Look to the Book

Preparing ahead of Time

2009-12-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

“We are going to be in the Hudson.”

Those were the last words that the air traffic controllers would hear from US Airways flight 1549.

\ Until that point, everything had been routine. The lift off from New York’s LaGuardia airport was uneventful and the aircraft was gaining altitude. Approximately two minutes later, at 3,200 feet (980 m) the airliner flew into a flock of “Canada Geese”. Moments later, Captain Chesley Sullenburger made his first distress call stating, "Hit birds. We lost thrust in both engines. Returning back towards LaGuardia."

As the Captain turned the airliner back in a southbound direction, it soon became obvious that they did not have the altitude or the air speed to make it back to the airport. Sullenburger asked if there was another option. Air traffic control responded that “Teterboro” airport in New Jersey was to his right.

As the plane passed over the “George Washington bridge” (at a height of less than 1000 feet), Captain Sullenburger was told that he was cleared for landing at Teterboro. He responded, “We can’t do it. We are gonna be in the Hudson”.

To me, one of the most interesting parts of this whole event is listening to the Captain as this unfolded. He sounds completely calm and in control throughout the entire ordeal (To hear the tape of the flight, go to “Wikipedia” and search for “Miracle on the Hudson”). Even when he states that they are going to ditch the plane in the river, there is not a trace of panic in his voice.

Later, when reporters asked him what he was thinking as he said those words, Sullenburger responded, “I was thinking, ‘I can do this’”. When asked to elaborate, he explained that all pilots are trained to deal with emergencies, including water landings. He simply recalled what he had been taught and put it to use.

In other words, he was prepared for the crisis long before the crisis came.

I do not know what you are going through right now. Maybe you are in a time of crisis and you are trying to “land your plane”. If that is true, I pray that you remember where your hope, help and strength can be found.

If, however, things are good right now, may I remind you that this is no time be lazy about Spiritual things. Rather, this is the time to be praying, reading, learning and developing a relationship with the Lord.

Now is the time to prepare for whatever is to come, so that you too can say, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 3:13).

The Centralia Effect

2009-11-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

Founded in 1854, Centralia, Pennsylvania looked poised to have a good future. Nestled in a valley surrounded by tree-covered hills, Centralia was close to a good water source and an abundance of coal. People moved in, industry sprung up and the little town was on its way.

Then in May of 1962, everything changed. One story states that the town wanted to clean up the local landfill, so they hired five fire fighters so go set the dump on fire. Unfortunately, the fire not only burned the garbage, but also a coal seam that ran under the dump. Whether the fire fighter were unable to deal with the coal fire, or whether they thought it would just burn itself out is unclear. What became clear, though, was that the fire was going to be heard form again.

Seventeen years later, in 1979, the owner of the local gas station was checking the level of fuel in his underground tank. When he brought the stick back out, it seemed warm, so he lowered a thermometer into the tank. To his shock, the thermometer read 77.8 degrees Celsius (172 degrees Fahrenheit). The underground coal seam fire had quietly spread from the dump six miles away and was now under the town of Centralia. Soon people started reporting health problems due to the high levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the air. In 1981, when twelve year old Todd Domboski almost fell into a four foot wide by 150 foot deep sinkhole that opened up in his backyard, the state was forced to act. Residents were given buyout offers and, within a very short time, Centralia became a ghost town. The town that once boasted several thousand residents has only nine today.

The story of Centralia is a good reminder for us: Deal with things quickly! Sin often lives in the unseen, “underground” part of our lives. Left unattended, those underground sins can cause huge problems.

The truth is that, “Our secrets are our steering wheel”. If we allow unrighteous things to lurk below the surface, if we constantly say, “Well that does not really matter”, those thoughts and those attitudes will eventually take us somewhere that we do not want to be.

The fire under Centralia has been burning for forty-seven years and experts believe that it will burn for at least another 250 years. The time to stop the fire was before it got going.

The same is true spiritually. It is always best to bring our sins out in the open and deal with them as quickly as possible. Leaving them “underground” and hoping they will just go away almost never works.

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).

Don’t Go Alone

2009-11-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

On Friday night, I was in “enemy territory”; namely the “Weyburn Colosseum”.

The Bruins were playing the Red Wings in the first half of a “home and home” series, so two of my buddies and I decided to head up there and catch the game.

For a while, we tried to be inconspicuous. None of us wore Bruins’ gear or “black and gold” clothing. In fact, I don’t think any of us even had the name “Estevan” on any of our stuff. Just by looking at us, no one would know where we were from.

That was not the case for 90% of the people at the game, though. Everywhere we looked, we saw people wearing “Red Wings” hats, jerseys and coats. We even saw a few “Red Wings” face painted kids. As these folks filed in, my two buddies and I mostly just stayed to ourselves.

Then something happened that changed our attitude. We began seeing people we knew. “Bruins” hats, jerseys and coats filled the lobby. In fact, after a while there were enough “Estevanites” to fill up an entire section or two in the rink. As part of that larger group, we went from hiding in the corner, to yelling, hollering and cheered loudly for the Bruins. In fact, it was sort of fun to be so outnumbered, but cheering anyway.

