Few and far between is how I would describe last night. It was one of those rare times when my wife and I had an evening alone at home. No kids, no running around, no interruptions, no pressure! We decided to rent a movie from Block Buster called "The Gospel". If you enjoy Black Gospel choir music then you will love this movie as the music is quite spectacular. It is basically a prodigal son story and the acting is definitely "B" rated. While we were standing at the check out Cheryl noticed the motto of the Block Buster staff.
It reads: "At Block Buster, our employees are empowered, authorized and committed to taking care of you." Pretty heavy duty stuff for a movie rental outlet half full of teenagers receiving minimum wage for their efforts!
We chuckled and thought that this would be a good slogan for a church leadership team. At Peachland Community Church our leadership is empowered, authorized and committed to taking care of you!
I like it!
God is good all the time
Information, audio sermon files, short writings about faith and life and how these two intersect, photos, and more.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
The Case of the Missing Mojo!
This morning I went out to leave early for my work out and my truck wouldn't start. It just kept turning over and over. I checked under the hood to see if something obvious had happened but saw nothing. I hopped back in and noticed my gas gauge was on empty and I mean right empty. No gas No go! Someone had come and taken my gas out of my tank in my truck while it was parked in my driveway at some point in the night. I think it was just under half full when I parked it last time.
So, I guess I will have to go out and buy a key entry gas cap so I don't have to go this trouble of running out of fuel and the expense of the lost petro!
We live in a fallen world but...
God is still Good all the time.
So, I guess I will have to go out and buy a key entry gas cap so I don't have to go this trouble of running out of fuel and the expense of the lost petro!
We live in a fallen world but...
God is still Good all the time.
Friday, January 20, 2006
The Measuring Wall
Its been a long time since my last note. So many things have happened, the good the bad and the ugly have been a part of my daily routine. One of things that was a big deal was lining up our kids against the corner wall in the kitchen and measuring their growth. It is fascinating to me. I live with them everyday of their lives and I don't notice the growth. That is I don't notice the growth until it is time to buy some shoes or pants or whatever! The biggest growth spurt in recent times goes to Paige. She must have grown a full 3+ inches in one year a while back. But needless to say, they are all growing up and there is nothing any of them can do about it. We ended up teasing Paige about her resistance to growing up. She used to cry when someone would say "my how you've grown" because she didn't want to grow older or grow up. But, all the crying in the world cant stop the growth that the body is created to go through.
Since I am in an apprentice type mood these days it didn't take me long to start seeing some interesting parallels between my girls growth spurt and the need to have a growing faith as well. We feed the body, we feed our faith, we exercise our bodies, we exercise our faith, we measure the bodies growth and we measure the growth of our faith. One thing remains the same, we are meant to grow and it would quickly be seen as a serious problem if growth suddenly stopped when we know it should be happening.
Every once in a while we need take out the pencil, line up the girls, back to the measuring wall, place the pencil on the top of the head and make the mark. I think every once in a while we need to take out our pencil, back our faith up against the measuring wall, place the pencil on top and make our mark. Stand back and see the results... Growing?
Since I am in an apprentice type mood these days it didn't take me long to start seeing some interesting parallels between my girls growth spurt and the need to have a growing faith as well. We feed the body, we feed our faith, we exercise our bodies, we exercise our faith, we measure the bodies growth and we measure the growth of our faith. One thing remains the same, we are meant to grow and it would quickly be seen as a serious problem if growth suddenly stopped when we know it should be happening.
Every once in a while we need take out the pencil, line up the girls, back to the measuring wall, place the pencil on the top of the head and make the mark. I think every once in a while we need to take out our pencil, back our faith up against the measuring wall, place the pencil on top and make our mark. Stand back and see the results... Growing?
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Blah Blah Blah
Wow what a week it has been. First week back from a break is usually full and this one was no exception. So I finally have some time to do a little blogging. And wouldn't you know it, I seem to be at a loss for what to write about. Our family is busy enjoying all their new Christmas toys, thanks to everyone for all the spoiling over the Christmas season. We had one of the best Christmas times on record. It was especially nice to re-meet Nyah and then to also get to know Avery and Ethan a bit better as well. What great kids they are all turning out to be. We are looking forward to the new addition in a few months from Chris and Jamie.
Well, I suppose one of things I haven't mentioned is that I received an invitation to become the chaplain for the local Legion. My instalment ceremony is Monday the 23rd - Election Day! I have taken on this task reluctantly and decided to say yes to it based on a 3 month evaluation where-by if the load is too much I will step down from being chaplain. I look forward to hearing all the stories that go with our war vets. Peachland has quite a few vets living in it. We have a very active Legion here with a membership of around 500 folks. The Legion crowd is a group of folks in town that I don't (for the most part) know. I know I am going to enjoy getting to know these Peachlanders.
My friend Blair Bates has worked for a couple of years to put together a Music CD and it was finished this past week as well. He is pretty excited about it and I have listened to it and he really has done a good job. I hope the sales go well for him and that his music is well received by those who listen to it. If you want to check out his Cd here is a link for his website www.journeymusic.ca
Today is my day off and I am glad I get a day to rest and get ready for the new week to come. Today at 3 pm I am off to pick up my girls and hustle them all over to the eye doctors for their regularly scheduled eye appoints. That should prove to be a real eye opener! Ha-ha.
Any way, have a good day everyone.
God is Good All the Time!
Well, I suppose one of things I haven't mentioned is that I received an invitation to become the chaplain for the local Legion. My instalment ceremony is Monday the 23rd - Election Day! I have taken on this task reluctantly and decided to say yes to it based on a 3 month evaluation where-by if the load is too much I will step down from being chaplain. I look forward to hearing all the stories that go with our war vets. Peachland has quite a few vets living in it. We have a very active Legion here with a membership of around 500 folks. The Legion crowd is a group of folks in town that I don't (for the most part) know. I know I am going to enjoy getting to know these Peachlanders.
My friend Blair Bates has worked for a couple of years to put together a Music CD and it was finished this past week as well. He is pretty excited about it and I have listened to it and he really has done a good job. I hope the sales go well for him and that his music is well received by those who listen to it. If you want to check out his Cd here is a link for his website www.journeymusic.ca
Today is my day off and I am glad I get a day to rest and get ready for the new week to come. Today at 3 pm I am off to pick up my girls and hustle them all over to the eye doctors for their regularly scheduled eye appoints. That should prove to be a real eye opener! Ha-ha.
