Spring Forward to Action

Will the coming warm weather and official start of Spring in two weeks bring us a better economy or state of mind? The sun and the warmth over the weekend certainly was invigorating? Did you go out and have some fun even if you "lost" 1 hour of time? I took some hacks with my golf clubs, did some landscaping work, and relaxed afterwards with some lovely Chardonnay. Fun time. In Oswald Sanders' book, Spiritual Leadership, it talks about leaders who must make the most of their time. Citing Ephesians 5:16, he lays out the mathematical limits of your days (capacity) and focuses on utilitization. In our very distracting and technological progressive world, are we surprised that this generation is prone to being of short attention span? How do we alot our 16-18 hours when we are awake? I am guilty of being on Facebook more than I should...even Youtube...and as they used to say, "it is time I can never get back". Let's use the loss of 1 hour this weekend to spur us to spring ahead in better use of our time. Can you help me and help others?

Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Something to Believe In

There was a song from the early 90's called Something to Believe In. It was full of cliches - fraudulent televangelist, emotionally scarred vietnam vet, unethical lawyer, and class division. The singer wants to believe in something. That something probably is something hopeful but you don't know. We live in a day where many people do believe. They believe in something. What is that something? Is it that this life is meaningless? or is it that this life is all there is? or we need to be believe that all people are "good"; do we worship sentimental feelings like "love"? nostalgia? There are many distractions, dilutions, derivatives out there even among the Faithful. But don't get me wrong, the Faithful can stumble, are certainly susceptible to all sins and temptations too. Paul instructs us to test those claims not for the sake of being a critic or theological know-it-all but to be sure of what we believe in and to be wary of those who make it easy for believers to live lives of comfort and convenience. By the way, if you want, the video of the song is on Youtube.com

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Love Watching It

I have been up late the last few nights for work and for play. Doing exciting things like looking for the next best not-for-profit, for-profit, and arts ventures from our own Christian community. I certainly have not spent more than 5 minutes watching the continuing economic correction or the overreaction by many companies and governments. Is it any wonder that people run to the theatres or entertainment to escape the bad news and to look for better things. This is why i will always be drawn to watching reruns of the Lord of the Rings - the Trilogy. I cannot help it. The series was magnificent the first time around. Few stories are as well written and timeless in relevance. The consequences of not standing up for and doing what is right. The power of friendship. The importance of each one of us in the grand scheme of life and our noble calling. A story of hope. If there was a time we needed this, it may be now. What are you watching and watching out for?

Isaiah 24:1-3;16 "See, the Lord is going to lay waste to the earth and devestate it..."; "From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One."

After Heaven, Then What?

Good morning. As we get older, we probably think about crossing the "finish line" more often. In our teens and twenties, we are immortal and pursuing our dreams. In our thirties we reflect on whether we are pursuing and living our dreams and start to mature a bit...some of us in our forties, well, we start to feel the consequences of the other generations. We start to think about and feel the aches and pains and the overall breaking down. Yes, break out the violins now before senility sets in!! No, I think about heaven more not because I fear or think I am near the finish line but because our eldest is in her first year of meaningful Children's church and is immersed in stories about Jesus and the Bible. She asked me about Heaven and wanting to see Jesus there. Then she said, 'daddy, after we go to heaven to see Jesus, do we come back home?' It is one of those incredibly precious yet difficult moments in life. It is great to know my little girl is learning about God and heaven at an early age. As an amateur theologian and parent in training, I could only muster a "we all get to stay with Jesus in heaven and that is wonderful, like a long vacation". But she still wants to come "home" after being with Jesus in heaven.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

Daddy Day

Can you help me out? No, I don't need a dime. I need help. I thought I could do it all on my own. It has been a grueling 6 months, maybe longer. Not just work. It's more than that. How about you? Have you been beaten up a bit lately? No, not just financially, I mean it has been a grind at times. They say that ministry is a lonely job and especially so when you don't have "help". Thankfully, when I feel sorry for myself, I get bowled over by reminders of God's love and grace for me. Last night I was greeted by both my girls with big hugs. The icing on the cake, my eldest, who is as sensitive as she is sweet, said, 'Daddy, I love you.' Now she says that a lot. Well of course, we are the "universe" that both girls have known their entire lives. I sometimes weep when I remember that I justly deserve wrath but received grace. So, with those 4 words, God reminded me to have the same attitude toward him.

Luke 18:17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

Sexy and Greedy?

It only took a few days into this new blog to talk about 2 things sure to catch people's attention. I was prepared to write about something else on this cold wintry morning but on my way from the subway, I passed by two ads that made me "think". Both advertised warmer climates - and of course featured bikini-clad women. Proper context. So it goes that sex, like money, are wonderful things given to us by God the Father and anything God has created is certainly not unclean. What society and the sin of Man (and woman) has done is to make it "dirty" in its use and message. Sex is not a thing to "consume" and certainly not meant to be taken casually and neither is money. Both in the proper context - sex in a marriage and money being handled carefully in stewardship - is what God intended for us. As believers, in community, these are things we can talk about and work through the Biblical approaches for both. We know these are 2 important topics that we cannot and should not ignore.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because they are improper for God's holy people.

Weather Report: Hidden Treasure

If you have not gone out yet, the streets are full of slush, snow, and slick so be careful. The snowflakes are still tickling your nose. Take heart! For in 3 weeks, it will be officially spring.

Yesterday at service, my pastor preached on Matthew 13:44-46 (see below). To me, the message spoke of how we should be so overwhelmed by the wonderful news of the kingdom of Heaven that we would sell all of our possessions just to lay claim to this new hidden treasure. How utterly useless and unworthy the "things" we have in comparison to that which is the eternity with God. These things are not just possessions, but traits, habits, and other "things" we bring with us before we know and live Christ in our hearts. The other part of the message is the cost of following Christ. We are to follow him to Calvary. To death. No loud glorious trumpets per se, no Hollywood ending, no parades down Broadway, certainly not for people like Bonhoeffer in Germany or Elliot in Ecuador. The impact, the courage, and the joy they had in "selling all their worldly possessions" just to secure that field.

Matthew:13:44-46 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.