Had I been there by myself, I would still have enjoyed the game, but I doubt that I would have cheered quite so loudly. However, in a large group it was easy to be bold. Sometimes, all you need is a little support.

To me, that idea of “support” is one of the best reasons to be involved in a local church. There is something beneficial about being with others who see things from the same perspective. Strength and courage can be found when we are with people who are going the same way and who are trying to do the same things.

If you could use some encouragement and a group with whom to share your spiritual journey, please know that you will always be welcome here.

“Strength in numbers” is not only true at hockey games, but in Spiritual things as well.

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Real Faith Should Make a Real Difference

2009-11-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, an acquaintance of mine found out that his company wanted to relocate him to Scotland, so he and his wife packed up and moved.

About six months later, a mutual friend received this report from them: “Scotland is great! There is a Wal-Mart right down the street from us!”

Technically, they were living in Scotland. In reality, they were just living like Canadians in a different place. Rather than immersing themselves in the culture and in a different worldview, they shopped at Wal-mart in Edinburgh.

That story makes me wonder, “Is it possible to do the same thing in spiritually?”

In other words, can we really say we are living in the “kingdom of God” if we are never challenged and if we never change? Am I really experiencing kingdom life if I am I still the same person I have always been (I just happen to go to church now)?

As you think about that, consider this passage. “Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’" (Luke 21:1-4).

Why does Jesus commend this woman’s actions?

Certainly, from a practical point of view, it is not smart. Who gives away the last two coins that they have to live on? From a financial point of view, it is not a significant gift. The amount she gave would come to less than a penny today. What is it about this act that caught Jesus’ attention?

Could it be that real faith requires us to take real risks once in a while? Is it possible that, by doing what she did, this woman showed that she was living by spiritual principles and not just her own “common sense”?

Now, please understand, I am not advocating (nor is Jesus teaching) that faith should make us stupid and irresponsible. However, what good is a faith that never causes us to do anything that we would not do otherwise?

According to Jesus (in this and many other passages), people in God’s kingdom ought to see things from a different perspective, value different things and live in a different way.

Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight”.

Which one do you live by?

The first one leads to real life in God’s kingdom.

The other is just shopping at Wal-mart in a different country.

The Banquet

2009-11-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday I was invited to “Government House” in Regina to watch Jasmine Erickson, a young lady who grew up in our congregation, receive a “Saskatchewan Youth Award”.

When the organizing committee needed someone to say “grace” at the meal, they asked if Jasmine would like “her minister” to give the blessing. Graciously, she said “yes”, so I got a phone call asking if I would be available to attend the ceremony.

The evening was formal, but comfortable all at the same time. I was introduced to several political leaders and had a nice chat with the Premier and the Lieutenant Governor. The meal was delicious (If you are invited to a formal dinner at Government House, go hungry…Yum!). I was inspired and encouraged as I listened to what these young people had accomplished. It was a special night.

Now, I did not attend that banquet on my own merit. I did nothing to garner any special recognition that night. No one nominated me to receive an award for something that I had accomplished. On my own, I would never have made it past the front door.

Fortunately, though, I know Jasmine and, based on that relationship, I received an invitation. Jasmine did something special and, because I am close to her, I was able to participate in her celebration.

When rightly understood, that is a good parallel to the gospel message. Jesus has done the work. It is his sacrifice and God’s loving offer to “come home” that has opened the door for us. We are not invited to the heavenly banquet based on our merits, but on Christ’s. God kingdom is not for those who have worked their way in (as if that were even possible); rather it is for those who have a relationship with Jesus.

Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb [Jesus].”

Anyone can attend that heavenly celebration.

All it takes is a relationship with the one for whom the banquet is given.

A Life Worth Living

2009-10-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

Willie McMillan passed away yesterday. He was 95 years old.

You will not hear about his death on the news, but you probably should have. He was someone worth knowing.

I first met Willie in 1987 when I did a summer internship with the “Wawota Church of Christ”. He and his wife of 72 years, Marie, lived on a small farm on the edge of Moose Mountain Provincial Park. They did not have many material things, but they were happy and hospitable.

Even though he outlived most of his contemporaries, when word got out yesterday that he was gone, the tributes started pouring in. “Facebook” was filled with people’s favorite memories of Willie as young and old recalled the impact that he had on their lives. Words like; like, nice, fun, forgiving, humble, generous and friendly filled the computer screen. He was described as a “Godly man”, a “great example” and “a blessing”. Maybe the most telling thing was that most of the tributes did not refer to “Willie McMillan” but rather “Grandpa McMillan”.

Not surprisingly, no one mentioned the nice car Willie had in 1963 (if he had one). No one talked about the size of his bank account. No one spoke about how much land he owned, how well known he was or what his house looked like.

People did remember the fact that he went out of his way to encourage them. They remembered his faithfulness to his wife and to his beliefs. People remembered that they could count on him. People remembered how well he treated them.

Interestingly, in the twenty plus years that I knew Willie, I never remember him giving a sermon in church, or saying anything in front of a large group. Willie was a quiet and gentle man. He was not one that liked the spotlight and yet he still influenced the people around him. His actions spoke louder than his words.

