We wait for a doctor's appointment and a more thorough diagnosis to better gauge how to treat this cancer.

The first person to hear this news from me was a strong lady of the faith. She in turn prayed for me and soon her husband came after she left. He came with encouragement and a reminder of this being a test of if what I preach is how I react. His gentle, sincere heart spoke to me. Of course I don't remember specifics of what he said anymore or any verse he gave me, but I remember feeling his words and prayer strengthen me.

It was after this that I wept. I felt safe with only family around. Nadine was sad she could not be there for me at that point. But after she was done work I had a chance to cry in her arms too. Grieving bad news is not bad. Its natural and extremely better than holding it in. But now what? I have grieved, so now what do I do. I stand strong in faith and hope with the love that is in me. I must shine God's light into my family.

Waiting, a lost discipline

This was intended to be just a quick post to ponder a quote I just read. Well, that was ruined. The quote comes from an article by Carey Wallace called, "On Discipline." Thanks to Comment Magazine for starring me in the face with an issue I am the worst at.

I cringe at the word discipline. I even whisper when saying, "spiritual disciplines." I feel that the very word is contradictory to life in God. But, I know I am missing something.

In the beginning of his article, Wallace is addressing writers about the art of discipline: "Choose a time to make work and hold that time inviolate, I tell them. If you lack inspiration, wait. Don't do anything else. The work will come."

Of course "the work" is their writing. And his advice is to wait. To wait. Even this morning I lack the motivation and inspiration to work on my song set for Sunday. I am procrastinating. Waiting is not my strong suit and nor is it many others'. To sit and wait is a discipline I have not conquered. Our generation is a fidgety one with short attention spans. We are stimulated by media, short commercials, amazing graphics. If a plot takes longer than 10 min to get going, we bust. If a song takes longer than 10 seconds to catch our attention its over. If a channel doesn't appeal to us in 3 seconds (channel surfing), we switch the channel. Imagine, sitting in silence for more than 5 minutes. That is a ridiculous notion. My only 5 minutes of silence is before I nod off to dream land.

Ok, so what! Well, my lack of patience and attention span steals the very time I need with God. Often, God desires us to shut down, and be silent. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Our first reaction to being still is, "this is boring." And we are gone, playing guitar, watching a movie, or facebook creeping, to our place of zen. We have a desire and an addiction to being numbed and this is dangerous.

The saying goes, "Idle hands are the devils workshop," but for our generation we don't know how to be still. The consequence is stark. Its called complacency, which leads to a generation with no future. Are we not tired of being distracted by almost meaningless things? Let's react and keep an alert mind.

This is where a discipline is useful. Silence. Its an advanced practice. Here's how to do it. "Choose a time to make work and hold that time inviolate, I tell them. If you lack inspiration, wait. Don't do anything else."

That's the advice. It's advice that can be useful for writing, music, and especially in our spiritual lives. Let's train ourselves to be still before our God. Let's not be a generation marked by complacency, but wake up from our lazy slumber. Our lives depend on it. Then watch. Watch as we experience new life in Christ. We'll discover that in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17) and that he gives life and life to the full (John 10:10b). The life God gives us is beyond compare. This is what we miss out on when we don't wait.

The Perfect Church

Here is my sermon on The Perfect Church where I analyze what it means to be the church. Ironically, as I was about to post this sermon I read a blog from a brother in Christ, Jon Coutts, that challenged me about the role of sermons online vs within a service. I advise you to read up on it: http://thissideofsunday.blogspot.com/2011/05/podcast-sermons-preaching-out-of-place.html

In light of all of that. Click the title to go to my latest sermon. haha.

Is Prayer a Copout? Praying for Slave Lake

In a recent prayer event there was a speaker who was talked about and celebrated. The prayer breakfast, which was a huge community event for the Mayor and Reeve, was poorly attended. I believe the speaker came to draw more of a crowd. Well, I'm not sure it worked. But in the midst of this a very important question came out; Is prayer not enough?

Today I ponder that question in light of the destruction of Slave Lake, Alberta (Click title to see story). This town of 6700 people went under fire early today. In an interview (of a man in charge I think), this man spoke of how many people were coming to help this ill fated town. My heart pounds with desire to make a difference in these types of situations. So what can I do?

At the end of the interview, the man asked if the reporter would say a prayer for Slave Lake today. I could not help but think, YES! I will pray. Often prayer is a tag on to "actual" help, but for the this man prayer was not an add on, but an emphasis. Prayer is not a copout. Its effective. But, until we realize that we are not simply praying to the ceiling or the sky our prayers are few and far in between. I dare you to believe. Believe in the God that cares for his people. Believe in the God who created and sustains the universe. Col 1:15-17; James 5:16.