Any way, have a good day everyone.
God is Good All the Time!
Monday, January 02, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Christmas season always brings with it such high heights and then suddenly it's all over and done and life goes back to the glory of the grind. Whoosh is the sound that comes to mind when I think of it all! Then the first day of the New Year comes leaving behind a whole year for good and starting a new one once again! It is a clean slate, a fresh new start, an exciting beginning. The whole combination of spending time with family, shopping, seeking out a few deals between Christmas and new years, checking out a couple of movies, (fun with Dick and Jane was great), driving great distances, eating rich foods, staying up late, getting up early, laughing and reminiscing, missing some folks who we haven'’t seen in many Christmas'’s, saying all those yucky good-bye's, getting home, unpacking and settling in, seems to leave me in a reflective state of mind. I seem drawn to examine my journey, drawn to sitting in my favourite chair, to sip a hot cup of fresh coffee and contemplate the Lord of the past year and the same Lord of the New Year that's on its way in a big hurry!
I always like it when I get a "word". By that I mean a mental picture of what I sense the New Year will be like for me. An image of what I hope to look like at the end of the year in my life. An all inclusive "word" that just seems to be where I am headed based to a large extent on the experiences of the past year. Last year was the word "reason", taken from the book of Isaiah when we are instructed to come and "reason" with the Lord! As I look back I see the progress made in that particular area of my life. I feel that I have grown more reflective, more communicative, more prayer-full in my approach to life this past year. Thanks Lord for this gracious and spacious place you'’ve led me too in my journey. This year the word is "apprentice". I see myself as entering into a new and deeper relationship with Jesus. I feel as eager as those on the T.V. show apprentice to be like their master, to learn his ways, to understand his teachings, to follow in his footsteps and too becoming more skillful with the tools of his trade. I see myself growing deeper, moving farther along, and soaring just a bit higher than I have ever been before. Yes, I believe the word for 2006 is apprentice. "If any one would be my apprentice, he must take up his cross and follow me..." Jesus once said. Yes Lord, I am enrolling in your apprentice program in 2006. I am taking up my cross, I am counting both the negative and the positive costs that come with following you. And, I will follow you. I will be more like you by the grace of God come January 1, 2007. God is good all the time!
I always like it when I get a "word". By that I mean a mental picture of what I sense the New Year will be like for me. An image of what I hope to look like at the end of the year in my life. An all inclusive "word" that just seems to be where I am headed based to a large extent on the experiences of the past year. Last year was the word "reason", taken from the book of Isaiah when we are instructed to come and "reason" with the Lord! As I look back I see the progress made in that particular area of my life. I feel that I have grown more reflective, more communicative, more prayer-full in my approach to life this past year. Thanks Lord for this gracious and spacious place you'’ve led me too in my journey. This year the word is "apprentice". I see myself as entering into a new and deeper relationship with Jesus. I feel as eager as those on the T.V. show apprentice to be like their master, to learn his ways, to understand his teachings, to follow in his footsteps and too becoming more skillful with the tools of his trade. I see myself growing deeper, moving farther along, and soaring just a bit higher than I have ever been before. Yes, I believe the word for 2006 is apprentice. "If any one would be my apprentice, he must take up his cross and follow me..." Jesus once said. Yes Lord, I am enrolling in your apprentice program in 2006. I am taking up my cross, I am counting both the negative and the positive costs that come with following you. And, I will follow you. I will be more like you by the grace of God come January 1, 2007. God is good all the time!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
over the top christmas lights
check out this, these people have way to much spare time!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6883449590273474624&q=wizards+of+winter
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6883449590273474624&q=wizards+of+winter
Faith-musings
Thanks for sparking a bit of thought and thinking about faith Chris. I have been on a bit of a crusade myself regarding faith and being full of faith. Biblically, there are a few different ways in which the word faith is used. The most Holy Faith would be the set of doctrinal truths, as we would say it today our Statement of Faith. Then there is faith used as the broad sense, the way of faith, we would say today the Christian faith. Then there is faith that is described in Hebrews 11:1 the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. The essence of this faith is assurance and conviction. It is full of life, it is full of hope, it is full of love and it is full of the eternal. It is full of God as God is completely faith-full.
My Christmas message this year focused on the supernatural aspect of the Christmas story. Why did God pull back the curtain so we could read of the supernatural goings on of the angels, of dreams, of the Holy Spirit "overshadowing", of Prophecies, worshippers and prayers. Because the whole story must be believed by faith. Not just faith because we weren't there but faith that any one part of the entire story could somehow be true! Zechariah's silenced voice from disbelief, Mary's servant obedience because she believed by faith in the word of the angel regarding "nothing being impossible with God", The shepherds angelic visitation, Joseph's consistent obedience to his spiritual dreams, Simeons Holy Spirit promise of actually seeing the Lord's salvation, Anna's prophetic utterance, Wise men following a star that disappeared and then reappeared directly above the place where Jesus was and then going home a different way because of a spiritual dream. The whole story comes off so NON-WESTERN, by that I mean so mystical and that it must be accompanied with faith to believe it.
My prayer these days is that I would be a man full of faith; that I would full of assurance that God with me all the time, fully convinced that God can do the impossible in my life, my family, my relationships and my church. Full of faith that is growing day by day until I see him face to face and faith becomes sight.
God is Good- All the Time!
My Christmas message this year focused on the supernatural aspect of the Christmas story. Why did God pull back the curtain so we could read of the supernatural goings on of the angels, of dreams, of the Holy Spirit "overshadowing", of Prophecies, worshippers and prayers. Because the whole story must be believed by faith. Not just faith because we weren't there but faith that any one part of the entire story could somehow be true! Zechariah's silenced voice from disbelief, Mary's servant obedience because she believed by faith in the word of the angel regarding "nothing being impossible with God", The shepherds angelic visitation, Joseph's consistent obedience to his spiritual dreams, Simeons Holy Spirit promise of actually seeing the Lord's salvation, Anna's prophetic utterance, Wise men following a star that disappeared and then reappeared directly above the place where Jesus was and then going home a different way because of a spiritual dream. The whole story comes off so NON-WESTERN, by that I mean so mystical and that it must be accompanied with faith to believe it.