Thinking about his legacy has reminded me to live in such a way that, in the end, I will have made a difference too.

What about you? When you get to the end of this life, what do you want people to say about you? What do you want them to remember? What are you living for right now? What will your legacy be?

As “Grandpa McMillan’s” life reminded me today, those are questions worth some thought.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Thanksgiving Thinking

2009-10-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

“If Jesus Christ is to regenerate me [make me new or different], what is the problem He is up against? I am not holy, nor likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is to tell me I must be holy, His teaching plants despair. But if Jesus Christ is a Regenerator, One Who can put into me His … holiness, then I begin to see what He is driving at when He says that I have to be holy. Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into any man the… disposition that was in Himself…. The moral transaction on my part is agreement with God's verdict on sin in the Cross of Jesus Christ” (Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for his Highest”).

That quote is deeper than many of the things that you will normally find in this article, but it is worth some thought.

What is our faith about and what is it based on?

Is it about trying harder? Is it based on me being perfect and holy? If it is, then I am in big trouble! As Chambers says, “I am not holy, nor likely to be”. Faith cannot be about me remaking myself (as it is often taught). If it is, then none of us has any hope at all.

What if the new life that God wants me to live is not something that I have to struggle to create, but is rather something that he gives?

Granted, that is an unusual thought. Most of us are conditioned to think that we have to work for any good thing that we receive and that we have to earn blessings and forgiveness.

However, the gospel says, “You are not perfect, but God has provided a way to fix that and make things better”.

To quote it exactly: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified [made right, brought into line] freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).

This Thanksgiving weekend, when you are thinking about all the good things in your life, may you also be thankful for the greatest gift of all: The chance to live a new life based on God’s goodness and not your own.

Details

2009-09-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I liked jumping my bike off ramps. One day I thought, “If I set up a ramp in the side yard, then I can race down the hill beside the house, swing into the yard and hit the ramp with some real speed.” Everything was great until the bike left the ramp. That was when I noticed that I was heading straight toward the front step.

The bike landed on the front tire. With the back tire in the air, I could not stop and with all the weight on the front tire, I could not steer. Hitting the step, I jammed the end of the handlebar into my stomach so hard that I could not breathe for what seemed like several minutes.

I learned something about foresight, planning and taking care of little things that day.

The time to plan your landing is before you take off. The time to think, “Is this a good idea” or “Is this safe” is long before you are racing down the hill. After that, it is too late.

Jesus often spoke about the importance of looking after the “little things”. In Matthew 25, he tells the story of a man who called his servants together, gave each of them a sum of money and told then to put it to work until he came back. Upon his return, he called his servants to give an account of what they had done. Those who had used their money wisely heard the master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (verse 21).

In all aspects of our lives, little things determine bigger things. The tiny decisions that we make every day, while seemingly unimportant at the time create an overall direction for our lives. Ultimately, those little details will determine where we will end up.

The trick is that the “little things” never seem very pressing or urgent. It may be tempting to think, “Ah, I have lots of time. I will do those things later”. When that happens, things like spending time with your family, spending time with God, being generous and a whole list of other “little things” get put on the back burner. However, one day it will be too late. The master returns, the opportunity passes and we are asked, “What did you do with the little, but important, things?”

Do the little things now while you still have the chance.

Once the bike is in the air, you will land where you pointed yourself.

Everyone Else is Doing it

2009-09-21T14:27:00.001-07:00

Ever since his sister backed her car into it, the driver’s side door on Bill’s truck would not close properly. Too busy to get it fixed just then, he just put it out of his mind.

Late one night as he drove highway 18 towards Torquay, Bill did not see a slippery section on the road ahead. When the truck hit the ice, it began to slide sideways, slamming Bill against the driver’s door. The door opened and (in the days before seatbelts) the next thing he remembers is sliding down the highway at 60 mph. The truck made a few revolutions on the highway, came straight towards him and then veered off into the ditch at the last second.

When Bill finally stopped sliding, he got up and surveyed the damage. He had a small cut on his head, his jeans were torn and the wallet in his back pocket was worn half way through. Otherwise, he was ok. In fact, he got back in his truck, closed the door a little more securely this time and drove home.

Bill unintentionally proved that it is possible to fall out of a truck at 60 mph and not only live to tell about it, but to do so relatively unharmed.

So, who is next? Obviously, it can be done, so who is willing to try it?

Of course, just because something can be done that does not mean that it should be done. Just because something is possible, that is no reason to think that it is a good idea.

When writing about our freedom, the inspired writer Paul says, “’Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

Just because it is possible fall out of a truck at 60 miles an hour and not get hurt is no reason to try it. Just because everyone else is acting a certain way does not mean it is a wise thing to do (we teach our children that, right?). Just because we are free, that does not mean that we should only think about ourselves.

One thing that faith does is that it gives us a different perspective on life: God’s perspective.

When we examine our lives in light of God’s priorities, and not just our own, the Bible says that we will get a better outcome - both now and in eternity.

