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     ‘Oh, things are going down….’, ‘I am so worried because people should be doing….’, ‘I don’t know what we can do to turn this thing around…’

     Sound familiar?  These are common statements at times of anxiety when families, churches, businesses or anything else is not going according to plan.  ‘Whose plan?’ you ask.  That is the question. 

     Eventually, the life of following Jesus has to grow from truths that we believe in Scripture into truths we know from experience.  There are always going to be basic scriptural truths that serve as the foundation of our faith.  It was true for the apostle Paul, King David and others and it will be true for us.  There is One God, Jesus Christ is God’s Son, Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead and so many others are our faith-foundations.

     Then, there are truths that go along with scripture that add to our faith to make it a solid house.  It was true for teh apostle Paul, King David and others and it will be true for us.  These truths come from experiences that we have with the Living God.  It was experience not an ancient writing that caused David to say: Even though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23).  It was experience not simply biblical truths that allowed Paul to declare: we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans

     So, what do we do when things are not going according to plan?  Well, we begin with this:

1) Recognize whose plan it is!  Usually, we are the ones who are making plans and then trying our best to get people to go along with them.  There are certain things that should happen because we have done this.  We work every angle we can to attempt to manipulate the responses of others and then when it isn’t working, we grow anxious.  We tried to put it under our control and are starting to realize we simply don’t have control over it.

2) Allow God to be in control!  The fellowship I am a part of has many great qualities to it.  One of them is the need for biblical guidance.  But, this should not make God unable to lead the church with plans today.  The fact is that God is still leading His church and when we allow Him to be in control there are a few things we learn: a.-we humble ourselves under His mighty hand.  What does this really mean to humble ourselves?  b–He will lift us in due time.  What time?  His time, when it is right!  c–We can cast our anxieities on Him.  We don’t have to be constantly worrying about making things and people turn out right or the way we want them to.  d–because he cares for us.  The reason we don’t have to be anxious about our plans working out, is not because it is a sin, but because God actually cares for us.  (All these points are from 1 Peter 5:6,7)

3) God always leads us in victory!  Paul was anxious about his friend Titus in 2 Corinthians 2.  Things weren’t going the way Paul planned them.  But, what Paul discovered was not an issue of his leadership but God’s!  Paul was then able to tell all Christians for all time that God can be thanked always because God is always in Christ leading us in victory.  Don’t miss Paul’s extreme terms–God is always leading us in victory!

How do we begin to experience these truths of God for our own lives?  It is going to begin with putting into practice our trust in the leadership of God and our trust that the Spirit of God is in us as well as our fellow Christians so that God will be thanked and God will be seen as leading us always in victory.  It is understanding that our plans are not the final test in what God Himself is doing for His people.

God Bless and Have a Good day

     This is not a story about how I have finally discovered that out there in the world somewhere is a lost brother of mine and I just received word from him and we are going to have a long overdue reunion.

     No, it is much, much simpler than that but it is just as meaningful perhaps.  There is an older man in the church that I am a part of that is a real treat to be around.  His name is Bob and he is in his 90′s and he and his wife have been a part of our congregation the past 12 years.  Always there with a firm ‘farmer’s’ handshake and a good joking spirit.

     Anyway–there was something very touching in yesterday’s service at our church.  As I was beginning the lesson, I was going through the history of one of the songs that Christians have been singing for quite a while.  ‘I serve a risen Savior’.  Written as a response to some people’s claims that the story of Jesus was not really true, but only true in the sense that it was inspiration or merely metaphor.  As I then proceeded to speak the words of the song–I was nearing the end of the chorus–’He Lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with me, and talks with me, along life’s narrow way, He Lives, He Lives, Salvation to impart…you ask me how I know he lives….’ and that is when Bob said out loud–”He Lives within my heart!”

     That was a great moment and I hope a lot of people heard him.  While I was telling a story and attempting to use it in a ‘teaching’ manner and even as inspiration…Bob spoke out loud something far greater.  Bob spoke a very clear ‘faith statement.’  He was not simply telling everyone he knew what the finish line of that song was.  He was affirming something he has come to know and believe fully…Jesus lives in his heart.  For me that was remarkable–something that will prove to be memorable for as long as my memory is able to recall. 

