Adjusting the Lens

As I was sitting watching a bit of T.V , I wanted to pay attention to the commercials . Over and over they promoted everything from soap to anti-ageing creams . The push is to make you feel unhappy or discontented with what you have. Its not enough or never enough. Even watching a show where couple look for a new house or become first time buyers , the comments about things that are so trivial given for reasons they don't like a house , point to a society in the west spoiled and discontented.

We all have a world view. A filter which we see the world. Those who say they don't or have no religion , if challenged concerning how they make decisions , will soon understand a world-view at work and a under-girding religious system of belief. Even if its cobbled together. Bottom line , in the west we are dominated by a materialistic , give me more , I want more and I deserve more mind set. From the culture around us to I would argue even within our education system , greed and materialism is the dominate world view. 

So as we approach Thanksgiving Day here in Canada , I'm both thankful and content. According to the worlds eyes I really should miserable and not happy. As I struggle to find employment that this body can do well , the world tells me I should be discontented. Yes there are moments when this can happen. If I allow the world-view bombarded at me through the lens of this fallen world but when I correct it with God's truth , His love and grace sets my eyes back to 20/20 vision through His lens . 

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

(1 Timothy 6:8 ESV)

Paul in a very simple and profound way tells all believers , bottom line if you have food and clothing , be content. For when its all said and done , that should be enough . The pursuit of wealth and things are folly for one , they can be gone in a second and you can't take it with you.So may we be thankful this Thanksgiving with what God has given us and if we have more than we need , open our hands and share . Besides do we not have riches in Christ that are true riches and can never be taken away. 

Profound and True

There is something so true in this clip. Poor Charlie needs to be encouraged and given hope but instead its judge,condemn and an exaggeration of all his faults.There is a time to speak truth in someones life but if its not measured with grace,mercy and love , it is poison to the soul. Jesus would not brake the bruised reed. So are you more of a encourager or fault finder ? Can you see your own sins clearly and therefore measure your tongue with grace and love ? Or are you a Lucy , filled with a self righteous  glee in saying , look I'm not like you .

Forced Clusters or Life is Too Busy

Let me state right out front , I have nothing against small groups in Church . They can be very good and a solid way for a large church to connect but sometimes it seems to me that at times they are forced clusters of what the church should be anyway.

Just like in real life over the last 20 years or so , life has become so regulated . We have kids in everything , we work and work to have more things and between living so much like the world and occupying ourselves with its slavish lifestyle , it leaves little time for a natural time for friends to get together. So what does the Church do , regulate its time for people to get together.

Getting together for a men's group or women's group is good . We are made for fellowship and community . It is healthy and a needed thing for growth and building up as a believer. But at the same time , it sometimes does not allow for the normal building of relationships within the church. The groups become the "thing" and people put little effort as I have witnessed from my point of view in connecting outside of these cliques.

If the world is to see that we are different , should it not see how we invest in each other as being important that goes beyond a over structured and regulated system that in my minds eye , looks much like the worlds over regulated life's. Friendships should be a priority , to cultivate and build and maintain. Men to men and women to women. I'm going to say something that some may not like but here it is. In my observations between men and women in churches , women tend to be much more removed and cliquish than men . Not in all cases , but that has been my observations . Perhaps its because they trying to be too many things in this fast paced world but that is what I have witnessed.

For the last year I have deliberately took a step back to watch and unless one enters into the inner circle of small groups and assimilable within , your are a outsider.

Here is the rub with me . If your life is so busy , so over structured that unless you fit small groups into your schedule you would have no contacts with people outside of the church , then your life is too busy . I realize life happens , things do happen but if we cannot step back and cultivate friendships normally and have people smile back at you at church if you say hi , then perhaps , its the wrong church to be in . Nuff said.

Oh Is the Flesh Weak

I haven't blogged for the last couple of days because of either suffering from a kidney stone or something else that can cause much pain in the lower abdomen. I consider myself pretty tough when it comes to pain ( as my wife will verify ,I'm not your typical man,right hon ) but to try and concentrate and write anything , that is a whole other issue.

The one thing that I do know is how weak our flesh is. Its feeble really and can be laid low with something so small and simple. As I laid in pain I thought about the weakness of the disciples in the garden that fell asleep while Jesus was going through the most infinitely intense long night of soul. All Jesus asked was they wait,watch and be with Him but they couldn't . They fell asleep. Probably worn out and physically exhausted , they slept.

Man is a proud and arrogant being that rages against His creator. Think about how much we rely on our own strength , our own ability to do or be anything but in reality , we are as fragile as fine china. We put so much hope in the flesh , our bodies . But as I lay in pain , my thoughts started turning to the Lord and His promises to save us and raise us up incorruptible. The pain also reminded me of the wages of sin , death but I also rejoiced in the free gift of eternal life found in Jesus Christ.

So , yes I do not like pain ,nor do I like feeling tired and weak but it awakes me to the only hope I have is in God and Him alone , for my flesh is weak . But in Christ , even though we are wasting away on the outside , we are being renewed daily through Jesus . That is great news.

