Thursday, June 26, 2008
Repatriation
This summer my whole family will be visiting the Pearl of the Orient. It will be for just a couple of weeks. We will see loved ones and sights we've only heard about. It will be hot, colourful, exciting, busy, and FANTASTIC!
Providence
I am a proud parent - and completely amazed at the way God works.
My son has for the past year had his sights set on a university with the highest reputation for his desired field of study. His second choice was for another also very good university which has a Scholars Electives program for a small group of students with high entrance marks. This program means more academic work, but also comes with perks, and brings a certain amount of prestige. Some months ago, when he got notice that he did not make it into the Scholars Electives program, he thought he would go with his first choice. The problem, however, was that almost all his friends had decided to go to the school of his second choice. He struggled long and hard about this. At almost the stroke of midnight on the reply deadline date, he decided in favour of his friends. It was a done deal.
Today, he got a call from the university he chose. He is being offered a spot among the 50 students in the Scholars Electives program... Have you ever seen excitement bursting out of the body of a 17-year old? This means his determination and disciplined hours of study has paid off! This means that in spite of disappointments and settling for second choices along the way, he has made the right decisions! This means that his good-natured approach to life does have its moments of reward! Looking forward, it also means that he will have to take on the extra course hour each year as part of this program. It also means he is guaranteed a spot in the nicer student residence for all four years. (And I guess all this means it will cost his parents a little more financially!)
Like I said, I am amazed at the way God works! By the way, if you think that this post is nothing but a parent exercising bragging rights, you are quite correct!
Lord, thank-you for your many mercies and the way you work things out beyond our expectations. Please, keep my son grounded. Don't let him become proud. Be his help in the journey ahead, with all its ups and downs. Let him follow and love you more than anything else. May everything about him serve as a testimony to you. Glory to your name.
My son has for the past year had his sights set on a university with the highest reputation for his desired field of study. His second choice was for another also very good university which has a Scholars Electives program for a small group of students with high entrance marks. This program means more academic work, but also comes with perks, and brings a certain amount of prestige. Some months ago, when he got notice that he did not make it into the Scholars Electives program, he thought he would go with his first choice. The problem, however, was that almost all his friends had decided to go to the school of his second choice. He struggled long and hard about this. At almost the stroke of midnight on the reply deadline date, he decided in favour of his friends. It was a done deal.
Today, he got a call from the university he chose. He is being offered a spot among the 50 students in the Scholars Electives program... Have you ever seen excitement bursting out of the body of a 17-year old? This means his determination and disciplined hours of study has paid off! This means that in spite of disappointments and settling for second choices along the way, he has made the right decisions! This means that his good-natured approach to life does have its moments of reward! Looking forward, it also means that he will have to take on the extra course hour each year as part of this program. It also means he is guaranteed a spot in the nicer student residence for all four years. (And I guess all this means it will cost his parents a little more financially!)
Like I said, I am amazed at the way God works! By the way, if you think that this post is nothing but a parent exercising bragging rights, you are quite correct!
Lord, thank-you for your many mercies and the way you work things out beyond our expectations. Please, keep my son grounded. Don't let him become proud. Be his help in the journey ahead, with all its ups and downs. Let him follow and love you more than anything else. May everything about him serve as a testimony to you. Glory to your name.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Deepening
This past weekend's retreat was simply wonderful on so many levels: perfect weather, lovely small town, comfortable accomodations, marvelous company (I love and feel loved by the brothers and sisters of my worshipping community), easy timetable, and a great speaker. The most meaningful thing for me was that the stated teaching of the retreat, "Deepening our walk with Jesus" has, indeed, helped me grow a little deeper.