     Yesterday I was preached to in a very powerful way from a sermon that took Bob only 5 seconds to speak.  Like the grandpa teaching his grandson how to swing the baseball bat–my older brother Bob was guiding me and everyone else on the life of faith with Jesus.  Here was a man who has gone a long time on the journey of life with the Living Lord!  He can say with full confidence that as he is growing older that Jesus has remained a faithful friend.  It is important for these moments to happen as one generation gives way to the next–that the story of Jesus being the One who lives today–who was crucified on a cross and rose from the dead and thus lives among his people–be passed on not simply as intellectual argument but as experienced fact.

     Who can you listen to that tells you the great story of the faithfulness of Jesus and how they have experienced it?

God Bless and Have a Good Day

P.S.  Love this football season so far–really exciting playoffs–not doing to well in my picks–although this weekend I picked both the Pats and the Giants to win.  Will be cheering for the Patriots but the Giants are playing incredibly well and Eli has become more of a money quarterback than his brother.

     It is hard not to think that what you feel is necessary everyone should feel the same.  It is hard not to think that what you feel is wrong everyone should feel the same.  If a great majority of people agree with you and make sure they get their way, you feel pretty good and everyone who disagrees with you is simply ‘out of luck’, ‘in the wrong’ or even ‘downright foolish.’  If however you are in the minority (maybe even a great minority) and are now forced to engage in an activity that you absolutely believe is wrong or forced to not engage in an activity that you absolutely believe is necessary–feelings of resentment, guilt, shame to anger will be experienced.

     One of the important truths Jesus and Paul teach us about following Jesus is that it is voluntary and never to be forced.  No one is ever to be forced to do something that is contrary to their conscience.  Jesus won’t force us, Paul would never force us and as Christians we shouldn’t force other Christians or those who are not Christians.

     Pictured above are my maternal grandparents, Lloyd & Mabel Bailey.  Grandpa was a farmer and a preacher.  He preached for four different churches in Ontario and then served as a missionary in India in the early 70′s.  When he was a missionary far off, grandma took care of the farm back home.  They were extremely dedicated Christians.  They served people in a number of ways in living out their Christian call.  They laughed a lot and were joys to be around.  Grandpa died at the age of 72 and Grandma passed just a couple of years ago at 94.  There were a few things that they disagreed with and I wonder what some people would think of them?

     Recently I read where a very popular preacher who likes to be known as ‘on the edge’ called my grandparents ‘nitwits’.  Another preacher said my grandpa was one of those ‘old-timers who was stuck’.  I hear other such things from people from time to time.  Why do they say these things? 

     My grandparents did not believe that a Christmas tree should be put up either in their home or at the church building.  They never said another person who wanted to celebrate Christmas couldn’t, nor did they refuse to be gracious to those who had trees in their homes (we always had one and we enjoyed each other’s company over the holiday season).  They just believed that Christmas was a man-made holiday and they didn’t feel right observing it.  This might surprise some, but there are still members of the church I attend that feel the same way.  In fact, I was talking to a friend from a different denomination who said the same about his church.

     So, what are we to do?

Paul gives us a clue: ‘One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.  Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.’ (Romans 14:5,6)

     Paul doesn’t just give us a clue–he told us exactly what to do.  Christmas is not a season that Christians should be engaging in war.  Are people nitwits because they don’t agree with the majority?  Should we force people into observing things?  Or, is there room for Paul’s instructions that those who observe the day do so in honor of the Lord and those who do not instead treat all days equally?  Those who would try to make everyone celebrate and those who would try to make nobody celebrate both need to listen to Paul again.

     I love to celebrate Christmas in all the ways it can be.  But, let me throw a caution that we don’t forget to honour the consciences of those around us.  Someone doesn’t have to be a nitwit or an old fool because they choose not to celebrate it!

