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?

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.

What's with the Trinity?

So I am preaching on the Trinity in the upcoming month and have been reading up in my books I have gathered over the years. Here are some valuable quotes when considering this intense doctrine:

"The Way God is revealed and experienced in history corresponds with the way in which God actually is" A.E. McGrath summarizing Karl Rahner

"The 'mystery of salvation' happens first; then we move on to formulate doctrines concerning it"

A.E. McGrath

Robert Jensen is not the most quotable guy but basically, The Title 'Father, Son, & Holy Spirit' is not just a means to understand the Trinity and his roles but revelations in scripture of who God is. His name is Father, Son & Holy Spirit.