The Spirit spoke through Nouhoum to convict me that a deepened walk with God comes through his word (God speaks to us) and prayer (we speak to God). As this relationship building happens two things get stronger - love for God and trust in God. However, God is not in the business of cheap love or cheap trust. These will be tested by temptation ("an invitation to sin..." - going for shallow things rather than depth in Christ) and affliction ("any condition that causes bodily suffering or mental distress" - enticement to trust in something other than Christ). The only way to deal with these is to go back to Jesus, namely, in-life response to the whole counsel of God (his word), and prayer.
True, true, true. I am overwhelmed by God's love for me.
The Spirit spoke through Nouhoum to convict me that a deepened walk with God comes through his word (God speaks to us) and prayer (we speak to God). As this relationship building happens two things get stronger - love for God and trust in God. However, God is not in the business of cheap love or cheap trust. These will be tested by temptation ("an invitation to sin..." - going for shallow things rather than depth in Christ) and affliction ("any condition that causes bodily suffering or mental distress" - enticement to trust in something other than Christ). The only way to deal with these is to go back to Jesus, namely, in-life response to the whole counsel of God (his word), and prayer.
True, true, true. I am overwhelmed by God's love for me.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Brink
You know that stifled terror that overpowers as you stand right at the railing just a short leap from where the Niagara River plunges over the precipice?
I am there.
I am there.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Together
"The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: Life is a story about me." - Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 182.
It strikes me that hardly 24 hours go by without a conversation in which I speak and act defensively. When people talk to me, I don't listen so much as argue with them in my head, or ready my clever response. Goodness, even the way I'm talking right now is all about me.
Lord, let your grace flow. Help me to be present to others. Work in me, and allow me to love with the love of Christ. Grant me the grace to listen to - and hear - my brother and my sister.
It strikes me that hardly 24 hours go by without a conversation in which I speak and act defensively. When people talk to me, I don't listen so much as argue with them in my head, or ready my clever response. Goodness, even the way I'm talking right now is all about me.
Lord, let your grace flow. Help me to be present to others. Work in me, and allow me to love with the love of Christ. Grant me the grace to listen to - and hear - my brother and my sister.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Unease
It seems that I am always apologizing for something. You would think that at my stage in life, there might be some things I can do right. However, personal misadventure is the staple of my days. I find consolation in the ever-growing understanding that life and faith is a journey, not a destination. Things will never be easy. For the One who journeys with me, I am grateful.
As for my vocation, there is nothing quite so wonderful as the church. There is also nothing quite so horrible. Sometimes in the same day. The church is, after all, the people belonging to Christ - and I stress people, with all their foibles, whether they say they are part of a gathered group or not. It seems that there is an increasing number who are ashamed of and decline to identify with the gathered people. Nevertheless, they do not cease to be part of the body (cf. 1 Cor 12:14ff), but instead contribute to any observer's sense of the fractured and fragmented church. To be honest, I alternate between shame and pride over the church. Yet the church goes on and will ever go on, despite her dubious history and present struggles, because she is Christ's beloved bride. Something always reminds me of this when I get cynical about my calling.
So I move forward - ambivalent, doubtful yet certain, conflicted yet worshipful. As I said, I do not expect things to get any easier. So I pray for an ever closer walk with the One who journeys with me.
As for my vocation, there is nothing quite so wonderful as the church. There is also nothing quite so horrible. Sometimes in the same day. The church is, after all, the people belonging to Christ - and I stress people, with all their foibles, whether they say they are part of a gathered group or not. It seems that there is an increasing number who are ashamed of and decline to identify with the gathered people. Nevertheless, they do not cease to be part of the body (cf. 1 Cor 12:14ff), but instead contribute to any observer's sense of the fractured and fragmented church. To be honest, I alternate between shame and pride over the church. Yet the church goes on and will ever go on, despite her dubious history and present struggles, because she is Christ's beloved bride. Something always reminds me of this when I get cynical about my calling.