God Bless and Have a Good Day

     There seems to be no shortage of evidence among us that people are making a war on Christmas and that means they are waging a war against the Christian religion.  After all, people are sending out letters with the words ‘Happy Holidays’ on them.  Others are removing Jesus from the entire story by saying ‘Merry X-mas’.  Some people want mall stores to be open on December 25th and go against the tradition of the founding fathers!  Just the other night someone broke into my house beat me up with my own Christmas stocking and then burned down my tree and took all of our presents out from under the tree.  If you didn’t catch it–that last one is not true.

     Let’s be clear–I love Christmas.  I say ‘merry Christmas’ to all the people I can (but I will not say it to people who I know are of other religions and will not ‘do to them what I would not want done to me.’–those words do come from Jesus I believe), I love singing carols, setting up a Christmas tree and all the other things that go with it.

     But, there are some things that we need to really think about before declaring all these signs that show Christmas under attack.  There are things Christians need to be concerned about but we must make sure that we separate fact from fiction:

1)  The depiction ‘Happy Holidays’ is as honouring of God as the one that says ‘Merry Christmas’.  In fact–no where in the Bible will one ever find instructions of having a ‘Christ-Mass’ on December 25th but you can find the idea of people observing ‘holy’ days unto the Lord.  Did you know that through history some of the biggest opponents to people celebrating a holiday known as Christmas have been Christians?  If these brothers and sisters in Christ do not believe we should ever celebrate an event called Christmas–should we force them into saying ‘Merry Christmas’?

2) Calling the time of year ‘X-mas’ season is not as opposed to ‘Christmas’ as some might have us believe.  The X is simply a capitalization of the Greek letter ‘chi’ which was used as a short form for the name of Christ.  In fact, ‘X-mas’ has been around a very long time as a specific way to refer to ‘Christ’-mas!  So, when a fellow Christian uses the phrase ‘X-mas’ they are not doing dishonour to the Lord in any way–but simply referring to him in another way.

3)  Often, people will talk about how the pilgrims intended their to be religious freedom in America and most of that was intended for Christianity.  Fair enough–I wasn’t there–but a fact that might not be known is that the pilgrims had banned any kind of celebration of Christmas.  Anyone who was found wishing someone else a ‘Merry Christmas’ or was exchanging gifts on this date would be fined.  So, if Christmas wasn’t part of the pilgrims first experiences in the new land, when did the Christmas event become what it became?

4) Some do not realize this fact either–congress actually worked on December 25th in their very first session and in fact, it did not become a federal holiday in the United States until 1870.  Think about this–for almost 100 years from it’s beginning–America did not recognize Christmas as a national holiday.

Both the pilgrims and the early fathers of America would have had no problem with stores being opened on December 25th.

Now, take pride in honouring the name of Christ.  Have fun with your family.  Say Merry Christmas, X-mas, happy holidays to whoever you wish to.  Tell others the story of Jesus and why his coming to earth is such an important event.  Exchange gifts with loved ones, share out of your blessings with the less fortunate.  Truly use this season to tell people about the meaning of the Star, the tree, the angels, the shepherds, the lights and so many other things.  Do so not with an axe to grind but a story to tell.  We are not here to win an argument or a political issue.  We are here to help more people understand how wonderful it is that heaven sent us this gift and announced: ‘peace and good will to all men.’

Maybe there is a war on Christmas–but make sure that all of us who want to honour Christ–want to make this a season of waging Christ’s peace!

God Bless and Have a Good Day

Judgment 3-Are You Confused

The third and final lesson–to help sort out some of the confusion surrounding all these end-times predictions.  Most important thing of all–God wants His people to not be worried

Judgment 2-Are You Ready

This is lesson 2 in the series of May this past year

Judgment 1-Do You Feel Fine

The first in a sermon series dealing with the issues of whether or not Judgment Day could be known to be imminent and should it be a fearful thing?

