What I really Miss

What I really miss is time with my family. I miss coming home to three children and a wife. It's not that I don't like coming home to my wife alone - that can be a lot of fun - it's that I miss the "coziness" of a family time. Maybe I've idealized it - well, I have - but that's not the point. The point is that the way my family is right now, I don't get to communicate much with them or enjoy good times with my children.

God gave me three beautiful kids! They are true gifts from Him and I love them. I guess right now I miss them.

You see, it's like this ...

Danielle doesn't talk with us. She doesn't phone or email or text. When she passes through to go to places like Toronto, she doesn't even call or drop in. It's like we don't exist to her anymore. I often find myself wondering what we've done to alienate her so much.

Chris is doing okay but he's in Barrie and seems to be struggling to find a job and settle into something we'd call "normal" as far as living life is concerned.

Sarah, well, let's just say that, in my opinion, she seems bent on ensuring that she has no productive future potential.

I wonder what it'd be like to go back in time and just enjoy the family times. I know I'd sure change how I approached those times. Less stress and control and more enjoyment.

Oh well - I have my memories.

Book Review

The book A Lovers Quarrel with the Evangelical Church by Warren Smith is both stimulating and somewhat disappointing. It's stimulating in that I am glad that some people are aware that the evangelical church doesn't seem like she has a handle on our culture. The church seems like it is loosing or has lost her influence on our culture. More later.

I also was disappointed with this book because I was expecting more ideas about what to do about this "lack". I suppose that we could "go back" to what worked before the second great awakening (as the author seems to suggest) but it seems to me that we're past that and rather than instituting an archaic way of doing things I'd like to be able to take what we are already doing (or should be doing) and re-work it so it can be what God wants.

I am like Warren - I love the church. I believe that God has called me to help prepare His Bride (the church) for His return. One of the things that frustrates me is that people come to know the Lord and then when times get tough (or easy) they leave the church and blame (or forget) God. I agree with Warren in that we (established churches) have watered down the Gospel and made it easy for people to "be saved" when in fact people really need to understand what they're signing up for when they receive Christ as Saviour and LORD.Too many people have simply made a 'decision' to follow Christ but have no desire for or understanding of the commitment necessary to allow God to be your LORD and Saviour.

This book presents a very real problem (the lack of influence the church has on our culture and the operating mentality a lot of churches utilize to 'market' themselves to an apathetic culture). As a pastor in a church I am pleased with the call to be more Scripturally based in the discipleship options that we implement at our church. It disturbs me that we are quick to utilize books and methods that are written about or based on Scripture but rarely do we simply use Scripture to properly disciple our adherents.

That said, I am a bit disappointed that the author doesn't seem to go far enough in helping to create a solution to the dilemma that we face in the modern (or post-modern) evangelical church. He seems to be suggesting that our culture and the "Great Stereopticon" have diluted (or even twisted) the Gospel message. In some ways - at least as he points out in his book - I agree but at the same time I believe that a lot of good has come out of the church. People do find wholeness. People do find peace. Peple do find a life-long purpose. People do enter into real community. People do have a life-changing experience with God. I have met these people and I am one of them.

The book is a good 'wake-up' but left me wanting more time to work out a better solution to our issues. I would recommend the book but I want to believe that we can redeem the times and this culture through the church - Christ's Bride - so I'm not sure it's a good book for someone to read if they already have an axe to grind with the faulty church and simply want more ammunition with which to continue to break down the church.

I'm back!

Hey folks (not that anyone's reading this)!
I'm back! It's been an interesting couple of months. Lots has happened. I'm now the only 'full-time' pastor at Bayridge Alliance Church (not a position I thought I'd find myself in). Our Senior Pastor up and resigned at the end of May. We have a great Board of Elders and they (along with me) are continuing on the work of God here at BAC. God says He will not let the gates of Hell win over His church and we trust Him for that. We are currently in the process of re-defining and refining our Vision and Mission statements so that they more accuarately reflect who we are as a church body and what our mission is in this city (Kingston, Ontario). Summer is a great time to begin this process because it is fairly slow around here. I anticipate great things to come from this process and eagerly look forward to what God's going to do with us.

The Furious Longing of God

From the introduction:

I’m Brennan. I’m an alcoholic.How I got there, why I left there, why I went back, is thestory of my life.But it is not the whole story.

I’m Brennan. I’m a Catholic. How I got there, why I left there, why I went back, is also thestory of my life. But it is not the whole story.

I’m Brennan. I was a priest, but am no longer a priest. I was amarried man but am no longer a married man. How I got to those places, why I left those places, is the storyof my life too. But it is not the whole story.

I’m Brennan. I’m a sinner, saved by grace.That is the larger and more important story.Only God, in His fury, knows the whole of it.

Wow! What a way to start a book! This book is for everyone – everyone who wants to know that God loves them, that is. It’s great to read (and re-read) Brennan Manning’s books. They provide the much needed perspective that many churches and Christians are lacking in today’s culture – GRACE coupled with a deep and un-restricted LOVE! It’s amazing how much we allow the thoughts and expectations of others to cloud the knowledge that God loves us in a furious and un-stoppable way.