Keeping and Throwing Away

2009-09-08T13:19:00.001-07:00

A couple of years ago, my daughter Megan wanted only one thing for Christmas: “Aqua Dots”. Aqua dots are liquid-filled beads that can be arranged into designs and sprayed with water to hold them together. The finished product could then be made into a bracelet or hung on the wall as art.

Every time she saw the commercial on TV, she said, “That is what I want” and so, one day in October, Sara bought the best Aqua Dots set up that she could find. We eventually wrapped it and put it under the tree knowing that Megan was going to be a very happy girl.

Christmas morning came and you would have thought that we had given Megan a million dollars! She was so happy with her present that everything else was left on the living room floor and we spent the next hour setting it up and getting it ready to use.

In the meantime, one of our friends called and in the course of the conversation, she found out what we had bought for Megan. “Didn’t you hear that those have been recalled”, she asked. Apparently, it had been discovered that the coating on the beads was harmful to children if the beads were swallowed. The health risks ranged from a stomachache to seizures, coma or even death.

When we heard this, we checked the internet and, sure enough, Aqua Dots had been pulled from store shelves all over North America.

So a half hour after she got the present that she had waited months for, we threw Megan’s Christmas present in the garbage!

Over the years, I have thought about Megan’s reaction. She did not complain, get upset or refuse to let us take her present away. Instead, convinced that what we asked her to give up was for her own good, she allowed her to let us throw away something that she really thought she would like.

The word of God lists many things that I should avoid because they are bad for my Spiritual health. Sometimes I listen and accept the advice and other times I argue, fight or simply choose to ignore what the word says. It can be difficult to see how something that seems fun can be harmful, but God knows more than I do.

Are we willing to throw away the stuff that he says is no good for us? Are we willing to let go of what we thought was best for us, or are we holding on tightly?

Only when we really listen will we know what to keep and what to throw away.

“For you once were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

No more Fishing

2009-08-31T15:06:00.001-07:00

John 21 opens with Peter and several other disciples going fishing. This was not unusual; after all, they were fishermen when Jesus first met them. It is not unusual, but it is a problem.

Remember that they had spent the previous three years in the presence of Jesus. Of all the people on the face of the earth, they knew more about the Son of God than anyone did. However, instead of teaching and sharing what they knew, they had gone back to their old lives. Instead of influencing others, they were fishing.

At this point, Jesus appears and has an important conversation with Peter. He begins by asking, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” (Verse 15).

Notice that Jesus calls him “Simon”. Simon was his old name, his fishing name. It was Jesus who named him “Peter” (which means, “rock”). However, he was not acting like Peter. He was not acting like the man Jesus had trained, so he calls him by his old name, “Simon”. You can be sure that Peter noticed.

Notice too that Jesus asks if Peter loves him “more than these”. What does he mean: “these fish”, “these friends”, “these things that you are comfortable and familiar with”? The text is not clear about that, but it is clear about this: Jesus wants to know how Peter is going to spend his life. Is he going to take the safe route and go back to being a fisherman, or is he going to live with God’s priorities?

Before he can decide, Jesus tells him (three times) to “Feed my sheep” (verses 15, 16, and 17). In other words, Peter had a job to do if he would just stop fishing and get to work.

Eventually, Peter did leave his “comfort zone” and God used him in powerful ways. He preached the first gospel sermon (Acts 2). He traveled and converted countless people. He even wrote two books of the Bible. Peter had no idea how God was going to use him, but he obeyed, let him lead and amazing things happened.

That leads me to wonder: Am I missing something that God is calling me to do simply because it looks too difficult or scary?

Am I more concerned about the easy way than the right way?

Am I willing to live my life by God’s priorities, or am I only doing what seems right to me?

You may want to spend some time reflecting on those questions. As Peter shows us, the answers will determine a lot.

We need a Guided Tour

2009-08-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Jupiter in the night sky?

If you have looked at the stars in the last month or so, the answer is “yes”. Jupiter is the very bright “star” that is visible in the southeastern portion of the sky right after sunset.

How do I know this? Well, I have an interest in astronomy. In fact, I have several books about it and I have tons of “star charts” that are supposed to help me. Unfortunately, for all my books and charts I still have a hard time figuring things out. I mean, the stars are not always where they are supposed to be according to the chart. Then, of course, there is more than one bright star up there that could be Jupiter, so how am I supposed to be sure that I am looking at the right one?

So, how did I figure out which one Jupiter was then? Well, when we were camping at Kenosee this past week, a group of people from the “Regina Astronomical Society” set up their telescopes on the lookout point and gave us a tour of the night sky. In fact, they even showed us things that we could not see on our own. For example, one of the men trained his scope on Jupiter and said, “Look in there and you will see four moons around the planet” and sure enough, there they were as clear as could be.

Now, without someone to guide me, I would never have been able to pick Jupiter out of the thousands of stars in the sky that night. Without someone pointing the telescope, I would never have seen Jupiter’s moons, because I was not equipped to see them. However, because someone who knew more than I did took the time to teach me what I was seeing, I saw more than I realized.

