Being an Agent of Hope

Tags

aboriginal Culture, aboriginal people, native culture

I read sobering article in the Globe today by Richard Wagamese.  He is a author and journalist who was born and raised a member of the Wabasseemoong First Nation in Northern Ontario. He wrote in The Globe about his struggle to run  a story telling workshop for teens in a Northern BC reserve.  He found his greatest obstacle to building community and helping teens was the total apathy that they feel toward their own future.

“Ennui.  A thousand pound word that means you simply just don’t care any more.  It’s the system that brings a people to that.  It’s the Indian Act.  It’s an imposed welfare mentality It’s generation after generation of crushing isolation and poverty.  It’s the deeply ingrained believe that there is nothing else possible and that no one sees us or cares about us anyway. “

I’ve seen glimpses of that despair in my trip to BC earlier this month. It’s not everywhere. You can’t generalize and say that everything is hopeless but you definitely know it when you see it.  I saw these works of art at the community centre and the two tell a very different story.

Now admittedly, I am no child psychologist but in this first picture I can see people and teepees, things are grounded and in scale. there are people hunting in the mountains and people down below living in the village. There is a sense of grounding and place.

The second one was is disembodied, displaced.  There are eyes but no face.  The tears make the meaning obvious but there’s more going on here.  There is dysfunction and chaos.  Just like in this picture, there are many communities who are struggling with a sense of being a displaced people.  There is a lost connection with the land and with the Creator.

Reconnecting with the Creator is so vital.  That is where I want to go when I try to help.  I want to address that missing link but what hits me first, right in the face is a complete apathy about the future.  You can’t run missions, or speak a word of peace or truth when people have no hope.  My relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in my life and I want to share that so much but I can’t even be heard by people in crisis because they have lost all hope.  Many First Nations people are undone by a surrender to the idea that this is all there is and all there ever will be.  Talk is cheap and when you’re gone I’ll still be here with this issue, and this place, the same as it has ever been.

To bring hope and to bring new life – to bring Jesus to light in the conversation we first must open the door to hope.  But how to you bring hope to someone’s life when they haven’t recognized  Jesus yet?

20 Years and Counting

Tags

Anniversary, blessings, marriage

[From Julie] May 29th marks our 20th anniversary.  I seriously can’t believe it.  I can’t believe it because I don’t feel old enough to be married this long.  I can’t believe it because I feel like I haven’t learned enough about marriage in the past 20 years and yet I’m still happily married. I can’t believe it because I still feel like a newlywed and judging by my boy’s reactions, we still behave like newlyweds (there’s a lot of kissing in our house).  I can’t believe it because I still feel like we’re at the beginning of this journey and we’re loving every minute of it.  Well, maybe not every minute but most minutes.  🙂

Still, a distant part of my brain is reminding me that it has been 20 years.  When I look at our wedding pictures I can see the difference and not just in wrinkles and wardrobe choices (a bow in my hair; what was I thinking!!).  I can remember the way I thought about marriage and about Noel and I’m thankful for the experience these 20 years have given us.  I am truly blessed better than I deserve.

I saw something on Pinterest this week that really spoke to me.  It says something very true about long lasting relationships.  This is something I can understand.  When I look at Noel, I see a man who lives passionately, is gifted in amazing ways, loves to laugh, makes life fun for me and our boys, and seeks God in everything he does.  I also see a man who’s schedule is too hectic, is sometimes short with his family, gets frustrated with people, and who’s emotions can be wildly erratic.  His best and his worst.  I love all of it because it’s the worst that defines the best and it’s the way God made him.  I am quite sure he could make his own list of my worsts and bests and he has decided to love both too.  When you choose both you are loving like Jesus loves, sacrificing the way Jesus sacrifices, and accepting someone else the way Jesus accepts us.  All our flaws and faults don’t define our marriage.  Our commitment and our forgiveness of one another is what makes the difference.

It’s hard to believe so much time has passed since we said ‘I do’ but on the other hand, we’ve done a lot of living together.  We know the value of commitment, we’ve got more perspective and more patience with each other.  I still love looking at Noel and I love watching the way the years have touched him.  I trust him more and rely on him more.  He makes getting up in the morning much more fun.  Bring on 20 more years (at least)!!

