Pastor's Blog

Got Goals? Jan 7, 2010 / 8:44 by SC

My 30s have been a great season of life for me; one of great perspective I suppose. As one songwriter puts it, “I’m old enough to see behind me, but young enough to feel my soul.” Simultaneously, it’s been a very mortal season for me. My siblings have hit their 40s, and many of my friends & acquaintances are older still. My father is now a bona fide senior citizen having slid past the 65 year benchmark (which frankly feels a little odd since I cherish many vivid memories of my dad when he was my age!). Assuming that my dad will live for 80.4 years (last year’s national average), he’d better get cracking if wants to get anything done in this next decade and a half! Honestly though, this kind of thinking is all good. It’s healthy I’m sure. But it causes a stir in my spirit that forces me to take stock of my life and ask, “What are my goals? What do I hope to accomplish with this life I’ve been given?” When I reach my life’s-end what will I be able to say I accomplished?

These are all good questions to be asking. They really are; to a point. Because in those times of pondering I am reminded by the gentle nudge of the Spirit, and have it confirmed in psalmist’s words that, “...unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” Ultimately, any noteworthy achievements that I have realized or any heights I have attained, will amount to very little lest God having achieved it through me.

So my prayer for me – and you – is that this year, this decade, and in this lifetime, God will accomplish great things as a result of your life. So, speaking as loudly to myself as anyone else – dream big dreams, aim for lofty goals, set the bar high, challenge yourself, but most of all snug –in close to God, walk with him, live for him, worry far less about what you will accomplish, and instead be amazed at what He accomplishes through you.

“O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Here’s to 2010 and beyond!

The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Nov 24, 2009 / 14:26 by SC

I was baptized immediately following my high-school graduation. I appreciate that I was nearly a full-fledged grown up at the time, since I was really able to savour the experience. In the church where I grew up, there was a jovial old couple who were unreasonably kind and encouraging of me. He was always smiling; always. But not one of those phony, keeping-up-appearances kind of smiles. He had known an authentic joy for most of his life. Around the time of my baptism, my friend told me about his experience of meeting Jesus, in particular, his experience of what Jesus had done in him through the waters of baptism. He described it this way, ?When I went down into the river?s water I really felt as though ?the old me? had died. And when I came up out of the water I could almost see my sins float away never to return.?

While the Israelites did not commonly baptize anyone, there was an annual ritual not dissimilar from my old friend?s experience. Once a year, the high priest would in essence serve as the vehicle through which the sins for the entire nation might be funnelled. The high priest first made all the necessary preparations to the tabernacle/temple, after making atonement for the Holy of Holies, the Tent of Meeting, and the Altar. Then he would bring up a live goat, lay both of his hands upon its head, and confess the sins of an entire year, of the entire nation, thereby transferring them onto this animal. Once the transaction had taken place, the goat would be led away and set free to wander off into the wilderness. The imagery in all this is astounding; the sin of a nation heading out over hill and vale eventually to disappear in the distance. Just as though our sins were bobbing along, carried away on a gentle stream, never to return.

Upon seeing Jesus approaching, St. John cried out, ?Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!? Amen.

All you need is love Oct 5, 2009 / 16:41 by SC

I enjoy watching movies. Not that I see that many, but it’s fun to hunker down in the quiet of the evening and hit “play.” After several years now of married life, I have gradually won my wife over to appreciate taking in a film together.

Very seldom do I turn a movie off, being the frugal – “that cost us $1.79 to rent” – kind of guy that I am. But last night was one of those rare exceptions, and not because of excessive violence, questionable material or even foul language. It was simply because of this particular flick’s portrayal of love. Don't get me wrong I’m all for entertainment, but this was just frustrating. And instead of enjoying some mindless, romantic-comedy mush, it all just ended up sounding like noise to my ears.

That being said, whether I like it or not, this is the culture in which we live, and the unfinished movie from last night is just one of the countless artistic voices that inform our worldview. Last night’s experience left me with the question, “is it any wonder that most people don’t seem to have the first clue about what true love is?” Particularly when their education on the topic stems from either the DVD rental rack or has a “www” in front of it?

I don’t pretend to have love all figured out; just ask my wife (on second thought, don’t!). But, by God’s grace I can confidently say that I am happily married to a woman that long ago I first chose to marry, and since then, continue to choose to stay married to, week after week, year after year. I’ve learned in my decade-plus of married life, that love is the most practical expression of the gospel. That life as it’s intended (that is, a life that follows Jesus) is marked obviously by selflessness, service, and sacrifice for others. You see, we are unlovely & sinful in God’s sight, yet Jesus served us so beautifully & ultimately in exchanging his life for ours. He set aside his position, his preferences, indeed his will, so that he might lovingly serve us. And in the case of marriage, this life of loving service is directed toward our respective partners.