My prayer these days is that I would be a man full of faith; that I would full of assurance that God with me all the time, fully convinced that God can do the impossible in my life, my family, my relationships and my church. Full of faith that is growing day by day until I see him face to face and faith becomes sight.
God is Good- All the Time!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Memories from frozen water
It has been cold enough this year to have an out door skating rink. I know, I know, that is not a big deal to you all but to us here in the mild Okanagan it's a real treat. This year the fire department got a few of it's members to volunteer to make a terrific outdoor skating rink a little way from our house. There is quite a fine art to this procedure and it as taken a few seasons to get it right. Basically, I think you just can't be in any kind of a hurry. One must put thin layers of water down because if you put to much water down at one time the top freezes before the bottom and forms air pockets. And skate blades and air pockets in ice don't mix. I am excited to go over and skate around a bit.
I was thinking about the times when me and a bunch of friends would go skating on the ponds and lakes around B'lodge. We had such a great time except of course for solidly frozen feet that came with it! That nasty sensation of the THAW! When your toes ache right up to the top of your knees! The uncomfortable feeling of taking chilled feet and putting them into ice cold boots! Did I say we had a great time???? I remember freaking out a couple of times when we heard a huge crack as the ice shifted and made a sharp cracking sound. Ever see 15 kids skate for the edges all at the same time. I even remember taking a vehicle out on the ice surface and spinning doughnuts as everything in the cab was tossed from side to side! Oh what fun it is to ride! (Yes dad that was your vehicle!)
Guess I'll just have to find some time before we head for B'lodge and home for Christmas to take the kids over for a skate on the new out door rink. Should be a good time. Make a few of our own memories on frozen water.
Have a good day everyone!
God is good--all the time!
I was thinking about the times when me and a bunch of friends would go skating on the ponds and lakes around B'lodge. We had such a great time except of course for solidly frozen feet that came with it! That nasty sensation of the THAW! When your toes ache right up to the top of your knees! The uncomfortable feeling of taking chilled feet and putting them into ice cold boots! Did I say we had a great time???? I remember freaking out a couple of times when we heard a huge crack as the ice shifted and made a sharp cracking sound. Ever see 15 kids skate for the edges all at the same time. I even remember taking a vehicle out on the ice surface and spinning doughnuts as everything in the cab was tossed from side to side! Oh what fun it is to ride! (Yes dad that was your vehicle!)
Guess I'll just have to find some time before we head for B'lodge and home for Christmas to take the kids over for a skate on the new out door rink. Should be a good time. Make a few of our own memories on frozen water.
Have a good day everyone!
God is good--all the time!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Christmas: Seeds of the Eternal
Lately I have been quite interested in the current surge of attention in our culture toward being entertained by the realities of the spiritual realm. There is a large volume of "spiritual" entertainment that has come over the past few years. On T.V. we are watching a steady diet of the spiritual. With shows like Touched by an Angel, Medium, The Ghost Whisperer, and Missing all relying on the spiritual to help solve crimes and other such type stories. From the movie theatres we have the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter and now the much anticipated C.S. Lewis Classic The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. Certainly they are all classified as fantasy and I don’t want to take this too far, however, the stories that these great movies are made from are from classical books.
These books have had a significant influence upon our modern society. Most of that influence comes in the form of subtle (and at certain points in the stories not so subtle) spiritual content. And the reading/viewing public really eats it up!
Evil is real. However, evil can be overcome by good. Hate, vengeance, power, manipulation can all be overcome by love, forgiveness, courage and wisdom. The story teller’s creative abilities with these basic facts set our hearts at ease. They basically reassure us that the power of love and goodness will ultimately win over all that is rotten and evil in this world. It’s never without a fight and it always seems like evil has the upper hand for most of the story.
The bible is very clear about why we are all so fascinated with the hereafter, the other worldly, the spiritual realms. It teaches that “God has planted eternity in the human heart”. We come by this fascination honestly. You could say it is in our spiritual DNA. We long to know as much as we can about the supernatural. We believe in "lucky charms' or even "superstitions". Some will go to great lengths to pry into the darkness through witchcraft and incantations but only end up spent, depressed and disillusioned at the end of their search. But search they must for God has planted the seeds of eternity in all of our hearts.
In keeping with this theme I want to encourage all of you to check out the Christmas story. It is full of the supernatural. It is truly a spiritual story from start to finish. There were Angels coming and going and God speaking to people. Speaking to young and old alike, all of whom were searching for life and fulfillment just like the rest of us are. The Christmas story is a truly great story! Some have even gone so far as to say the greatest story ever told. However just because it is in the Bible, sadly most folks haven’t bothered to read it. But take the time this Christmas to slow down, grab a bible from somewhere (if you don’t have one give me a call we will try and get one to you somehow) and read this fascinating and wonderful story. It is found mostly in the Bible Books of Matthew and Luke, and in both cases they are in the first couple of chapters of these books. You will see that the reason God planted eternity in our hearts is for us to take interest in spiritual things and so be lead towards a relationship with him.
Please feel welcome to join our Peachland churches this season. Our schedule includes a Christmas service is on December 18th @ 10:30 AM; a Christmas Eve service from 6-7 PM of music and carol singing and a reading of the whole story of Christmas on Christmas morning @ 10:30 AM all in the Peachland Community Center. Check this local paper for times for all of our Peachland church services this season. Don’t allow the fantastic and highly spiritual story of the birth of Jesus Christ to slip past you this year. Merry Christmas everybody!
These books have had a significant influence upon our modern society. Most of that influence comes in the form of subtle (and at certain points in the stories not so subtle) spiritual content. And the reading/viewing public really eats it up!
Evil is real. However, evil can be overcome by good. Hate, vengeance, power, manipulation can all be overcome by love, forgiveness, courage and wisdom. The story teller’s creative abilities with these basic facts set our hearts at ease. They basically reassure us that the power of love and goodness will ultimately win over all that is rotten and evil in this world. It’s never without a fight and it always seems like evil has the upper hand for most of the story.