Royal Wedding, Royal Burial? Prince William vs Osama

So I wasn't going to post on the Royal wedding, but in light of yesterday's events I decided it was appropriate.

Normally, I am all in favor of a monarch and love the image of the Queen (King one day). I love the image of hope that Her Majesty brings to the commonwealth. What I am unsure of is the intense media, money grab that this marriage event became. Why not capitalize right? Bobble heads, and magazines now flood the earth with their potent toxins.

Then I think about last night. A royal (at least to his followers) was killed. Osama Bin Laden was found out in this intense operation and his body was taken. Celebrations struck the earth (or at least America). Hollywood will capitalize on this and movies will be made. Obama is a hero!

What is my point in all of this? Royalty. One is celebrated, one is murdered. Of course they are completely different people, and one has killed more than the other. But, yet . . . I couldn't help but think of both in relativity to another. Maybe the combined nature of both reminded me of My king.

Jesus was Celebrated by many and then killed. It's seems ironic to me.

We can love and hate in the same weekend, but call it all celebration. Not sure where I am going, and should probably think more before posting, but maybe it deserves some thought and maybe you have thoughts of why this caught my attention???

Prayers and Post Resurrection

I just was thinking about after the resurrection. But, let me back up to my Easter weekend first.

Last week I prayed and preached that God would bring me through the journey to the cross with him. I knew full well what would entail on Friday and Saturday. And there was hope for what would happen on Sunday, but Monday. . .

Friday and Saturday were not that good of days for me. Friday I experienced a low. You know them. Those days where it ends and you feel like . . . death. Exactly. On Saturday, during my day of waiting, I realized why I was feeling death. It was because I asked to be taken on that Journey with Christ.

Sunday came and I did feel excitement and joy and when confronted about these bubbles inside I could do nothing but express joy.

But, its Monday. What does that mean? I feel weird. Just like the disciples maybe. A bit in shock of, "What now?"

My prayer is that I live in the power of his resurrection. I hope I live as if Christ is in me because he is. All authority has been given to him. He has defeated death and gives life. I desire to life. Oh Monday. You give hope for Tuesday. As the reality of the resurrection sets in, may I be consumed by our Lord.

Joining the King

Here is the sermon I preached from my last blog post. It is missing the first few minutes so I'll recap here to get you started.

We begin this Journey with Christmas and see how a little baby changes everything. We then journeyed through JEsus' life, seeing him reach out to the least and humble the greatest. Now we see Him at the beginning of a Journey, one that could cost Jesus, the Son of God, his very life. My question for this message is simple: Will we join him?

I then show how Chapter 20 of Matthew and the beginning of this "Triumphal" entry is actually weird and awkward at first glance. He's trying to predict his death and the Son's of Zebedee send their Mother to get them a place of honour with Jesus. Jesus then teaches about servanthood. This is where the message begins.

Journey to the Cross

Before I preach this on Sunday I need to think it out a bit more. As I read the accounts on Jesus' Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and prepare to preach on it this Sunday I can't find too much of a conclusion. But Then I had this thought: That's because its the beginning of Jesus' Journey.

Often, we, as preachers, find ourselves striving to find a major point to take from the text. And If we don't we feel as though we are failing the congregation. But, what about failing scripture. We fail scripture when we read INTO scripture. Sometimes there isn't a profound statement at all.

Maybe the profoundness in this Palm Sunday event is simple: Will we follow Jesus to Jerusalem? Weird right? Jesus is coming to the great city of Jerusalem and people are expecting him to take the throne to be King. Ironically, Jesus shows up on a foal of a donkey, not a powerful horse. The Jews were wrong, right? Well partly, maybe their timing was a bit off. I am still waiting for my coming King to take the throne!

This ironic story ends with no conclusion. In Luke we find Jesus weeping as he comes to Jerusalem for the people with no resolution. In Matthew the story ends abruptly by answering who this person is, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Mark ends it with "Hosanna." Clearly, this not the end of the story. It's the beginning of the climax of Jesus' purpose: The cross.

The simple, profound question for us is this: Will we take this life taking journey with him. Do we have what it takes to go into Jerusalem, be abandoned by our own people, beaten, and left to die? This is the journey, can we take up our crosses and follow him?

Do Love and Live

Check out this message on Luke 10:25-37: The testing expert and eternal life!

Brokenness in Communion with God

Here is my sermon from a few weeks ago. Just trying a podcast option so I can add my messages in audio form. Click on the Title and it will take you there.

The Gospel: Broken People in Communion with God

As I studied John 3 for the first time for a sermon this past Sunday, I felt the heaviness of God. I was excited and discovered many things in this popular passage that I never expected and never heard preached from this passage before.