As I thought about it, my faith does the same sort of thing for me. It helps me understand what I am seeing. It helps me make sense of things that I do not understand. It sorts things out and gives me a different perspective.

You see, faith is not always about coming up with something new and weird. In fact, some of the best things about following God come from seeing the ordinary things, the everyday things in a new way and in a new light.

Could you use some guidance and direction? Do you need someone who can help you make sense of things? Could you use a different perspective on your life?

The God who created this life can teach us how to live it well.

“I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Fight like a Girl

2009-07-13T12:35:00.001-07:00

Every year our church spends a weekend camping at our Bible camp at Kenosee Lake. We stay up too late, eat too much food, hear some good lessons and generally just have fun together. This year, the weekend ended with a “Water gun fight”.

Several of boys were running around the camp spraying people, so one of the dads called a few of the younger girls over and said, “In the back of my truck I have a couple of really big water guns. Go fill them up, but don’t tell the boys. When they come running by, jump out and let them have it.” The girls thought this was a great idea, so they grabbed the guns and ran off.

Soon, the boys went into one of the buildings to refill. The girls hid by the door, water guns loaded and ready. When they boys came out, the girls jumped out of their hiding spot and, as you can imagine, the fight was on. There were kids running everywhere.

In the middle of all this, though, a girl named Tayler stopped and asked one of the smaller boys, “Do you mind if your clothes get wet? I mean, is it ok for us to shoot you?”

Tayler’s example is a simple, but very powerful, life lesson. Just because you have the ability or the right to shoot someone, that does not mean that you have to shoot them. Just because someone else is spraying you, that does not mean that you have to “get them back”. Maybe it is worth thinking about someone else for a second instead of just defending yourself with all your might.

Being nice and sweet and kind is not a good strategy in a water fight (Tayler and the rest of the girls were soaked, while the boys hardly had a drop on them), but it is a great example of how to live and how to treat others.

In this case, wouldn’t it be nice if everyone “fought like a girl”?

“Be excellent in what is good!” (Romans 16:19)

Just when I thought I had Something figured Out

2009-07-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

The annual “Estevan Rodeo Parade” goes down 13th avenue, right past our church building and this makes it a popular place to gather. People come and sit on the lawn, or in the shade of the building. It is really nice.

What makes the day even nicer is that, every year, one of our church members, a man named Richard, always gives my girls some money and sends them to Dairy Queen for ice cream. This year our girls said, “You know what? We think that it is our turn to buy ice cream for Richard”.

That made me happy. I mean, here are my kids thinking about other people, remembering the kindness of someone else and wanting to pay it back (even if it was with my money). They wanted to be generous, so Sara gave them some money and they ran off to Dairy Queen to buy dilly bars for Richard.

When they came back, we told the girls to go down the line of people and hand out the ice cream.

Now, what I meant was, “Hand it out to our friends”.

However, my youngest daughter did not get that message.

Instead, she just kept going and asking everyone, “Would you like some ice cream?”

My first reaction was to yell to her, “Stop! You are going too far. We don’t know those people!”

Then I realize something: These people were really happy that someone was offering them free ice cream. Megan was meeting a whole new bunch of people and they were being very kind and gracious to her.

Now here is the thing: I thought I was being generous, but I wasn’t. In fact, all I was really doing was paying Richard back for all the years that he was generous to us. By only sharing with the people that I knew, I had sort of missed the point.

In a section that talks about how we treat people, Jesus asks, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:46-47) In other words, if you are only “evening up” with people, you really are not being generous. If you only do things for others in hopes that they will return the favor, you really have not done anything special.

The point: I hope the parade route continues to go past the church building and I hope that people continue to feel free to come, sit there and watch it with
us.

With what my daughter taught me about generosity this year, who knows? You may even get some free ice cream.

Filled to the Top

2009-06-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, a buddy of mine and I went on a motorcycle ride to New Town, North Dakota, over to Williston and back home again. In all, we put over 500 kilometers on our bikes.

Since running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere would not be any fun and because we were not quite sure how far it was between gas stations, we filled up every chance we got. As well, because my motorcycle is older and has a fairly small tank, I not only filled up, but I literally filled it to the top every single time. When I was done, you could not have squeezed in one more drop. I wanted all the fuel I could get because it was important to have enough.

Sunday morning after we got back, I was teaching from Ephesians chapter three. In that passage, Paul prays that his readers may be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (verse 19). In light of my previous day’s experience, that verse meant a lot.

I wonder how many times we try to live our lives on “half a tank”. Instead of being filled right to the top with God and his goodness, we somehow think that we can get by with just “a little bit” of God. It is no wonder that some of us “run out of gas” spiritually before we reach the end.

One of the people in the class then pointed out that the little tank on my motorcycle could never hold all the gas that was in the underground tank at the gas station. In other words, the supply of fuel by far outweighed my bike’s capacity to receive it.

That is also true in spiritual things. The limitation on our spiritual blessings comes not from God’s side, but from ours. It is our capacity and our willingness to accept God’s blessings that determines how much we actually receive. From God’s side, the supply is endless.

In fact, the next verse closes the prayer with these words: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (verses 20-21).