The bible is very clear about why we are all so fascinated with the hereafter, the other worldly, the spiritual realms. It teaches that “God has planted eternity in the human heart”. We come by this fascination honestly. You could say it is in our spiritual DNA. We long to know as much as we can about the supernatural. We believe in "lucky charms' or even "superstitions". Some will go to great lengths to pry into the darkness through witchcraft and incantations but only end up spent, depressed and disillusioned at the end of their search. But search they must for God has planted the seeds of eternity in all of our hearts.
In keeping with this theme I want to encourage all of you to check out the Christmas story. It is full of the supernatural. It is truly a spiritual story from start to finish. There were Angels coming and going and God speaking to people. Speaking to young and old alike, all of whom were searching for life and fulfillment just like the rest of us are. The Christmas story is a truly great story! Some have even gone so far as to say the greatest story ever told. However just because it is in the Bible, sadly most folks haven’t bothered to read it. But take the time this Christmas to slow down, grab a bible from somewhere (if you don’t have one give me a call we will try and get one to you somehow) and read this fascinating and wonderful story. It is found mostly in the Bible Books of Matthew and Luke, and in both cases they are in the first couple of chapters of these books. You will see that the reason God planted eternity in our hearts is for us to take interest in spiritual things and so be lead towards a relationship with him.
Please feel welcome to join our Peachland churches this season. Our schedule includes a Christmas service is on December 18th @ 10:30 AM; a Christmas Eve service from 6-7 PM of music and carol singing and a reading of the whole story of Christmas on Christmas morning @ 10:30 AM all in the Peachland Community Center. Check this local paper for times for all of our Peachland church services this season. Don’t allow the fantastic and highly spiritual story of the birth of Jesus Christ to slip past you this year. Merry Christmas everybody!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Labels
Maybe it's more a pastor thing than anything else. Then again maybe it is typically human for all of us. The fine art of labeling other people. As a pastor I know I tend to label others based on two basic criteria. First, by their foremost or obvious sins. So and so is a liar, that person has a shady character, this person is immoral. The second is by the way that person has either intentionally or unintentionally disappointed me. They said one thing and did another, that person dropped the ball, this person has stopped attending our fellowship. The list could tend to be long and varied for both obvious sins and disappointments. Unfortunately, when I run into these folks, I often find myself unable to look past their sins and disappointments. The labels I create put up barriers that restrict connection with some while in other cases stopping relationship all together.
How do you view people?
In Luke 7 there is a terrific story about a women who came to a Pharisee's home to see Jesus while dinner was being served. Uninvited, unwelcomed and definitely unwanted by those gathered around the table, this women put on a show of extravagant love in desperate measure by wetting Jesus feet with her tears, drying them with her hair and anointing them with expensive perfume. Those around the table had labeled her as a sinner and were busy attaching labels to Jesus because he allowed this show of desperation by letting such a women even touch him.
Jesus whole ministry drove anyone who labels others crazy! He seems to gravitate to the labeled ones. So much so that his label went something like "he is a glutton and a alcoholic and a friend of sinners!" These outcasts found love, acceptance and forgiveness in Jesus and maybe for some of them someone who didn't bother to label them by their sins and their disappointments for the first time in their entire lives.
Lord, help me to train my mind and heart to see all the people around me without attaching labels based on sins and personal disappointments. Show me how to love and accept everyone the way you did and do to this day. Amen.
How do you view people?
In Luke 7 there is a terrific story about a women who came to a Pharisee's home to see Jesus while dinner was being served. Uninvited, unwelcomed and definitely unwanted by those gathered around the table, this women put on a show of extravagant love in desperate measure by wetting Jesus feet with her tears, drying them with her hair and anointing them with expensive perfume. Those around the table had labeled her as a sinner and were busy attaching labels to Jesus because he allowed this show of desperation by letting such a women even touch him.
Jesus whole ministry drove anyone who labels others crazy! He seems to gravitate to the labeled ones. So much so that his label went something like "he is a glutton and a alcoholic and a friend of sinners!" These outcasts found love, acceptance and forgiveness in Jesus and maybe for some of them someone who didn't bother to label them by their sins and their disappointments for the first time in their entire lives.
Lord, help me to train my mind and heart to see all the people around me without attaching labels based on sins and personal disappointments. Show me how to love and accept everyone the way you did and do to this day. Amen.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Something evil this way comes
I've been agitated about something lately. It has to do with the current Christian sub-culture. By that I mean the group of saints that prefer to "hunker and bunker" as individuals and families. By that I mean those who move away from the world rather than follow Christ's simple instruction to be "in" the world but not "of" the world.
Four conversations as of late have made me wonder about those who speak of "all the evil out there in the world". To listen to them you would think that at no other time in the history of mankind has evil been so raw and ramped and unredeemable. One person said that they couldn't even listen to the radio because it is so black and depressing and negative. Another person said that the horrible destruction of property and the lives of so many from the 3 southern states was just a "cleansing" from God on all the vile things going on there. Another person said that they couldn't believe how awful it is out there in the world and that they feel so violated whenever they venture forth into society. Finally, a conversation our youth pastor had with another youth pastor whose church is right across the street from a middle school. She said she couldn't mobilize her young people to care about the hundreds of teens right across the street from where they meet. It happens that of the 15 youth 14 are home schooled individuals and they have no, natta, zip, zero relationships with any kids or teachers from that local area school. When I heard that I flipped my lid!
And that was when it struck me. Have you ever noticed that when you come from inside a cozy warm house and have to step outside the cold winter air actually seems worse than it really is? Once your out in it though, before long you slip your gloves off and undo your jacket zipper a bit and maybe tuck your scarf into one of your jacket pockets. You have adjusted to being outside and it not so bad after all. It still is winter, you still need to be mindful of hypothermia, frost bite and freezing to death but if you keep your wits about you, you can really enjoy the winter air.
If we as Christians stay in our cozy little sub-culture groups. If we never venture out into the big bad world of cold air, if we live with unnecessary fears, then whenever we do venture out, or hear a radio or news broadcast we will be "shocked" at how "awful" it is out there. This then only fuels our desire to keep away from those bad evil people out there. And, sadly on and on it goes...