Book Review: Caring Beyond the Margins

Tags

Bible Study, Caring Beyond the margins, Homosexuality, Strength in Weakness Ministry

It would be an understatement to say that the conversation between the Christian community and LGBT community has gone poorly over the past few years. Grace and understanding are both in short supply, which is why a book like Caring Beyond the Margins is so important. Guy Hammond, founder and executive director of Strength in Weakness Ministry has written a courageous, easy to read book that provides intelligence and insight for a conversation that Christians need to be better prepared to have.

Guy shares his story, and his struggle, as a man of faith dealing with an unwanted same-sex attraction. He explains that the Christian community is often missing the point of biblical instruction on human sexuality. “The goal is not heterosexuality. The goal is holiness [through Jesus.]” (p. 35) Guy explains that the Bible teaches that each of us is tempted in various ways to make “idols” the focus of our identity. Your looks, your real (or imagined) professional hockey career, good food, popularity at school, sex, anything other than Jesus will fail if you try to make it the ultimate point of your existence. Idols will always fail to satisfy. He writes that, “having a heterosexual orientation is hardly a prerequisite to salvation … the goal that Jesus has for [same-sex-attracted person] is not that they live a problem-free, temptation-free existence, but rather that they have a relationship with Him.” (p. 69)

Guy defines his terms carefully, which in turn helps to clarify the debate. Guy describes himself as “a person with unwanted same-sex-attraction” and he subsequently defines a person who is “gay” as a person with same-sex-attraction that celebrates a homosexual lifestyle as a way that leads to human flourishing. This distinction clarifies the situation immensely. Guy goes on to explain that the Bible teaches that an actively homosexual life is sinful but being attracted to the same gender is not. An opposite-sex-attracted person (married or otherwise) must also manage unwanted sexual attraction every day with people they are not in covenant relationship with. They resist these temptations because they violate human design. If these temptations involve someone whom they are not in a covenant relationship with, indulging them will not lead to fulfilling intimacy. It is a broken cistern, a source of satisfaction that will not ultimately satisfy. The same is true whether the attraction is same-sex or opposite-sex. Guy’s point however is clear: temptation is not the sin, indulging it is. The goal is not opposite-sex-attraction, the goal is a life of holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because of this, Guy adds, “God is not ashamed or embarrassed of same-sex attracted Christians. Their value and worth to him and his church are not based on that criterion.” (p. 15)

In addition to providing thorough biblical teaching on human sexuality Guy also provides practical advice for how to address a same-sex-attraction in your own life in a way that glorifies God and also how opposite-sex-attracted believers can support same-sex-attracted believers honour their commitment to Jesus. I highly recommend this book for Christian leaders and educators. Faith communities everywhere are bound to have members who are struggling with this issue. In addition we all have opportunity to “give reasons for the hope that we have” with our broader community. Our hope does not lie with our sexual orientation, whatever that may be, but rather in Jesus.

Valentines Day Special

Tags

marriage, Sex, Valentine's Day

[From Julie] So, it’s Valentine’s Day today.  You would expect a marriage blog to have a post on a day like today so this is our attempt.  For those of you who don’t know us, we aren’t an overly sentimental couple that really places high value on any particular day.  We tend to be a more “express your love for each other regularly and don’t wait for the special occasions” type of couple.  In fact we aren’t even a card, flower or chocolate buying type of couple (however you can’t ever go wrong with chocolate).  It actually means more to me when Noel comes home with flowers in the middle of November when it’s completely out of the blue or he takes me out for a date night or plans an overnight getaway.  I love that he thinks of me regularly and he doesn’t just save it for the socially appropriate occasions.  Having said that, a little romance is never a bad thing.

I would encourage all of you to celebrate your lover today.  Make a special dinner, make a card, look amazing, do something unexpected.  It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or fancy.  Just something that says I’m thinking about you.  Valentine’s day is all about romantic love.  So while it is fine to help the kids make their valentines or make goodies for their class party, your focus needs to be your spouse today.  You love everyone else in your life but you only ‘romantically’ love your spouse.  That’s what today is all about.  Celebrate that kind of love.  Mother’s day and Father’s day is to celebrate love from your kids but today is a day to focus on that very special relationship you have with your spouse.  Make each other a priority.  Make it fun and express yourself.  Love makes the world go ’round, after all.