One of the first things I noticed was the ridiculous analogy of life in Christ as being "born again." Like Nicodemus, I reflected on the practicalities of being born and even one day having my own baby being born. Naturally I ventured to Wikipedia as my reliable source of all knowledge. I discovered the intense process of giving birth with all the turns of the child and dilation and the fainting of the husband (I think that was in there). Through all of that I noticed a section on my job as a calm husband. Apparently I can reduce the pain and chance of a c-section.

Anyway. I then reflected on learning all over again. Walking, talking, eating, morals, lifestyles, relationships. Nope. I am sure that I don't want to do that all again. But, unless we are born again in the Spirit, then we cannot even see the Kingdom of God. Ok. Fine. I need to be born of the Spirit.

The next thing I noticed was the blindness of Nicodemus

, this teacher and ruler of Israel and how we are often blind like him. In verses 10-13 Jesus asks him how he doesn't get this to then tell him that the Son of Man was standing in front of Him. If only the Son of Man has descended to heaven, who else can tell us of heaven but the Son of Man? Of Course! What causes us to not see and believe God for what he says?

Pride.... Just like the Pharisees. Pride, but we call it truth. That's what the Pharisees did. They had "truth" and held it over people. We do the same thing. In arrogance and pride we take truth, say we know it, and lord it over people, condemning others for not having the truth. I am guilty of being this way and have battled with it.

Is being wrong so wrong? Romans says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." We are all wrong and sinful. If being wrong is the wrong place to be in then we miss the next part in this chapter. God sent His Son for the wrong and evil ones.

Next, Jesus tells Nicodemus and us that the Messiah's first job on this earth was to save men, not judge them. This is what the Pharisees miss. Jesus' mission was focused the first time. Salvation of those who are already condemned.

Here's the last thing I noticed. Verse 21 is GOLDEN! When our life is exposed to God like spilled water is exposed to a clothe, he soaks it up through His Son and uses His mighty hands to squeeze it out. All our deeds are wrought, or carried through God. Whether good or bad, our deeds go through God. A healthy christian walk is one in full communication with God, even while we sin. Then God can purify us. We are broken people attempting communion with God.

So let's lose our pride (we hide as truth) and allow each other to be broken people in communion with God together.

Prayer - The art of falling in love

Prayer is such a funny thing. Throughout my life I have watched people be passionate, swaying and give many words on one spectrum and solemn, still, and monotone on the other. I always believed the one that was most passionate were more spiritual. Boy was I ever wrong.

I still love the passionate and love being passionate. And nor do I think that the solemn man has it figured out either. Here's what I have discovered: Prayer is being in love.

Matt 6 tells us that babbling is no way of being heard by God. Nor is standing on street corners for people to hear your "righteous" prayers.

I also used to believe that you got what you wanted when you prayed. Jesus did teach that after all, didn't he? There are several times in the Gospel of John where Jesus says "I will give you whatever you want if you have faith" (my paraphrase John 14-16). Honestly, I still struggle with unanswered prayer. But I always have to come back to the reason we pray: Why do we pray anyway?

The answer is easy: Because we are in love. If we look at those passages in John a bit closer and add that with Matt 6, we see that surrounding them are passages that say things like this: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you whatever you ask I will give to you" (John 15:7). The purpose of prayer is not to use God to get what I want, but to fall in love with him to pray what he wants. "Your kingdom come. Your will be done." Our hearts become God's heart.

Why do you think we pray "in Jesus' name?" We are praying in the authority and power of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. He has given us that authority and we are now Christ's ambassadors, carrying his Spirit and his authority (2 Cor 5:20). When we pray in Jesus' name, we surrender our feeble will and take up the powerful will of God. When we pray in Jesus' name we begin to see what it looks like for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.

That's why we pray.

Youth Quake Link

Here is the link for the messages given at Youth Quake. http://www.briercrest.ca/bcast/

Check it out!

YQ Review: Identity

Thanks to all who came to YQ!!! Most of us are sick or have been from this weekend. I want to review a bit of the happenings on the weekend with everyone who came and to update those who didn't.

Let's start with AJ's beautiful Outfit

Joking. But, in honesty it was pretty cool to see him cry over the work God had done over the weekend.

Let's talk Grant Fishbook and the amazing messages that were uttered speedily.

Honestly, he was a fast talker and at times difficult to keep up with. Besides criticizing his form, let's look at the message. First, know that all his messages will be on Briercrest's website, under podcasts, very soon!