There I ranted. I got this off of my chest. I believe there is a need for fellowship, for meeting together and experiencing the safety of healthy fellowship. But then we must come down off the mountain to the valley below full of people all searching for life, love, liberty, and longing to leave legacies. Unfortunately they end up being deceived into many different things that rob, steal and kill those dreams. Boy do they need the good news. Just any old good news feels like some alien force they are so used to hearing bad news most the time. If they were to hear our conversations about them and how awful they are I am quite sure they would be unwilling to come in from the cold and experience the warmth of the love of Jesus through us.
Four conversations as of late have made me wonder about those who speak of "all the evil out there in the world". To listen to them you would think that at no other time in the history of mankind has evil been so raw and ramped and unredeemable. One person said that they couldn't even listen to the radio because it is so black and depressing and negative. Another person said that the horrible destruction of property and the lives of so many from the 3 southern states was just a "cleansing" from God on all the vile things going on there. Another person said that they couldn't believe how awful it is out there in the world and that they feel so violated whenever they venture forth into society. Finally, a conversation our youth pastor had with another youth pastor whose church is right across the street from a middle school. She said she couldn't mobilize her young people to care about the hundreds of teens right across the street from where they meet. It happens that of the 15 youth 14 are home schooled individuals and they have no, natta, zip, zero relationships with any kids or teachers from that local area school. When I heard that I flipped my lid!
And that was when it struck me. Have you ever noticed that when you come from inside a cozy warm house and have to step outside the cold winter air actually seems worse than it really is? Once your out in it though, before long you slip your gloves off and undo your jacket zipper a bit and maybe tuck your scarf into one of your jacket pockets. You have adjusted to being outside and it not so bad after all. It still is winter, you still need to be mindful of hypothermia, frost bite and freezing to death but if you keep your wits about you, you can really enjoy the winter air.
If we as Christians stay in our cozy little sub-culture groups. If we never venture out into the big bad world of cold air, if we live with unnecessary fears, then whenever we do venture out, or hear a radio or news broadcast we will be "shocked" at how "awful" it is out there. This then only fuels our desire to keep away from those bad evil people out there. And, sadly on and on it goes...
There I ranted. I got this off of my chest. I believe there is a need for fellowship, for meeting together and experiencing the safety of healthy fellowship. But then we must come down off the mountain to the valley below full of people all searching for life, love, liberty, and longing to leave legacies. Unfortunately they end up being deceived into many different things that rob, steal and kill those dreams. Boy do they need the good news. Just any old good news feels like some alien force they are so used to hearing bad news most the time. If they were to hear our conversations about them and how awful they are I am quite sure they would be unwilling to come in from the cold and experience the warmth of the love of Jesus through us.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Double Double
2 Ki 2:7-10 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied. "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours — otherwise not."
Who do you know that would answer the question of Elijah the way Elisha did? Who do you know that would ask the question Elijah did of Elisha?
Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you? Tell me what is in your heart? Tell me what is the deepest passion of your soul? Tell me what you desire above all else in this world? Tell me what you see in me that you desire the most?
What if you asked this question of someone you know? What if you asked a close companion what they would want from you before you died? What is the most significant thing you possess that others would want a double portion of if given the chance?
I want a double portion of your spirit. I want what I can't have. I want the most significant thing about you Elijah- your spirit. After following you around for some time now I desire what you have so much and I want it in double portions! I want the boldness you have for what is right, I want the wisdom you possess to pass along to others, I want the devotion you have for the Lord and his work. I want the prayer life you exhibit. I want the miracle working power. I want the prophetic mantle. I want the leadership.
Only Only
I I
want want
twice twice
as as
much much
as as
you you
have! have!
I want to ask for the hard thing. The thing that appears really "out there" to most others. I don't want to settle for the status quo. I want to ask for the things that look really difficult and a lot desperate. There is no guts nor glory is playing it safe all the time.
Give me a double portion of the spirit of Elisha!
Amen!
Who do you know that would answer the question of Elijah the way Elisha did? Who do you know that would ask the question Elijah did of Elisha?
Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you? Tell me what is in your heart? Tell me what is the deepest passion of your soul? Tell me what you desire above all else in this world? Tell me what you see in me that you desire the most?
What if you asked this question of someone you know? What if you asked a close companion what they would want from you before you died? What is the most significant thing you possess that others would want a double portion of if given the chance?
I want a double portion of your spirit. I want what I can't have. I want the most significant thing about you Elijah- your spirit. After following you around for some time now I desire what you have so much and I want it in double portions! I want the boldness you have for what is right, I want the wisdom you possess to pass along to others, I want the devotion you have for the Lord and his work. I want the prayer life you exhibit. I want the miracle working power. I want the prophetic mantle. I want the leadership.
Only Only
I I
want want
twice twice
as as
much much
as as
you you
have! have!
I want to ask for the hard thing. The thing that appears really "out there" to most others. I don't want to settle for the status quo. I want to ask for the things that look really difficult and a lot desperate. There is no guts nor glory is playing it safe all the time.
Give me a double portion of the spirit of Elisha!
Amen!
Friday, November 18, 2005
Expectations
How high are your expectations? I have been wondering about a quote that I read some time ago. The quote went something like this... "Christians in general are far to easily pleased." The context had to do with our deep down core value of faith. Faith in what we believe God can accomplish through us or even just what God can do period! It has to do with setting our expectations of what God wants to do too low; With being more and more satisfied with the status quo: With being less and less concerned with risking for God or exchanging that heart of passionate calculated risk for passion for an increasingly comfortable way of living. It has to do with expecting Christ to change peoples hearts and lives when we pray for them; Rather than hoping our prayers get answered so we don't look to ridiculous in front of others. It has to do with being desperate and recognizing our pathetic nature and how we are to be pitied above the other creatures of God's creation.
I sometimes wonder at the western idea of what commitment means. It is a word that gets thrown around a fair bit in church circles. But what does it refer to? It may mean greater attendance at church functions more than it means stepping out and taking a risk of faith by being vulnerable and honest with fears and heaven forbid some honest tears. It may mean supporting financially or spending more time in prayer and word study to some. But what if all it means is that instead of endlessly studying or endlessly praying or endlessly attending meetings we actually step out and minister God's powerful love to lost, lonely and mostly unaccepted people in our communities?
I love this story. It sets my heart and imagination aflame. I like it but I hate it at the same time. I like it because it shows there could be so much more that I expect. I hate it because I know how many arrows I would have stuck in the ground? I will let the story do the rest so here it is.