Digging in the Dirt

Over the last couple of weeks the elective that I have been involved co- facilitating called Is The Bible Reliable?led by Stephen B.Meyer, has been really fun. We have been examining the evidence that has been unearthed by digs in the middle east that even the hardest skeptic, has to admit , the Bible at the very least is reliable in its listing of cities and geographical areas that are mentioned. The same for the people mentioned .Moses is in Egypt ,not a mythical place like Asgard . Abraham lived the city of Ur , which we know existed.

It is so cool to challenge peoples perceptions that the Bible is removed from real life events. Anyone who reads the Old Testament ,has to be struck with the difference between its narratives and other religious mythologies at the time. One thing if you knew you were writing fiction , it would make real sense not to make references to real cities and people groups. Why? Because one can dig to see if what is written lines up with external evidences . Well we are 3 weeks in and guess what , we are seeing a very clear line of evidence that shows the Bible to be a amazing historical accurate document.

It may not convince a hardcore skeptic who understands , to say the word of God is true , it puts them under its moral and truth claims. But it can give us the inroad to present the gospel of Christ. To proclaim Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to awaken the dead to life.

So I love digging in the dirt , what about you?

Jason Gray "For the First Time Again" music and lyrics

Jason Gray is fast becoming one of my favourite artist. This song is a great reminder that we need the gospel everyday . That there is never a day we do not need Jesus and His cleansing fountain  that cleanses and renews.

The Gospel in Life

The gospel is preaching Jesus born of a virgin,living a sinless life (the God-man) and Him crucified for our sins and His resurrection on the third day showing what He did justifies.It is all those things and the responsibility of all to acknowledge ones sin before God,our need of Jesus ,repenting ,turning and trusting in the work of Christ.This work is of God alone but after it does not stop. What God has started , He will see it through in His people to the end . It has to to have an effect on ones world view  and life.

Granted at times we all feel its one step forward , three back but over a long stretch , one will and should see growth in how the gospel is shaping and conforming us to the image of Christ.

So as I was reading a news feeds today , I came across a story . A story that made me so sad , that it made stop and say to myself , this is a story that should make us so passionate with a heart that wants to share the gospel.

The story is gut wrenching sad . A little boy only 11 took his life thanks to being bullied. But the background fills in the details of why this young boy's heart was so hurting and lost that he felt he add no other recourse. First he lost his mom to cancer 3 years ago. Then just over a year ago was diagnosed with MS. So with  dealing with grief , now on top of that a disease that would rob him of much and eventually lead to a early death than a normal life span, was added to his plate . But the thing ,according to his dad that took the spark from his eye was the mugging at the hands of a punk in upper middle school. He had his Dad's i-phone , to listen to music and call home to see when supper was and stay in touch.This malcontent jumped him , plowed his face to the ground with force and broke his teeth. Then he was assigned a "protector" the rest of the year at his school  but was then called on to testify in a upcoming hearing against the young offender. Going back to school , his "protector" had moved on to high school and all the while this punks bodies began bullying him . Taunting and threatening him. Even the moron who did this evil cowardly  act , still had contact apparently (although he was under a restraining order -laugh now about this useless law). With the stress, the anxiety and the overwhelming battle with MS , this young boy put a bag around his head and suffocated himself in his bedroom. His Dad found him in the morning.

The gospel could have had life saving and real rubber hits the road impact in this sad tale. With all this young boy had gone through , what if the truth of Christ had impacted  this whole family's life. It could have caused a pause and a hope that simply does not exist apart from Christ and being reconciled to God.The gospel story would have brought good news in a dark place, light amid the storm clouds and an anchor amid the crushing waves that can sweep one away in this fallen world. Would the bullying still occur , yes , but in Jesus we have a great high priest that sympathizes with us. Jesus would understand this young boys struggle with being wrongly beaten , taunted and feeling forsaken.

But ultimately , the gospel could have pointed this whole situation to when everything sad will come untrue. The hope is not in this life or situations but on the hope that God is making all things new and will finish what He started when Jesus comes again. I'm not saying that life would have been easy or without  real ,profound struggles but the gospel changes how we see suffering,illness,pain,life and death.

The gospel has real , salt and earth implications . Its not just a pie in the sky thing but it gives feet to real living and real life situations. Its not some abstract thing that has no bearing on what happens even on a play ground.

So does this not fire your passion to share the good news . We should be , just so we can see people reconciled to God through Christ and escape the wrath to come. But in that great truth , real lives are changed and transformed. So my prayer for this Dad is that God will bring the gospel into his life and Jesus will become his Lord and Saviour . Bringing healing to a hurting heart. Even for the "punk" who played a huge role in this spiral down of this young boy , that he would be convicted of his sin and how he hurt in his evil act and repent before the day of judgement. The case is getting thrown out , and perhaps this young man is laughing or relieved but there is a higher court and unless he repents and trust in Christ , seeks forgiveness from this boys family , then he will not escape from this act.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ can do amazing things , for when God gets a hold of someone , the whole of life will be impacted for His glory .Nuff said.