I have a good idea.  Get ready everyone.  We’re going to use today, Valentine’s Day as the start of our first Seven Day Challenge of 2013!  Your welcome.  Have a great week everybody.

JW

A Webinar on Sabbath Rest

Tags

Forge Canada, Mark Buchanan, Missional Church, Sabbath, The Rest of God

A post for my preacher buddies. What an awesome age we live in!  We don’t have flying cars or robots that make supper but technology has brought some amazing blessings that can be used for ministry.

I attended an online conference this morning (right from my desk) that was hosted by Forge Canada, a missional cooperative that provides resources and connects people with influential voices in the missional conversation. It was all on GoToMeeting, an amazing tool.  Even out here in the country, our marginal Internet connection at church was able to keep up.

About 24 ministers and lay leaders heard from Mark Buchanan this morning.  He has worked with New Life Community Baptist Church in Duncan BC for the past 17 years.  He has written six books, including one called The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath.

This conference was of particular interest for me because this book was of such vital importance for me.  A couple of years ago with the help of this book I began to observe Sabbath, for the first time in my life. I started to recognize that I had leisure time but God was absent from it.  As a result, I found that it did not restore me or nourish me.  Even when I had a “day off” it was encroached on all sides by a number of distractions.  Everyone says, “just block the day out,” but I have always had trouble knowing how to do that.  Does that mean block out family?  What about school work?  How do you keep from getting dragged into tasks that are urgent but not important.

During the webinar Mark had some real gems.  He describes the practice of Sabbath as “52 snow days a year.”  The Canadians on the call got the idea: a day that comes to you, clear of agenda.  It is a day that you do not take care of; it takes care of you.

Mark says that in order to truly experience Sabbath you need to develop a “Sabbath Heart”: an absolute trust in the sovereignty of God and in God’s capacity to nurture and provide for you.  Keeping Sabbath means practicing God’s sovereignty.  You need to ask yourself, “Does God run the Universe or do I?”  Does God manage your church, your ministry context or do you?  If God is not sovereign then you had better get your butt off the couch and worry because it is all falling apart.  If God is sovereign, however, you can rest in his promise (Rom 8:28) that He is working everything for good. Practicing Sabbath means acting like you really believe that God is large and in charge.

When I am not rested I am more than just tired.  I find that in the weariness, I become less than myself.  I am more sensitive, more bitter, and less balanced.  Sabbath rest, a stillness that is practiced in light of who God says I am, makes me more like God’s preferred person for me.  I become more aware of my limits, more comfortable in my own skin, and more able to respond appropriately to criticism.

St. Augustine once said, “Lord, deliver me from the lust to vindicate myself,” and this prayer is one that comes from a heart that is at rest in God. When I am rested I am more certain of the sovereignty of God, and better able to let God deal with my critics. Psalm 92 is called “a Psalm for the Sabbath day,” and it’s easy to see why.  It starts with the assurance that God is powerful and capable, and then talks about how God’s enemies will get what’s coming to them.

The practice of Sabbath is in some way acting better than we know. Sometimes our hearts and our minds have trouble being at rest in God – not fully believing that God will do what he says He will do.  We mentally know that God has it all under control but we just can’t relax enough to believe it.  This is one way how our bodies can instruct our minds.  Practicing Sabbath is living like God is in charge. As we live into that reality through receiving God’s rest , pray that your mind will slowly be convinced  by the obedience of our body.

So my prayer for my colleagues in ministry and for anyone who is following the call of discipleship is to schedule a day, soon, where you will put everything down and just receive the day.  Read, sleep, take a walk, spend time with friends.  For one day act like it really isn’t all about you.  Secondly, take advantage of all the great resources that are out there.  Check out Forge Canada and their partners.  There are some great resources out there for you.

NCW

How to Write a Worship Song

Tags

Blimey Cow, Music, Praise Band, Worship, Worship Music

The guys at Blimey Cow have this for all the future songwriters out there.