"2 Kings 13:14-20 Elisha came down sick. It was the sickness of which he would soon die. Jehoash king of Israel paid him a visit. When he saw him he wept openly, crying, "My father, my father! Chariot and horsemen of Israel!" Elisha told him, "Go and get a bow and some arrows." The king brought him the bow and arrows. Then he told the king, "Put your hand on the bow." He put his hand on the bow. Then Elisha put his hand over the hand of the king. Elisha said, "Now open the east window." He opened it. Then he said, "Shoot!" And he shot. "The arrow of GOD's salvation!" exclaimed Elisha. "The arrow of deliverance from Aram! You will do battle against Aram until there's nothing left of it." "Now pick up the other arrows," said Elisha. He picked them up. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground." The king struck the ground three times and then quit. The Holy Man became angry with him: "Why didn't you hit the ground five or six times? Then you would beat Aram until he was finished. As it is, you'll defeat him three times only." Then Elisha died and they buried him.
The holy man became angry that the king had such low expectations of the "arrow of God's Salvation".
How many arrows would you have struck the ground with?
I sometimes wonder at the western idea of what commitment means. It is a word that gets thrown around a fair bit in church circles. But what does it refer to? It may mean greater attendance at church functions more than it means stepping out and taking a risk of faith by being vulnerable and honest with fears and heaven forbid some honest tears. It may mean supporting financially or spending more time in prayer and word study to some. But what if all it means is that instead of endlessly studying or endlessly praying or endlessly attending meetings we actually step out and minister God's powerful love to lost, lonely and mostly unaccepted people in our communities?
I love this story. It sets my heart and imagination aflame. I like it but I hate it at the same time. I like it because it shows there could be so much more that I expect. I hate it because I know how many arrows I would have stuck in the ground? I will let the story do the rest so here it is.
"2 Kings 13:14-20 Elisha came down sick. It was the sickness of which he would soon die. Jehoash king of Israel paid him a visit. When he saw him he wept openly, crying, "My father, my father! Chariot and horsemen of Israel!" Elisha told him, "Go and get a bow and some arrows." The king brought him the bow and arrows. Then he told the king, "Put your hand on the bow." He put his hand on the bow. Then Elisha put his hand over the hand of the king. Elisha said, "Now open the east window." He opened it. Then he said, "Shoot!" And he shot. "The arrow of GOD's salvation!" exclaimed Elisha. "The arrow of deliverance from Aram! You will do battle against Aram until there's nothing left of it." "Now pick up the other arrows," said Elisha. He picked them up. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground." The king struck the ground three times and then quit. The Holy Man became angry with him: "Why didn't you hit the ground five or six times? Then you would beat Aram until he was finished. As it is, you'll defeat him three times only." Then Elisha died and they buried him.
The holy man became angry that the king had such low expectations of the "arrow of God's Salvation".
How many arrows would you have struck the ground with?
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Discouragement
What do you do when you are discouraged? I have now been asked that question 3 times over the past 36 hours. All of the comments were made in regard to our little church. Over the past 4 years we have been in a steady decline in attendance, participation, ownership, commitment and finances. We have a pretty solid core of about 40-50 people who rarely miss out on a Sunday morning gathering. We have about that many or maybe a bit more involved in our Life Groups on a faithful basis and we have a life group meeting every day of the week except Sunday's. We have new faith, we have pre faith, and we have immature, maturing and mature christians and ages ranging from 0 - 70 within the fellowship. However, over the past 3 months several long time attendees and others have left to find "greener pastures". Many have said that they love our church, they don't want to leave our church but they feel they must leave and often for "family" type reasons (at least that's the one they admit too). "Our kids need more"; "our youth need more"; "our children attend this other fellowship"; "some of our needs are not being met"; are the vast majority of statements used to describe why people are leaving. In most respects it is basically consumer driven not Holy Spirit driven. Also, the ghost of past success has never really left us alone. We used to have 230 on a regular basis to church; 60-70 children in Sunday School; 40-50 young people in our youth ministry. We used to have so much extra money that we wondered what God wanted us to do with it and now we can barely pay my salary. And so, discouragement seems to be the dominant conversation people are having over coffee with others. This tends to breed more and more discouragement and on and on it goes.
I have a pattern that I follow whenever I start to get that discouraged feeling. Mostly it starts with talking out-loud to myself and that usually while I am driving (or mowing the lawn). This is usually where I work out some of the angrier parts of my feeling of discouragement. Then after I do that I start to lay out the scenario as I perceive it in my mind to God. Then I begin asking the Lord for his perspective on the situation. Then I begin to praise him and seek the Lord to renew my mind, heart and emotions and bring me a refreshing sense of his power and Joy (strength).
I started this process many years ago while I was still in high school after I heard the story of David found in 1 Sam. 30:1-6. The families of David and his merry men had been taken captive by the Amelikites. They had attacked the city, burned it to the ground and took everyone in it captive while David and his men were off raiding the Philistines. When they got back you can imagine the horror, anger and discouragement of the men as they find that all that mattered most to them was gone. This slowly turned to blame and then quickly to rage against David as their leader. Then in verse 6 it records what David did, it says; 1 Sa 30:6 David was now in serious trouble because his men were very bitter about losing their wives and children, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
Since hearing this I have made it a growing practice/discipline not to try and find strength in anything else except in the Lord. It seems clear to me that there really is no where else to turn to rid myself of discouragement. And, it is something that I can do several times a day if the need warrants it.
Maybe if you find yourself discouraged today this scripture can help you. The Word of God can help you find strength and courage to face whatever it is you are facing in the strength that the Lord wants to provide for you. What else is there to do with the nasty little beast called discouragement?
I have a pattern that I follow whenever I start to get that discouraged feeling. Mostly it starts with talking out-loud to myself and that usually while I am driving (or mowing the lawn). This is usually where I work out some of the angrier parts of my feeling of discouragement. Then after I do that I start to lay out the scenario as I perceive it in my mind to God. Then I begin asking the Lord for his perspective on the situation. Then I begin to praise him and seek the Lord to renew my mind, heart and emotions and bring me a refreshing sense of his power and Joy (strength).