The famous ‘love chapter’ (1 Cor. 13) is one that’s read at nearly every wedding I’ve ever attended. In case you’re unfamiliar with St. Paul’s words, here’s a refresher:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Funny, but that doesn’t sound similar to anything I’ve rented or Googled lately! It’s interesting that Paul follows up these words by saying that a life – regardless of how talented & capable – devoid of this brand of genuine love, sounds like the creaking of a rusty gate; just noise (kind of like last night’s movie).

May the gospel of Christ be much more than the means of my salvation & forgiveness of sins (which it is). May the gospel of Christ enable me to love & serve in a way that’s selfless, rare, and beautiful.

We’re all looking for love. I pray sincerely that you experience true Love in your life as I have. Amen.

The secret is... there is no secret! Sep 21, 2009 / 11:44 by SC

It’s an age & time when secrets abound. I must confess, my exposure to the newsstand amounts to the few moments I spend in line at the checkout waiting to pay for milk. But I am constantly amazed at how our fondness of ‘secrets’ sells magazines & tabloids by the million. Whether it’s the secret to a flat stomach, financial security, or good relationships, something within us resonates to the tune of covert information about living a life that matters (there’s a reason why the Secret is so wildly popular).

To the detriment of our own discipleship, it’s far too easy for us to apply this worldly pattern of thought to our spiritual lives. Because God – Yahweh, Adonai, Elohim, Jehovah (whichever biblical name we prefer to ascribe to Him) – is the One who reveals himself; not hides. God is the one who makes himself known time & again. He is not far-off, aloof, or distant, much less secretive.

Moses spells it out in plain language when in one of his greatest & concluding ‘sermons’ to the Israelites:

This commandment that I'm commanding you today isn't too much for you, it's not out of your reach. It's not on a high mountain—you don't have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it's not across the ocean—you don't have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. No. The word is right here and now—as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!
deut. 30:11-14 (the Message)

As both pastor & Christ-follower, I pray that the way to experience & know God would be the worst-kept secret on the planet! The apostle Paul follows-up on this as he explains Moses’ words fifteen hundred years later:

The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation.
romans 10:5-9 (the Message)

If you’ve been searching for secret paths to God; stop. Instead, introduce yourself to Jesus and he’ll lead you on the most remarkable journey of your life. In so doing, I think you’ll discover it’s been him who’s been patiently searching for you.

"...but let God transform you..." Sep 14, 2009 / 10:37 by SC

Food? Money? Sex? Recreation? When you’re ‘in neutral’ what does your mind drift to? In other words, when in your most unguarded moments, in your daydreams, where do your thoughts turn? Turns out my junior high Computer Ed. teacher was right; when it comes to how things are programmed, we are like flesh and blood computers. And the old programming maxim “garbage-in; garbage out” applies to not just to our PCs, but to our lives as well. In essence, what you put in – in this case our minds - will be expressed in one form or another as it comes out. This is the essence of what the apostle Paul’s getting at in twelfth chapter of his letter to the church in Rome.

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

I have learned – and I am perpetually relearning – that Paul is entirely correct. Transformation comes only from the inside out. In fact, the Greek word that the apostle Paul uses to describe this transformation is the root for our English word “metamorphosis” (think of the biological process through which a caterpillar becomes a butterfly).

So then, what is it that does the transforming? How, as Christ-followers, are we to be regularly & continually renewed? First, it is only because of a particular person, namely God’s Holy Spirit, that we can ever be transformed. And second, in every practical sense, it’s only through meditating, thinking on, chewing on, and digesting the word of God. The word of God becomes so internalized, spliced into our spiritual DNA, that it naturally spills out of who we are. If we allow it, God's word through the power of God's Spirit, will actually change the way we think. Amazing.

Our minds wander. They’re supposed to. Where does your journey to as it wanders? It’s good – no, it’s essential – to be asking ourselves daily as Paul points out, “Am I conforming, or am I transforming?” Well, which is it?

What are you giving up for Lent? Mar 2, 2009 / 17:28 by SC

I know, I know, for those of us with proud Anabaptist roots, we’re not so excited about the church calendar. But, whether we’re aware of it or not, the Church is at the front-end of arguably the most spiritually significant season of the year – Lent.