Re: Why Churches of Christ are Shrinking

Tags

Churchof Christ, Gospel, Grace, Missional Church

I recently figured out how to get people to read my blog!  Two blog posts recently addressed the flagging fortunes of my tribe and got massive amounts of feedback – Good, bad and ugly.  So all I have to do is talk about the Churches of Christ disappearing and the readers will come!  🙂  I wanted to make some remarks about both posts so here goes:

Last November Joe Beam wrote an interesting article where he defines a series groups most people in a Church of Christ fit into. This upset some people, raised some eyebrows, but on the whole created some dialogue, mostly good.

I am not sure a new set of labels helps things but what I took out of the article is that, generally speaking, the extremes have shut down the dialogue, with all the groups in between.  I think Beam is spot on there.  There has been a decline, it seems,  in our capacity to hear and talk with each other when we don’t agree, particularly when it comes to speaking to people at either extreme.  This has been my experience for the past 10 years.  It seems like we as a fellowship are losing the ability to talk to each other (Left, Right and Centre).

No matter how you read the Bible, Jesus makes it clear that unity is primary for us moving forward as a fellowship.  We aren’t going to agree on lots of things but Jesus still invites us into dialogue with each other.  It must break God’s heart that we can’t even talk about cooperation with other church groups, innovations in worship, women’s role in public worship, communion practices, etc.  One extreme or the other is so outraged, or so hurt, that they won’t even talk . Here’s what I wish:

1. I wish we could recognize that, for some of us, these issues are intensely painful to discuss.  It’s going to be slow going so can we be gentle with each other? It’s going to take a long time but can we lovingly wait for each other and take the place of the servant? We might not agree but surely we can love each other anyway.
2. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for all my sin – all of it.  And that includes my theological sins.  All those things I am wrong about: praise team, cooperating with other denominations, women making announcements before the closing prayer, etc . As God as my witness, with a clear conscience I have supported these things and even  if I am wrong I am still forgiven.  God’s grace is abundant and true.  God will forgive me for these things and he will forgive you too.

The second blog post that caught my eye is related but different.  James Nored wrote a post yesterday on the Missional Outreach Network website titled “Why are Churches of Christ Shrinking?” I may be over simplifying here but what he says is that a 21st century culture is looking for a more experiential worship service. That’s true. 20’s and 30’s don’t just want to hear 5 hymns, a reading, a prayer, communion and a three part sermon. They want a multisensory experience so that means the lights may be dimmed; there might be a video that sets a theme for the day’s worship. They may need to get up and participate at some point. What Nored is saying is that 20’s and 30’s aren’t going to fight about this. If they are part of churches that refuse to do these things they aren’t going to debate and proof-text resistors, they are just going to leave.
You can say that they are being childish and inconsiderate, whether you’re right or not, Nored’s suggestion for moving forward misses the point. Nored suggests (I am over simplifying here) that we need to have more experiential worship services. Use video and lights more, make things more visually appealing and more experiential. I don’t disagree. Those are helpful for reaching 20-somethings but this isn’t why Churches of Christ are shrinking.
I am reluctant to make sweeping generalizations because no matter how you qualify your statement there are going to be some Churches of Christ that defy your categorization. And the truth is that our tribe has not cornered the market on declining denominations. Churches everywhere are hurting. I will go “big tent Christianity” on this and say, in general, churches are shrinking because we have forgotten the gospel.

We have forgotten that we are loved by a God that treats us better than we deserve. When we consider a worship style as an unforgivable sin we have forgotten how it is that we have been saved – by grace! If not having a praise team is necessary for right standing before God then it is your stance on praise teams that saves you – not the gospel.

If playing a video in worship that has instrumental music in the background is going to be an unforgivable sin that is charged to your account, then you are saved by your righteous use of media and not the gospel. I am not trying to be trite or offensive to make a point (forgive me if this offends, it was not my intent) but if we are saved by grace (Eph 2:8-10) then no worship practice, or doctrinal opinion can make us inelligible for salvation. If it did then having the right doctrinal opinion would be our salvation and not Jesus.

Many churches have forgotten their first loves.  Look at Rev 2:1-7.  The church in Ephesus was legit.  They were doctrinally sound.  They had great leadership and were diligent in weighing people’s conduct against the word.  But Jesus wrecks them on not having a heart that loves him.