I started this process many years ago while I was still in high school after I heard the story of David found in 1 Sam. 30:1-6. The families of David and his merry men had been taken captive by the Amelikites. They had attacked the city, burned it to the ground and took everyone in it captive while David and his men were off raiding the Philistines. When they got back you can imagine the horror, anger and discouragement of the men as they find that all that mattered most to them was gone. This slowly turned to blame and then quickly to rage against David as their leader. Then in verse 6 it records what David did, it says; 1 Sa 30:6 David was now in serious trouble because his men were very bitter about losing their wives and children, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
Since hearing this I have made it a growing practice/discipline not to try and find strength in anything else except in the Lord. It seems clear to me that there really is no where else to turn to rid myself of discouragement. And, it is something that I can do several times a day if the need warrants it.
Maybe if you find yourself discouraged today this scripture can help you. The Word of God can help you find strength and courage to face whatever it is you are facing in the strength that the Lord wants to provide for you. What else is there to do with the nasty little beast called discouragement?
Friday, November 11, 2005
Don’t Forget to Remember!
I am notoriously forgetful but only when it comes to remembering things. In fact I can pretty much forget just about anything and not even feel guilty because I don'’t remember what it was I forgot! That is until someone comes along and awakens my guilt by reminding me of what it was I was supposed to have remembered. Confused yet? Me to!
It seems to me that when it comes to forgetting it can be either good or bad depending on what is supposed to be recalled to memory. It may surprise you that it can be a good thing that some things are forgotten. When horrible events happen the trauma associated with them can push those things to the back of our memories. We are designed this way as a defense mechanism and it is important that this happens to enable us to go on functioning until a more opportune time comes to deal with the trauma. Sometimes these hidden memories can lay dormant for a long time until that person is confronted with them by some event or situation that triggers the recall.
A bad thing to forget is your spouse'’s birthday or your wedding anniversary or some other important date like that. It is also a bad thing when forgetting leads to being seen as unreliable or irresponsible. This kind of forgetfulness basically devalues other people, their time and their efforts. It is very frustrating to those around us and can even sour some relationships if things don'’t improve over time.
History repeats itself because of forgetfulness. One reason that wisdom and discernment are seemingly on short supply in our day is largely do to the fact that the valuable lessons of history are forgotten. Someone once told me "“A mistake is not a mistake if you learn from it!" I think that means that if the mistake is forgotten then the lessons to be learned are also gone. Sadly we are then doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again until we remember the agony associated with it and make the necessary changes.
Tomorrow we will be reminded of the sacrifices of those who fought in wars to preserve the freedoms that most of simply take for granted. Remembrance Day is an important day for all Canadians because it gives us some practice at remembering the sacrifices of others on our behalf. Thank you to all our veterans for what they had to endure and still do endure that we might enjoy the freedoms we have.
Remembering is also a vital part of the practice of our faith in God. Often we meet and remember the great sacrifice Jesus Christ God'’s only Son made when he died for the sins of the world. We also have a designated time on the calendar to help us to remember this event called Good Friday and also Easter Sunday. Often God warns us in the bible not to forget. Instead we are to memorize, to recall, and to bring to mind the teachings of God and obey them in order to bring ourselves into lives filled with great joy.
So I guess I am saying don'’t forget to remember the sacrifices of others on our behalf. From the sacrifice of the men and women of war to the sacrifice of the Son of God on our behalf, we must never forget by intensionally seeking to remember.
It seems to me that when it comes to forgetting it can be either good or bad depending on what is supposed to be recalled to memory. It may surprise you that it can be a good thing that some things are forgotten. When horrible events happen the trauma associated with them can push those things to the back of our memories. We are designed this way as a defense mechanism and it is important that this happens to enable us to go on functioning until a more opportune time comes to deal with the trauma. Sometimes these hidden memories can lay dormant for a long time until that person is confronted with them by some event or situation that triggers the recall.
A bad thing to forget is your spouse'’s birthday or your wedding anniversary or some other important date like that. It is also a bad thing when forgetting leads to being seen as unreliable or irresponsible. This kind of forgetfulness basically devalues other people, their time and their efforts. It is very frustrating to those around us and can even sour some relationships if things don'’t improve over time.
History repeats itself because of forgetfulness. One reason that wisdom and discernment are seemingly on short supply in our day is largely do to the fact that the valuable lessons of history are forgotten. Someone once told me "“A mistake is not a mistake if you learn from it!" I think that means that if the mistake is forgotten then the lessons to be learned are also gone. Sadly we are then doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again until we remember the agony associated with it and make the necessary changes.
Tomorrow we will be reminded of the sacrifices of those who fought in wars to preserve the freedoms that most of simply take for granted. Remembrance Day is an important day for all Canadians because it gives us some practice at remembering the sacrifices of others on our behalf. Thank you to all our veterans for what they had to endure and still do endure that we might enjoy the freedoms we have.
Remembering is also a vital part of the practice of our faith in God. Often we meet and remember the great sacrifice Jesus Christ God'’s only Son made when he died for the sins of the world. We also have a designated time on the calendar to help us to remember this event called Good Friday and also Easter Sunday. Often God warns us in the bible not to forget. Instead we are to memorize, to recall, and to bring to mind the teachings of God and obey them in order to bring ourselves into lives filled with great joy.
So I guess I am saying don'’t forget to remember the sacrifices of others on our behalf. From the sacrifice of the men and women of war to the sacrifice of the Son of God on our behalf, we must never forget by intensionally seeking to remember.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Gumption
I liked this so I thought I would just pass it along to the rest of you...
Reading a Chuck Swindoll devotional recently pointed me to Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and a reminder of a little-heard word these days, gumption. Pirsig writes:
"I like the word gumption because it's so homely and so forlorn and so out of style it looks as if it needs a friend and isn't likely to reject anyone who comes along. It's an old Scottish word, once used a lot by pioneers, but . . . seems to have all but dropped out of use.
"A person filled with gumption doesn't sit around, dissipating and stewing about things. He's at the front of the train of his own awareness, watching to see what's up the track and meeting it when it comes."
As Pirsig applies gumption to life, he does so behind the word picture of repairing a motorcycle:
"If you're going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool. If you haven't got that you might as well gather up all the other tools and put them away, because they won't do you any good.