God’s power is unlimited. He can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”.

So, what would be different if your Spiritual tank was full? What would happen if you let God in and allowed him to work?

There is only one way to find out.

Relay Reflections

2009-06-16T21:16:00.001-07:00

I only agreed to do it because I was asked, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Estevan’s version of the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” was a hoot! Seriously, it was a ton of fun! Good visits, lots of food, staying up all night, good weather, entertainment (the “Mr. Relay” portion was a little disturbing to watch – but terribly funny at 2:30 in the morning) and lots of people made it a great event. It was more than just fun, though. It was inspiring!

In a time when people say, “No one cares about anyone but themselves anymore” here were several hundred people giving their time to help others.

In a time when people say, “Teenagers are lazy and don’t know how to work anymore” a pile of kids proved them wrong. When I arrived, there were teenagers everywhere! They were hanging signs, giving people rides, putting out chairs and generally doing what needed to be done.

In a time when people think, “We have lost our sense of community” I saw people who were doing something positive for one another.

The two best attitudes that I saw that night, however, were “hope” and “encouragement”. Maybe not surprisingly, those are two very Godly words.

Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Hope should be one of the key identifiers of God’s people. There is no place in the kingdom of “the God of Hope” for those who see nothing but “gloom and doom”. That is not who we are and that is not how we are supposed to live! We are to “overflow with hope” because God is at work in us, through us and around us.

That hope then leads us to encourage others. While describing how the early church shared with one another, Luke highlights the actions of one man: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles feet” (Acts 4:36-37). “Barnabas” is his nickname! It is a description of who he was and what he did. He was a “Son of Encouragement”! Wow! Wouldn’t it be great if someone could say of us, “Every time I am with [fill in your name] I come away feeling better and encouraged”. Many of our encounters seem to have the opposite effect, but Barnabas was notable because he lifted other people’s spirits.

I was thrilled to see “Hope” and “Encouragement” on display at the “Relay for Life”. It was an inspiring night, but it does not have to end there.

If we walk with God, we can live with “Hope” and “Encouragement” each day [and even into eternity], because those two words are God’s words.

Building for the Future

2009-06-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

A very rich woman died and went to Heaven. Outside the Pearly Gates, she met St. Peter.

“Welcome!” Peter said, “Come in and I will show you your new home”.

The woman followed Peter and soon came to a beautiful mansion. “This must
be my new home”, she said. “It looks very much like my home on earth”.

Peter, however, said, “No! That is not your home”.

They continued to walk and came to another very impressive mansion. The woman thought, “Well, this must be my new home”, but Peter walked past this house as well.

Soon, they left that neighbourhood and moved into one filled with more modest dwellings. “I guess I could be happy here”, she thought, but Peter kept walking.

After a while, Peter stopped in front of a very small, one room hut. “Here is your new home”, he said.

The woman was flabbergasted and furious. “What! How can this little shack be my home for all eternity?” she sputtered.

“Well”, Peter replied, “We built what we could with the material that you sent up”.

Usually, I do not like stories like that one. I prefer illustrations that are based in real life rather than made up ones, but I like that story. Oh, I know that we likely will not live in “mansions” in heaven. I doubt that heaven really has “Pearly Gates” or that “Saint Peter” will meet you there. Most of those details are just similes or metaphors – comparisons to help us to understand something that we have never seen. I do, however, like the point that the story makes and some of the questions that it raises.

“What are you spending your life on?”

“What are you building?”

“Where is your heart?”

“When you get to the end of this life, will you be happy with the result?”

“What are you sending ahead?”

Last week, I did a memorial service for a man that I did not know. When I asked the family to tell me about their Dad, they immediately began to talk about relationships, character traits and love. No one mentioned the car he drove, how much money he had in the bank or his yearly income. When they thought about their Dad, they thought about the important things.

Please make your funeral easy for your preacher.

Store up a treasure that means something both now and in eternity.

Unexpected Joy

2009-06-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Susan Boyle’s appearance on the TV show “Britain’s got Talent” has made her an overnight success. In fact, her performance is one of the most watched videos on “YouTube”. (If you have not seen it, please look it up).

When Boyle walks on the stage and introduces herself, Simon Cowell (of “American Idol” fame) gives her a look that indicates that he does not expect much from her. She is not dressed for the part. She makes silly jokes and acts as if she is very nervous. The crowd laughs at her. One girl rolls her eyes. Then Susan starts to sing.

The best part of the video is the look on Simon’s face after he hears the first three notes. He literally lights up with surprise and joy. As Susan continues to sing, the crowd begins to cheer and gives her a standing ovation. One of the hosts of the show turns to the camera and shouts, “You didn’t expect that, did you? Did you? No!” At the end of her performance, the crowd erupts. It is absolutely amazing!

After seeing that video several times, I still get chills when she starts to sing. The surprise of that moment is simply incredible. No one expected that lady to do what she did. The “unexpected” is an amazing thing.

I often say that I wish we could be brainwashed to forget everything we know about Jesus and the Bible, because I think that we would be similarly shocked and amazed by the unexpected message that we heard. Look at a few examples.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3)

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

Those passages (and many more) would blow us away if we heard them for the first time. They would bring smiles to our faces and hope to our hearts.