The first two message had everything to do with Identity. The idea that, in Christ we have a new identity. Just like God changed Jacob's name from the trickster to wrestles with God and overcomes! God names him Israel! That man, a man who was so corrupt and sick with sin was transformed by God to give birth to the great nation of Isreal. His name bore the name of an entire nation. When we come to God, repenting of our sin, God gives us a new identity. He makes us new beings. God names us (here I can picture Grant's thumbs up as he numbers them) "My Child," and a few others that slip my mind. Can you help me out? What are some names God gives us?

In finding this new identity we have to throw our current identity to God and pick up the new one, like Moses threw his identity in his staff to the ground and picked up his new one, trusting in God that the snake would not bite him. What are the implications of this you may ask?

YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. We try to rule our lives the best we can but in reality we belong to God. His blood has paid for us and he gives us our new identity and life (1 Cor 6). I dare you to read that chapter and see for yourselves. And see how good it is that we are not our own. This is not a tragedy, but a blessing. Check it out.

As scared as the Groundhog

Feb 2nd was a grand day. The sun was shining, the snow was glistening. Then, in a moment, chaos broke out. The groundhog saw his shadow. Terrified as he was, he leaped back into his whole in fright of the darkness cast by himself. Thus, he predicted 6 more weeks of winter.

The issue is this: The Historic Foundation of Canada did a test within 13 cities from the past 30-40 years and found that the groundhog is only successful 37% of the time. If only he realized the sun caused his shadow then he may be more credible. Huh...

Ephesians 5 talks about a load of rules we are to follow. Though not as ridiculous as the groundhog rule, the passage can sound like our mom is down our throats telling us not to have sex and stop swearing or I'll wash your mouth out with soap. Feel my wrath!!!!! The problem isn't the rules or discipline, its the fact that we have no idea why there are rules.

Verses 8-9 begin to tell us the answer. It's because "you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light." The darkness once filled our lives, but when we come to God and find ourselves in His grace, he fills us with his light and we become light's for God and we must not put it under a bowl (Matt 5).

The Ephesians passage has a dilemma: It says we are light, but yet calls us to be light. If we are light why are we not being light? That is exactly Paul's and God's question to us. God says, I have purified you and have called you my child. I make you holy and your name is now written in the lambs book of life. And you still live as the child of darkness I redeemed you from.

Here's the issue we face: We get scared of our own shadow, just like the groundhog. And are wrong 37% or more of the time. If only it were the opposite. We get scared that there is still darkness in our lives and we hide from it instead of facing it. If only we realized that the only way we see sin and darkness in our lives is because God reveals it to us (1 John 3:20). If only we saw that The Shadow Proves the Sunshine, as Relient K reminds us, then we could face our sin head on realizing its God who is shining behind us. He causes us to be light, but all we see is our own darkness!

So turn around little groundhogs, see that the Shadow proves the sunshine and let the Lord's brilliance illuminate us.

God's Will (What will you be when you grow up?)

Psalm 19 ends with a powerful prayer that admits the defeat of the self and the power of God. It is a prayer of confession that takes honour from the self and places honour where it belongs, with God.

The psalm begins with creation proclaiming the glory of God and then turns to the laws of the Lord being perfect, "reviving the soul." Next, David confesses his hidden faults and willful sins as well. Then this verse blows everything out of the water, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my rock, and my redeemer."

As I attempt to wake up each morning I also make a second attempt: to get focused. Our society pushes us to success and to "advance" in life. We are asked from a young age "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Of course this is an innocent question . . . until it becomes our obsession. I would like to answer this question, though, for all to hear. My answer is this:

PERFECT! That's right. I want to be perfect when I grow up. In Thessalonians 4 and 5 Paul redefines what God's will is for our lives or what our destiny or desires may be. Not once does it mention a where or a what, but a How. Its not where you live or what you become that is ultimately God's will for our lives, it is How we live it out. Being holy and sanctified is what matters. God's Spirit gives us this gift of holiness and sanctification. In other words, God makes us perfect in Him. Not perfect in our terms, but his. Complete in unity with God. So, one can be a plumber and still glorify God with his life, maybe better.

How can we let the Spirit do this in our lives???? Its really hard some may say. Here is some help from Colossians 4:2-6:

1) Be in Prayer

2)Be Watchful

3) Be Thankful

1) Be in Prayer because this is our direct connection with God. We must spent time with Him to be immersed in His Spirit.

2)Be Watchful in how to be God's light in a dark world. Serving others in Christ removes selfishness.

3) Be Thankful because a thankful heart is a soft heart, and God molds soft hearts. God can purify soft hearts but hard hearts He leaves alone.

So I end with this focus and Prayer as I enter this New Year: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my rock, and my redeemer!"