     There are not too many people who are unaware of the ‘going-on’s’ at Penn State University over incidents of alleged gross immorality by an assistant coach.  We do know that a number of people in authority knew of the accusations and still nothing stopped this man from continuing.  When does personal responsibility trump either the reputation of a football program or even what you are only ‘legally’ required to do?  When does the well being of young boys become our ethical responsibility?  Is simply telling someone else and then turning a blind eye if it continues a way to help the victims?  Is it possible that a cherished football tradition more important than doing justice for young innocents?

     While this issue is not as big as the first one–Newt Gingrich has risen as the newest challenger to Mitt Romney for the Republican Nomination.  This following Herman Cain’s rise and fall.  What is interesting about all of this is the short memory of many ‘concerned’ people about the morality of the nation.  When Bill Clinton was president and involved in his adulterous affair so many people on the right claimed to be in the ‘right’ by requesting his removal from office.  One of the many statements made at the time from both politicians opposed to him and preachers across the land was that the land needed leaders who lived according to righteousness.  One of the politicians who voiced their strong opposition to then President Clinton was house-speaker Newt Gingrich.  What have we learned since then?  Gingrich has been involved in the same actions that President Clinton was.  The only difference–The Clintons stayed together and Gingrich has since divorced his wife and married someone new.  Where are the same voices of concern today over Gingrich possibly leading the nation?  Is it possible that it wasn’t ‘righteousness’ as much as it was ‘politics’ that people were concerned with?  Is it possible that it was Clinton’s policies and party ties that people were anxious to get rid of and his acts of immorality provided an opportunity?   

     Here is the thing with both these instances–at their prime–the word moral was used to describe the chief players in the controversy.  Maybe it is time–we really took a long, long look at what it really means to be morally consistent!

     What is your favourite war movie?  There are many for me–one of my favourite scenes is taken from the above in Saving Private Ryan when near the end of his life–Tom Hanks character demands the young Private Ryan to ‘earn this.’  The scene eventually moves to an older man at the memorial who grabs hold of his wife and demands of her to reveal to him whether or not he has been a ‘good’ man!

     So many stories about bravery, sacrifice & dedication are involved in the memories of both the survivors of this horrible thing called war and of those who didn’t survive–whether soldier or bystander.

      Here is a good question though–would anyone really be able to ‘earn’ the loss of 6 or 7 other good men just so he could live?

     On this remembrance day–while it would be very difficult for anyone to be able to say they ‘earned’ or ‘deserved’ the kind of life we have–one thing we can surely do is ‘remember’ them!

     Perhaps one thing Christian people need to do on top of remembering is praying.  Praying that God will speed up the day when war is never heard of anymore and the Lion will lay down with the Lamb!

     Heard a comedian the other day talking about how much he hates to read.  He then went on to say that the only thing he hated more than reading was readers!  He corrected that by then stating that it was moviegoers who actually would leave the movie and say, ‘the book was better.’  His finish line with this set of jokes was–it couldn’t have been, that is why they made the movie!

      I will say he has a point–just reading this set of statements does nothing compared to when you actually saw him and heard him.  So, there I was deciding to watch what I thought was going to be one of the most boring television programs possible–Books Into Film–and you know what?  For me it was boring!

     So, take away the obvious reason of making money and I still ask the question, why are books made into movies?  Why do scripts get turned into plays, musicals & moving pictures?

     Isn’t there something about words becoming alive?

     As Christians–knowing what the Bible says is great but it isn’t so great that knowing what some ancient writer said about something is all there is to it. 

     We Christians should be the ones who realize best that for the Word to be great, the Word has to become alive.  In fact, the real Word only became glorious in our sight–because He became flesh and lived among us (John 1:1-17).

     We Christians follow the Original Word–in making the words of Scripture become alive.  It is one thing to know what the story of the Good Samaritan teaches–it is another to become the character of the story and make it come alive.  It is one thing to realize what Peter said to people who wanted to be saved from their sins and quite another to share that same message of hope with someone today who wants to be free.

     As the apostle Paul said so long ago–we Christians become a letter (See 2 Corinthians 3:2,3).  We become the book into film.  Yes, you should read the book–but watching the film is not to be underrated.