Hip and Funk worship will not satisfy forever.  We need to lead worship with excellence.  Yes.  We need to be effective in reaching people who are more experiential and visual. Yes. But we will be the clanging gong or resounding cymbal with out love (1 Cor 13:1).  Love for Jesus and love for each other

Faith or Fine

Tags

Beth Moore, Faith, God, God's Provision, Living Proof, marriage, Prayer

[From Julie] A couple of months ago I was able to take in a Beth Moore Simulcast event at a local church.  I had this same opportunity about a year ago and our women’s group has traveled to a few live events as well.  Beth is one of my favorite speakers and teachers and she always inspires.  These events never fail to deliver a word from God straight to my heart.  He is very tangible when I’m in a room singing praises with so many other women.  While I was on my way to this particular event I was wondering what word God had in mind for me today.  I could only stay for the morning session so I was expecting God to deliver pretty early in the conference.  Oh boy!  Did he ever!  Some of what I heard felt like it was tailor-made just for me and some of it made me think about my marriage and the marriages I see around me.  I was disappointed that I couldn’t stay for the whole event but I knew in that short time I got what I came for.  A word from God.

Where is Jesus in your life?  Where is he in your marriage?  I’ve said before that it is only by the grace of God that Noel and I have a strong marriage.  When we got married I honestly didn’t know what to expect except that I wanted to be happy.  It wasn’t until years later that I wanted something more than ‘happy’ or ‘fine’.  Fine is what I can do on my own.  God didn’t call any of us to fine.  He called us to faith.  I don’t want a humanly explainable marriage.  I want a life and a marriage with the supernatural provision of God.  I love how Beth puts it; “my needs are my invitation to live like this.”  This is great news!  When we struggle in our marriages we are poised to see the power of God.  When we are laid low by a seemingly insurmountable problem God is closer than we think.  Sometimes it takes problems on this scale to get our attention long enough to see the power of God.  When we can’t solve it ourselves and yet it gets solved and you can see the good coming out of the situation, it leaves us in the position of believing God had a hand in it.  That makes me think of my needs in a whole new light.

Think of what you need urgently.  What would it be that would change the course of your marriage?  Do you need better communication, more stability, deeper trust, recovery from infidelity or secret addiction, more understanding, a better sex life?  The list could be endless.  Pray about these things and wait for God to reveal what He wants you to learn.  He will come through for you.  It’s hard to describe how this works in an everyday situation but I know that I’ve felt this kind of direction from God and it is a better way to live than just trying to figure things out myself then hoping everything turns out okay.  I love that I can look back on 19 years of marriage and see God’s fingerprints everywhere.  Things could have gone so badly if we had continually tried to do this ourselves.  We’ve learned the hard way that choosing to live in ‘faith’ is better and that has led to a marriage and a life that is way better than ‘fine’ could ever hope to be.  Praise God.

The Gospel of Generosity

Tags

Generosity, Missional Church, Waiters, Waitresses

I was sorry to read a viral story this morning about a waitress who posted a receipt online on which a pastor crossed out an automatic tip of 18% and wrote in 0% with a comment “I give God 10% why should you get 18%.” Lots of ink has already been spilled on this today and the story has continued to unfold. The waitress was fired from her job later today for “violating their guest’s right to privacy” and the Pastor in question was subsequently tracked down and has apologized saying she “has embarrassed herself and her church.”  So what can we learn about this?

What is actually going on when I tip a waiter or a waitress? Am I trying to save two or three dollars or am I making a statement about who my money really belongs to? I think there is more going on here than meets the eye.  Each one of us preaches a wordless sermon every time you pay a bill at a restaurant. If I flinch at adding three dollars to lunch at the coffee shop am I clutching cash a little too tightly perhaps? My tip is a demonstration of just how much (or perhaps how little) of my heart Jesus actually has a hold of. How well do I understand grace if I can’t let a couple of dollars go?

Len Sweet tweeted today “What if all Christians tipped 50% on 21 May, National Waiter/Waitress Day?” This got me thinking about the missional implications of going to restaurants and coffee shops.