I’m with Brennan (and many other authors) who call us to live a life that is worthy of the Love lavishly given to us. Brennan says (on page 119) that “we have all experienced the sadness of a Christian life that is secure, well regulated, but basically impoverished. We long, at least occasionally, for a generosity that would lift us above ourselves.” This book is another call to recognize the Love of God in our lives and to live that Love out in our everyday-ness.

We no longer have to live a defeated life and the expectations and limitations placed on us by our society no longer have to contain the love that should (and will) overflow from our hearts as we experience the Furious Longing of God to LOVE us with an unreasonable love!

Whew! What a reminder!

Battle Ships verses Cruise Ships

The HMCS Algonquin. A true Battle Ship! And below - a Cruise Ship!

The difference between a church that's all it can be and one that's just "cruising" along is like the difference between a battleship and a cruise ship.

On the battle ship, everyone has a job, knows what they're supposed to do and does it. Everyone functions as part of the greater team and works for the common goal, whatever that may be. The goals may change and the reason for the work may change but the team doesn't stop working together. They continue to be ready to do whatever is necessary to get the job done - at a moments notice. They are always on guard and always at the ready. Whenever a new ship-mate enters the ship, they are given a job and settle in to do that job. There may be a "probation" period but the new mate is still aware of their function and how they fit into the whole. The entire ship can be counted on to do the job it is made to do. Working as a team the Battleship accomplishes what could never be accomplished as individuals working alone or in smalled "teams".

Contrast that with the Cruise ship. Passengers on the cruise ship expect to be served, fed, and pampered while a crew scrambles to keep everyone happy. The passengers just sit about and enjoy themselves and when ever anything goes wrong, they feel they have the right to complain about it because, after all, they pay good money to be on this ship! They don't take ownership of the vehicle or the purpose of the ship nor do they try to assist when things go wrong. Sometimes they even hinder the proper operation of the ship with their actions and/or attitudes. While the cruise ship is luxurious, it certainly isn't very efficient or purposeful.

The church that's aware of it's purpose and efficiently working towards that purpose is like the battleship. And the church that is full of people just sitting around and expecting to be served is like the cruise ship. No wonder the church isn't very effective in our culture - we're more like cruise ships than battleships.

This illustration comes from a book I read called "Culture Shift". It was written by two Pastors (Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro) - pastors of churches that are more like battleships than cruise ships (the churches - not the pastors). The book is for church leaders and helps us identify our distinct "cultural totems" and then transform our church into an entity that closely aligns with our God-given purposes. What I dream about is being part of a church that functions the way God intends it to function and impact the surrounding culture, the way that God intended. The cover of the book says that "real transformation is not about working harder at what you're already doing or even copying another church's approach but about changing church culture at a foundational level."

This book is a must read for any church leader!

Washing with SOAP

Every day I get dirty and every day I need to wash. Good thing, eh?

I use DOVE soap because, well that's what I use. It's not because it's got a "dove" on it and that represents the Holy Spirit or anything weird like that; it's just that brand of soap is what we bought the last time we bought soap.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I use soap to get myself clean which is a necessary and good thing. So when I came across this acronym it intrigued me. The acronym is S.O.A.P. and it stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

Basically, you read God's Word and then write in a journal one or more verses that you focused on in your reading - that spoke to you. You then write those verses in your journal. After that you write down why those verses interested you and what you "observed" about the verse that made it stand out. Next you write down how that verse Applies to you and your life and then finally, you write down a prayer that prays that into your day.

What's interesting to me is the actual acronym. Because I use soap to clean my body I don't offend anyone - at least with body odour anyway. I feel clean and refreshed each day. I can freely enter my day with the knowledge that, at least in part, I am ready for the day. If I apply this line of thinking to my daily Bible reading then when I use "SOAP" in my devotional time, I am cleansing myself of all the "stuff" that stuck to me over the course of my day. By reading my Bible and allowing what I read to penetrate my being, I am cleaning myself (actually, I'm allowing the Holy Spirit to clean me).

What I read this morning was:

You love what is right and hate what is wrong.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

It is Hebrews 1:9 and what I took from it was that I need to be like Christ and love what is right and hate what is wrong.

Time to "clean" up my act!

Tootsie Roll Lesson

I have two cats. Chilli and Pepper. Chilli is the furry one and Pepper is the one with the eye problem. Both are good cats - as far as cats go - and have been with us for 11 and 12 years. They are indoor cats which means that they eat, sleep, pee, poop, and purr inside. Their litter box is in the basement of our home and they are both "regular" users of the facilities. For the most part they bury their stuff and as we use "clumping" litter, it's relatively easy to clean up what they leave behind (no pun intended).

We also have a dog. His name is Jake and he loves to bug Pepper and stays clear of the house-boss (Chilli). Jake is a typical dog and has to be taught what is good and what is bad yet sometimes he doesn't listen too well.