Do not let your familiarity with those words steal the “Joy” and “Surprise” from them!

God, through his Son and his Spirit, has done, and continues to do, the most unexpected of things. He has paid the price and he is calling us home!

That should make us want to cheer!

I am half dead!

2009-05-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

So, I turned 40 this past weekend!

When I moved to Estevan 19 years ago, I remember looking at the guys who had a career, two or three kids and a minivan and thinking, “Wow, those guys are old!” Thinking about it now, they must have been in their early thirties at the time! They were just young pups really.

Generally speaking, Sara and I do not make a big deal about birthdays. It seems a little odd to celebrate the fact that you were born on a certain day, doesn’t it? I mean, it is not like you had a choice in the matter. Nor is it really very special or unique (Everyone on the planet was born, so what is to celebrate?). We have parties for our kids, but she and I generally just get cards and a few small gifts. I figure that birthdays are not a big deal after the age of twenty or so.

However, I did think a little more about this one and the big thought that went through my mind was, “If I live to be eighty, then I am already half dead!” I know that is not the happiest thought in the whole world, but it is true.

Over the years, I have seen people (whether they are 40, 54 or 74) begin to “act old” and as if life had already passed them by. In the end, they were old, not because of their age, but because of their mindset.

As I was thinking all this through, Psalm 118:24 came to mind. It says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” That is the key to enjoying life no matter whether you are 24, 44 or a 104, right?

We do not have to live as if we are “half dead”. At any age and at any time, we can choose to look for and concentrate on the good things that are happening right now, so that is what I am going to do.

I am also going to go for a nap (not because I am old, just because it sounds good).

No Perfect People Allowed

2009-05-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…” (Ephesians 2:1-2a).

Wow! That is strong language and it is a tough lesson to teach these days. In fact, it is almost impossible to talk about “right” and “wrong” in a world that hardly even believes those things exist anymore. We have been raised in a time that says, “You can do anything you want, as long as it does not hurt someone else”.

“Sin” is even harder to talk about. As one writer states, “The only place most people see the word sin anymore is on a desert menu” (think “Sinful chocolate cake”). It is difficult to convince us that we are “sinners” in need of anything from God.

Yet, what if that is true? What if our actions have separated us from God to the point that we are “Spiritually dead” (both now and in eternity)? What if we wanted to change that situation? How would we do that?

Here, from this same passage, is the answer: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions…For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (verses 4-5 and 8-9).

Over the years, we have made a huge mistake when we have made the church seem like the place for “perfect people” or those who do not have any struggles in life. In fact, one of Jesus’ most stinging stories is introduced with these words: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable…” (Luke 18:9). Apparently, a smug attitude about our own “goodness” is not something that Christ would recommend.

If you have ever felt like you had to “clean your life up” before you would be welcome at church, I am sorry! That message is completely wrong! The very reason we come to church, the reason we worship God, is because we know that we are not perfect and that we need help.

Our congregation is not perfect. We have struggles and problems just like everyone else. However, we also believe that we have help to overcome some of those things. We have a hope that God is making us into “His workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10).

Could use a change, some hope and some good people with whom to share those things? You would be welcome to join us at any time.

Blessings and Problems

2009-05-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

“Alberta gambling revenue expected to outstrip oilsands royalties”. That was the headline on a CBC news story last week. The Minster in charge of Gambling explained that, “Alberta has a relatively young population and we have the highest wages in the country so there is more disposable income”. Think about that for a moment. They have the highest wages in the country and yet record numbers of people are gambling in an effort to try to get more.

It is no secret that blessings can become problems when we misuse them or pay an inordinate amount of attention to them. Drugs, for example, can be medicinal and have helped to prolong our lifespan, but they can also be abused. Similarly, sex was created by God to be a beautiful thing between a husband and wife, yet our culture’s obsession with all things sexual has turned it into a problem for some and something that is considered “dirty” in general. In the same way, money can be used well or it can be badly misused.

No one would argue that there is anything noble in being lazy or careless when it comes to looking after ourselves. In fact, Paul taught the Thessalonians, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). It is good to take responsibility for your livelihood and to provide for your family.

However, a constant obsession with money or a need to compete and have more than anyone else, can cripple lives and harm families. A focus on my needs alone makes it difficult to be generous and to see the needs of others. Thankfulness and contentment are hard to find when money is at the centre of everything.

Author Philip Yancey points out that the Bible asks three basic questions about money…
1. How did you get your money (legally or illegally? Justly or unjustly)
2. What are you doing with it? (Helping others or just yourself)
3. What is your money doing to you?
Those three questions, particularly the last one, deserve some thought.

As Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

With great blessing comes great responsibility.

Listening to God

2009-04-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, our congregation started a Bible reading program. Each day, people are given a scripture to read and then they are asked to answer the question, “What jumped out at you from this reading?” Too many times, we approach the Bible as something to be dissected, outlined and figured out. The goal of this activity, however, is simply to get us to listen to the word of God.