Firstly, whether you are in ministry or not you should make a habit of going to the same places of business (same restaurants, same coffee shops) just so you can get some practice making friends and being a blessing to people.  Particularly those of us in full time ministry need to be extra aware that we represent our faith, and our church community, every time we go out.  I met someone today (whom I thought was a stranger) who told me (you taught me in VBS when I was 4 years old).  Yikes!

As an expression of grace we need to be the best tippers our baristas, waiters and waitresses  have.   We owe it to Jesus to the best customers our local coffee shops have!  Would people roll their eyes whenever Jesus walked in for Carmel macchiato? Extra foam and no tip again? Ya thanks a lot you cheap carpenter!

As a demonstration of how God’s radical generosity toward us has changed who we are, I challenge you to tip extravagantly whenever you can. It will do your heart good and may give you a chance to make Jesus look great too!

A Prayer for You

Tags

Holy Spirit, marriage, Prayer

[From Julie] At the end of last summer we took our boys up to my childhood family home about 8 hours north.  We had a great time and I’m so glad we got to go for one last visit to the farm before my Dad and second Mom sold it to a very special new family. When I think of home I always think of the farm.  The home that has been in my family for at least three generations.  It was a wonderful place to grow up.

During my turn driving Noel was either working on his computer or taking the opportunity to sleep and the boys were watching movies.  I had brought along my IPod so I would have something to listen to if no one felt like talking.  Good decision.  One of the albums I was listening to was “Come to the Well” by Casting Crowns.  It’s one of my favorites.  One song in particular spoke to me during this trip north.  It’s called Spirit Wind.  The lyrics pretty much speak for themselves.  The song was written by one of the band members and he dedicated it to the pastor he worked with while he was a young youth minister.  This pastor prayed passionately for God to breath new life into the souls of his congregation and make them a mighty army once again.  Since then this specific congregation has had a renewing and they have sent many of their members out into the U.S. as pastors to other congregations.  Those members were teenagers at the time when their pastor prayed over them.  God is faithful and He will breathe life into any who will accept Him.

This has always been my prayer for my boys but as I was listening to the song this time I was impressed with the need to pray this for the marriages that our little blog reaches.  It’s a big prayer but an important life-altering prayer.  I pray that God breathes life into our marriages.  That His Spirit dwells in our hearts and creates mighty men and women of God.  I pray that our marriages will have a renewing and be a powerful reflection of the hand of God.  Marriages that will transform before us and make all of us give thanks to our Father for His grace in our lives.  A transformation like the one Ezekiel witness when he watched God create an army from dry bones.  The kind of marriage that will put you on your knees because you will know where the beauty of your marriage came from.  That’s what I pray for all of you.  Not just some satisfactory life together but a marriage that can only be explained by the abiding presence of God.

Spirit Wind

Ezekiel stared down into the valley
Filled with dry bones baking in the sun
Remains that used to be a mighty army
To him, it looked like their fighting days were done

But driven by a calling on his life
He spoke God’s words, the bones began to shake
He stared wide-eyed as the flesh began to form
And as he prophesied to the wind
The soldiers began to wake

And the Lord sent His wind into the valley
And breathed the breath of life into their souls
And raised them again a mighty army
For soon these arisen warriors will battle again
For they have been filled with the Spirit Wind

A pastor stands before his congregation
Once a mighty army for the Lord
But now he stares into the lifeless eyes
Believers leading carnal lives
He wonders what they’re fighting for
But driven by a calling on his life
He spoke God’s word like he’d done a hundred times before
But this time he comes broken and weeping
With tears of a broken heart

And he cries out to the Lord
Oh Lord, send Your wind into this valley
And breathe the breath of life into their souls
And raise them again a mighty army
For soon these arisen warriors will battle again
For they have been filled with the Spirit Wind

Holy Spirit, breathe on me
Breathe Your life in me

Oh Lord, send Your wind into this valley
And breathe the breath of life into our souls
And raise us again a mighty army
For soon these arisen warriors will battle again
For we have been filled with the Spirit Wind

Oh Lord, we need You now
Breathe Your life into us
Lord, we need You now
Our churches and our families
Oh Lord, we need You now
Breathe life into this dry and weary land
Raise us up again

I hope you enjoy the song and consider yourself prayed for.