What's all this got to do with Tootsie Rolls? Well, Jake has this habit of going to the cat's litter box and enjoying what they leave behind. We think he thinks they are treats (Tootsie Rolls) because that's what they tend to look like. Every once in a while Jake will walk into the livingroom with a clump of litter hardening on his nose. We know where he's been! Yuck! No matter what we do to stop him from eating these "tasty" morsels he continues to seek them out and enjoy his snack. He doesn't seem to know - or care - that they are bad for him and that he's really just eating CRAP.

I have often wondered whether it's like that for us. Sometimes I find myself "enjoying" something that is bad for me - something that either God (through His Word) or others have told me is bad for me. I don't seem to care that what I am putting into my body or mind really is CRAP.

I think that the reason I find myself enjoying CRAP (Tootsie Rolls) is that I'm looking for treats in the litter box. God has provided a wonderful planet with all kinds of "good" things to enjoy and yet fallen humanity finds themselves going to the litter box of life to find enjoyment. The evils of this world and the attitudes that go with all of it are what I would consider the "litter box" of life.

For example; when we were living in the USA I was amazed that people would park outside of Porn Shops, get out of their cars and walk, in full view of everyone walking or driving by, enter the establishment. They seemed to not be ashamed of what they were about to "enjoy". They were okay with eating the tootsie roll from the litter box rather than enjoy the true tootsie roll that God set up in a healthy and God-honouring marriage.

I am so pleased with the gift that God has given me. I love her. God is good. She really is a treat! Thank you God for my wife! Why would I want to enjoy what really is CRAP when God has provided me with the best Candy in the world?

I wonder why we settle for a fake when the real thing is so much better. Are we just like the family dog? NOT! God has loved us from the start and when we choose to live for Him our eyes are opened up to all the good and pure things He has provided for our enjoyment. So, stay out of the litter box and get into the playground provided by a loving God. Stay away from what looks like a Tootsie Roll and enjoy the real thing. Find the real thing in God's Word and at a God-honouring Church near you.

Toronto. Some see it as a city with no redeeming qualities except as a place to go to do stuff like visit the CN Tower or the Eaton's Center.
The gang violence, street population, gay community, high housing prices all conspire to keep the average church going person away from this exciting city.
But the reality is that God is the God of this city too! Every where we went we could see examples of God's work int he city.
One place stood out for me and that was the work done in and through the Downtown Toronto Alliance Church. The church has a vision to be Christ in their community. They are there to help mend broken lives. I know we don't need to go to downtown Toronto to see broken lives - they're all around us. But here, at the corner of Queen and Bathurst, it's especially clear that there are many broken lives. And it's not only those who find themselves living on the streets and begging for funds for their next meal. You can see the broken in those who "have-it-all" but when you look in their eyes you see that they too are broken and searching for meaning and purpose.
While we were in Toronto we walked beside the many volunteers who work there and handed out bag-lunches, free coffee and Hot Chocolate, played and skated with neighbourhood kids and prayed for the people and city. Was I impacted? Absolutely! One person in particular brought to reality the pain and brokenness that many live with. She was a woman who wore her lipstick smeared all around here lips. She could be found walking around the area of Queen and Bathurst. On the day I walked with her she wasn't too badly dressed. She could rant with the best but her ramblings were disjointed and ranged from accusing people of stealing her babies to accusing people of doing damage to area property. She came across to me as someone who wanted to be cared for and who would do anything to feel needed. As I talked with her I realized that she was in great pain. Emotional pain and my heart broke for her. I also realized that God especially loves her. She is His child just as much as I am.
I am left with a longing to see everyone know the love of God in very real and tangible ways. I am not content to sit by and be cozy and comfortable (most of the time).

And this is where I struggle the most.

I enjoy the soft caress and touch of my wife. I enjoy the warmth of our home. The smell of home baking. The feel of the fire in the fireplace. The warmth of the flannel sheets on our King-sized bed. The freedom to make and enjoy a good pot of coffee or a late-afternoon snack. The ability to know that I can always eat at least three times each day and not worry about whether I will feel hungry without it being my choice.
And yet there are people who don't enjoy these things. They wonder where their next meal will come from. They don't have a bed, much less flannel sheets to curl up in. They know hunger, cold, heat, pain. Why am I blessed and think they are not?
Could it be that I have the responsibility to share my blessing? Could it be that those "less well off than me" are here to help me see my own need?

Welcome

What's going to follow are my seemingly random thoughts about a lot of things. This will be where I will express frustrations and "A-Ha" moments; disappointments and insights; anger and love (do they even go together?); and all sorts of other meanderings and wanderings as we travel through my mind and life.Some of the entries will simply be "spoutings" and others will be book reviews and insights gleaned from living life on this planet.

Please be aware of the fact that I am a follower of Jesus Christ and so my words will always try to bring Glory to my Lord - though I am aware that HE can handle it when I'm frustrated and angry especially when it comes to the injustices and oppression in our world.

Anyway, each day I will be here and you are more than welcome to enter into my journey.