With that background, here are some of the things that I have “heard” in my readings over the past two weeks. Maybe you too will find some big ideas and phrases think about as you read them.

“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you… teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:5 and 11).

After his resurrection, “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” (John 1:20). Does “overjoyed” describe me?

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that your have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).

“From the fullness of his (God’s) grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16).

A group named “Mercy Me” sings a song called “Word of God Speak” (“Google” it if you like). It is a simple song about the need for us to stop talking about God and to start listening to what he says and wants. The truth is that it is easy to start living our lives by the wrong priorities. We need to hear from God so that we see our world, our eternity and ourselves properly.

Opening the word everyday is a good first step.

“So then faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

PS. If you are interested in receiving the scripture reading for the day, please contact me. I would gladly email them to you.

Our Father

2009-04-21T12:55:00.001-07:00

"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)

This passage, which we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, is maybe one of the most well known passages of scripture in the whole Bible. Throughout this year, at various times, we are going to spend some time looking at each part of this prayer. Today I want to concentrate on just the first two words; “Our Father”. If we only had those first two words, we would have a lot.

The word that is translated “Father” comes from a Greek word whose meaning is closer to “Daddy” than it is to “Sir”. In other words, when Jesus teaches us to pray, he teaches us to address God with a closeness and a recognition of love and relationship. God is not “far off” and completely unaware of your circumstances. Rather, he is like a loving father who cares, is nearby and who loves you. In fact, he knows you so well and loves you so much that we are told, “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30). The first teaching of this prayer is that God is near and that he knows you well.

Now, think for a moment about the fact that he is addressed as “Our” father. In fact, note that every pronoun in the prayer is plural. It is “Our father”, not “my father”. He says, “Give us… our daily bread”, not “Give me”. “Forgive our debts” and “Lead us not into temptation”. Our culture teaches us to keep people at arm’s length. The church, though, is a place where faith is lived in community. It is a place where we help one another and look after one another. The “Lone Ranger” was a good story, but it is not a good way to live. We need to be, and should be, connected to one another.

“Our father”… sometimes two little words can say a lot.

Undivided

2009-04-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

“It will take him three seconds.”

That was the most common guess on Sunday morning when I asked, “How long do you think it will take James to run from here to the back of the auditorium?”

I had asked one of the kids from the congregation to join me at the front during my sermon. James is an athletic little boy and the hall down which he was to run is not that long.

“Maybe it will take him five seconds, at the most”, someone else said.

How long did it actually take?

Would you believe that more than 30 seconds later he still had not reached the end of the aisle?

How can that be? Why would it take more than 10 times as long as anyone guessed it would?

The answer is simple: I kept calling him back!

When I said, “Go!” James took off like a shot. When he got about half way down the aisle, I yelled, “Whoa! Stop! Come back!” A little confused, James started running back towards me. Then I told him to stop, turn around and run back the other way again. Then I told him to stop and come back. Finally, after about seven or eight changes in direction, James just quit. He just stood there staring at me, bewildered, and would not run anymore.

You cannot get anywhere when you keep changing directions. Even very short journeys are impossible to complete when you keep going back and forth.

Jesus, himself, often spoke about the need for a focus on one thing.

“A kingdom divided against itself will be ruined; and a house divided against itself will fall” (Luke 11:17).

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).

Maybe my favorite picture concerning this principle comes from the pen of James when he writes, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water” (verses 10-12).

God does not want our faith to be just one thing among many that compete for our attention. Rather, faith should be in the center of everything. It should affect our choices, our priorities, our values and how we live each day.

Conflicted and competing influences get us nowhere. We cannot run toward God and away from him at the same time.

Be There

2009-04-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

“Eighty percent of success in life is just showing up” – Woody Allen.

This past weekend was Homecoming at my Bible college and it was also my twenty year class reunion (Yes, I am that old!). At first I thought, “I don’t want to go. I do not keep in touch with any of those people. Why would I give up a whole weekend to travel up there to see people that I have nothing to do with anymore. Oh sure, I may have received a few nasty emails from people who were expecting me to be there, but so what? I am an adult and I can decide what I want to do, or, in this case, not do, right?”

Then I began to wonder, “What if it is important for me to go? What if I would really enjoy catching up with all those people again? Maybe it would be fun after all! Maybe I would find that it was worth the effort to show up.”

Guess what happened: I went and I had a good time!

In 2004, country singer Keith Urban released an album called “Be Here”. The chorus of the first song on the CD, “Days go by”, sums up the theme of the entire album when it says, “you better start livin’ right now”. In other words, you only get one chance to live your life and experience things, so make the best of it.

I wonder how many good things we have let slip by simply because it seemed like too much effort to “show up” and “Be there”. As we have pointed out many times in this space, “The important things rarely seem urgent and the urgent things are rarely important”. Which one are you focused on?

Easter weekend is a time when many think about “important things” rather than just “urgent ones”. One of the important things to think about is the reunion that is going to take place at the end of time. First Thessalonians four says, “The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (verses 16-18).

It is my hope and prayer that you will “Be there” and “show up” for that reunion.

May nothing in the world keep you from it.