So I move forward - ambivalent, doubtful yet certain, conflicted yet worshipful. As I said, I do not expect things to get any easier. So I pray for an ever closer walk with the One who journeys with me.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Convention
I was sent by my church as a delegate to the FEBCC (Fellowship) National Convention last Monday to Thursday. This is likely the 7th or 8th I've been to in the past 20 years. But this one was different.
A national movement that convenes only once a year usually finds itself endlessly receiving reports and voting on housekeeping business. I thought I was going to doze through more of the same this year. Instead I found myself caught up in times of heartfelt worship, stirring messages from God's word, entertaining reports, and exciting business sessions that were not trivial or boring, but actually inspired hope. Hope!
10 years ago, the Fellowship membership plateaued at 500 churches from across Canada. There have been no net losses or gains for a decade. 70% of these churches are themselves plateaued or in decline. The convention business that brings hope in face of these statistics was the overwhelming endorsement of sweeping changes to the administration of the Fellowship. Boards of each of the ministry arms of the Fellowship have been eliminated. There are now directors of these ministries with each one directly accountable to the Fellowship president, who in turn is accountable to national council which is accountable to the convention. Ministry can happen much faster now with the streamlined bureaucracy. Although ministry fruit depends upon the Holy Spirit, the new structure reflects the new heartbeat of the Fellowship. We want to see change. We want renewal. We want to see churches encouraged and resourced to grow. We are hoping and praying that in 10 years, the Fellowship will see 70% of its churches healthy and growing with new believers. This year's national convention was a first step of faith in that direction.
A further very exciting development. As a Fellowship, it was felt that ministry must be a priority even during a national convention. So this year, one day was dedicated to blessing the convention host city. On Wednesday, all delegates had the opportunity to participate in an afternoon of apartment painting, garbage collection, winter coat give-away, hot chocolate give-away, or prayer in one of two high-risk neighbourhoods of the city. That evening was an open worship service at the downtown convention centre dedicated to blessing the city. National Convention will never be the same as the Fellowship commits itself to doing ministry in addition to conducting business each year.
The grace of God must be at work if a conservative, old institution like the FEBCC can embrace this kind of change. I sure am glad I made it to convention this year. Hope they send me next year!
A national movement that convenes only once a year usually finds itself endlessly receiving reports and voting on housekeeping business. I thought I was going to doze through more of the same this year. Instead I found myself caught up in times of heartfelt worship, stirring messages from God's word, entertaining reports, and exciting business sessions that were not trivial or boring, but actually inspired hope. Hope!
10 years ago, the Fellowship membership plateaued at 500 churches from across Canada. There have been no net losses or gains for a decade. 70% of these churches are themselves plateaued or in decline. The convention business that brings hope in face of these statistics was the overwhelming endorsement of sweeping changes to the administration of the Fellowship. Boards of each of the ministry arms of the Fellowship have been eliminated. There are now directors of these ministries with each one directly accountable to the Fellowship president, who in turn is accountable to national council which is accountable to the convention. Ministry can happen much faster now with the streamlined bureaucracy. Although ministry fruit depends upon the Holy Spirit, the new structure reflects the new heartbeat of the Fellowship. We want to see change. We want renewal. We want to see churches encouraged and resourced to grow. We are hoping and praying that in 10 years, the Fellowship will see 70% of its churches healthy and growing with new believers. This year's national convention was a first step of faith in that direction.
A further very exciting development. As a Fellowship, it was felt that ministry must be a priority even during a national convention. So this year, one day was dedicated to blessing the convention host city. On Wednesday, all delegates had the opportunity to participate in an afternoon of apartment painting, garbage collection, winter coat give-away, hot chocolate give-away, or prayer in one of two high-risk neighbourhoods of the city. That evening was an open worship service at the downtown convention centre dedicated to blessing the city. National Convention will never be the same as the Fellowship commits itself to doing ministry in addition to conducting business each year.
The grace of God must be at work if a conservative, old institution like the FEBCC can embrace this kind of change. I sure am glad I made it to convention this year. Hope they send me next year!