Apparently Lent has its origins with the early church, where followers of Christ would spend the forty or so days prior to Easter Sunday in a concentrated mode of self-examination & prayer — all in preparation for the resurrection. Why forty? Well, if you’ve read the scriptures at all, you’ll have observed the significance of the number 40. Specifically: Moses’ time spent on Mt. Sinai; the 40 days & nights of rain in the days of Noah; the Israelites’ 40 year wilderness wanderings, the great city of Ninevah’s 40-day-ultimatum a la Jonah; Jesus’ 40 day wilderness experience; the 40 hours – traditionally taught – that Jesus lay in the tomb.

For whatever reason, biblically speaking, the number forty is a big deal. So it seems fitting enough that as the church prepares to participate in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, we take forty days to do so. I suppose it’s been said it takes just twenty-eight days to form a habit. Maybe forty’s just for good measure.

So, regardless of your church orientation or tradition, perhaps this year Lent (which actually means, spring, and to stretch a definition, new life) will be the catalyst to draw close to God as we ask ourselves some tough spiritual questions. Is there anything in my life that needs to go? Is there something else that needs to get started? Has anything been tugging you away from God these days? What are you going to do about it? With the Lord’s help, what helpful habits might you put in place over the next 40 days, as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s sacrifice? Maybe Lent’s just a good excuse to get started.

Shalom.

Rambling thoughts on the gospel Dec 9, 2008 / 16:26 by PW

What is the gospel? Have we presented it right? Is something wrong with our theology?

These are just a few of the questions that I have wrestled with over the past two to three years of my life as I have been ministering in the name of Jesus Christ. For many years of my life I thought and believed that all that God requires from me is a prayer of repentance and perhaps a correct understanding of the "Romans Road". But is there more … is there something else that we have missed? Has the church missed the mark? Are there people out there who have said the "prayer" and living delusional lives when it comes to one's standing in eternity?

I know that I am saved by grace through faith … but … what else is there? I know that salvation is not earned … thank heavens that it is not earned … but there has to be more than just getting my eternity squared away and sitting back and doing whatever I want. I also know … that I can't just do what I want … Paul says what shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!

Something is missing … If we are saved by grace through faith … but yet I cannot earn my spot in heaven … by my deeds, actions and words are called to different in Christ Jesus … what is the confusion?

Why are we so afraid of presenting the whole gospel? If we made it sound like there were conditions of salvation we would be run out of town … and at the same time we know it is more than just a prayer and that this somehow fixes out eternal standing with God.

Perhaps it is our understanding of grace … we know that grace is a free gift from God and that we cannot earn our place in heaven by our deeds so that no one can boast. But … perhaps our life's response to grace is a life of energetic effort in following in the ways of Jesus Christ. Effort in how we live, effort in how we grow, effort in how we press on towards the goal, effort in how we run the race and effort in how we finish well.

Maybe … just maybe … our conversion experience … our new life in Christ … is not demonstrated in how I earn my way into heaven but rather the effort that I put into this new life in Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

“the flesh of God's kingdom” Nov 5, 2008 / 12:49 by SC

It was an exciting day, wasn't it? Consider the options. It was either the oldest presidential candidate & first female VP, or, the first African-American to receive the national nod as leader of the free world. An historic day to be sure. Why else would a quarter of a million people line the streets of Chicago late at night - or an over-tired dad stay awake on the couch - just to hear the winner's inaugural address as president elect? Despite your political brand, it truly was an inspiring moment pointing to what could be over these next four years.

And as the television cameras panned over the faces in the crowd there were a variety of emotions evident that were almost palpable; admiration, hope, relief, joy, and for many African-Americans, I'm sure a surreal sense of deep satisfaction. Not one of these emotions are bad. Yet as I stared through a tv screen & camera lens deep into these optimistic faces, so attuned to their new leader’s voice and aspirations, I had the distinct impression that so many are not just looking to a president for leadership; they are truly looking for a savior. Almost as if this young, dynamic president could save all of humanity.

Make no mistake, Jesus is clear that we are called to be an influence, the leaven, the flavor, in this world. It is God's. He formed it from nothing. He sustains it. He loves it. And yet we also know that at its most basic level, the world is fractured by sin and it won't be you, me, or any leader we might ever elect who will fix it. The wrongs will be made right, the slaves truly freed, the darkness made light, when our Savior returns in his fulness and glory. So, for now - to quote an old adage - let us never be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. Instead, let us be the flesh of God's kingdom here in our time while we watch & pray for our Leader to soon take office.