"Gumption is the psychic gasoline that keeps the whole thing going. If you haven't got it, there is no way the motorcycle can possibly be fixed. But if you have got it and know how to keep it, there's absolutely no way in the whole world that motorcycle can keep from getting fixed. It's bound to happen. Therefore the thing that must be monitored at all times and preserved before anything else is gumption."
Sanctified gumption. It's not only handy when you're repairing a motorcycle; it's downright essential to be an effective preacher and church leader( or just a plain ordinary person).
Michael Duduit
Reading a Chuck Swindoll devotional recently pointed me to Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and a reminder of a little-heard word these days, gumption. Pirsig writes:
"I like the word gumption because it's so homely and so forlorn and so out of style it looks as if it needs a friend and isn't likely to reject anyone who comes along. It's an old Scottish word, once used a lot by pioneers, but . . . seems to have all but dropped out of use.
"A person filled with gumption doesn't sit around, dissipating and stewing about things. He's at the front of the train of his own awareness, watching to see what's up the track and meeting it when it comes."
As Pirsig applies gumption to life, he does so behind the word picture of repairing a motorcycle:
"If you're going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool. If you haven't got that you might as well gather up all the other tools and put them away, because they won't do you any good.
"Gumption is the psychic gasoline that keeps the whole thing going. If you haven't got it, there is no way the motorcycle can possibly be fixed. But if you have got it and know how to keep it, there's absolutely no way in the whole world that motorcycle can keep from getting fixed. It's bound to happen. Therefore the thing that must be monitored at all times and preserved before anything else is gumption."
Sanctified gumption. It's not only handy when you're repairing a motorcycle; it's downright essential to be an effective preacher and church leader( or just a plain ordinary person).
Michael Duduit
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Our New Friend
Well this will be my 5th try at getting this to blog! I have had some trouble today with my computer as it keeps crashing on me and I have lost 3 entire blogs just before I posted them and one that was lost a couple of sentences into it. I was trying to write about my dear little Paige. She is most definitely a Nichol to the max. She has inherited the "spill-gene" from her father. She has the dubious distinction of being able to spill pretty much anything, anytime on her clean clothes. It always seems to happen when it matters most to be at least half ways decent looking. This weekend we hauled off to Kamloops for a rockets/blazers hockey game with D & P's camp friends. We had a great time (see the pics on Cheryl’s blog) We had not got through Kelowna when I heard from the back seat, "Dad, we need to go to Wal-Mart and buy a Tide Pen!" I had no idea what she was talking about but it turned out that her friend Janelle had given her some of her chocolate bar and she had chocolate crumbs all over her white rockets baseball shirt. It was quite a mess. So we headed into the bowels of Wal-Mart, she found a Tide Pen on sale; she applied the pen to the various areas of concern and WALAH! It was clean as a whistle! All the chocolate stains and the oil stains that surround the chocolate stains completely GONE! I wonder where the stain went one our friends said when I told them this story. Good question?
So, Paige and I now have a new best friend. The Tide Pen to the rescue! You really should try it!
So, Paige and I now have a new best friend. The Tide Pen to the rescue! You really should try it!
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Is it OK?
Recently I was meditating on some scripture and an argument of Jesus caught my attention once again. It has been a while as far as I can remember the last time I was "handled" by this passage of scripture. It is one of those passages that seem to present a conundrum. We all know that obeying the laws of God are vitally essential to life and the pursuit of being wholly holy. They are the bedrock and foundation of a growing relationship with God and of course deeply vital to managing and growing relationships with each other. The only thing the law falls short of is providing salvation but it does manage to point us to Christ who is our salvation.
Anyway, the passage is found in Lk 6:1-5 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." 5 Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
So what exactly is Jesus saying here? Each week twelve consecrated loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, would be placed on a table in the house of God, the tabernacle. This bread was called the bread of the Presence (or showbread). At the end of the week, the bread would be replaced with fresh loaves, and the old loaves would be eaten by the priests. On one occasion, the high priest gave this consecrated bread to David and his men to eat as they were fleeing from Saul (and lied about this fact). The priest understood that their need was more important than ceremonial regulations. Although the priests were the only ones allowed to eat this bread, God did not punish David because his need for food was more important than the priestly regulations that he had clearly laid out. Instead, he was emphasizing discernment and compassion in enforcing the laws, something the self-righteous Pharisees did not comprehend. People's needs are more important.
So, does this mean that this story, although stemming from the commandment concerning the Sabbath, simply gives us the freedom to interpret the laws of God, (ceremonial, civil, temple, priestly and moral) with careful discernment that in some ways may mean that we end up disobeying them?
For example....
Is it ok to lie if it is going to save a life?
Is it ok to steal if one is starving?
Is it ok to kill if one's family is being threatened?
Is it ok to remarry if one is dying from loneliness?
Is it ok to disrespect your parents if they are cruel and abusive?
Is it ok to skip a "Sabbath" rest if your livelihood depends on it?
I love it when these types of passages create some good old fashioned thought.
Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.
Anyway, the passage is found in Lk 6:1-5 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." 5 Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
So what exactly is Jesus saying here? Each week twelve consecrated loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, would be placed on a table in the house of God, the tabernacle. This bread was called the bread of the Presence (or showbread). At the end of the week, the bread would be replaced with fresh loaves, and the old loaves would be eaten by the priests. On one occasion, the high priest gave this consecrated bread to David and his men to eat as they were fleeing from Saul (and lied about this fact). The priest understood that their need was more important than ceremonial regulations. Although the priests were the only ones allowed to eat this bread, God did not punish David because his need for food was more important than the priestly regulations that he had clearly laid out. Instead, he was emphasizing discernment and compassion in enforcing the laws, something the self-righteous Pharisees did not comprehend. People's needs are more important.
So, does this mean that this story, although stemming from the commandment concerning the Sabbath, simply gives us the freedom to interpret the laws of God, (ceremonial, civil, temple, priestly and moral) with careful discernment that in some ways may mean that we end up disobeying them?
For example....
Is it ok to lie if it is going to save a life?
Is it ok to steal if one is starving?
Is it ok to kill if one's family is being threatened?
Is it ok to remarry if one is dying from loneliness?
Is it ok to disrespect your parents if they are cruel and abusive?
Is it ok to skip a "Sabbath" rest if your livelihood depends on it?
I love it when these types of passages create some good old fashioned thought.
Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
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