November 29, 2023 – Advent One

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (Galatians 4: 5 -7, (New Living Translation)

                Christmas must be starting. The Lego gingerbread house has been assembled and is on show.

                Our seven-year-old grandson, Spencer, paid us a visit on Saturday. He is a Lego wizard. He found a small set of Lego in some boxes and proceeded to put it together. It was labeled for ten-year olds plus but in a few short hours he had the thing assembled. Voila – we had a Christmas gingerbread house. It now sits on our sideboard.

                Let the Christmas season begin!

                What kick-starts your Advent/Christmas season? The first Christmas carol you hear?  The first snowfall in December? The first Christmas ads on TV? The extra flyers that show up in the mail? The Christmas cooking shows on Food network that begin in early November? The romantic Christmas movies on Hallmark? Doing the special Christmas baking? Putting up the familiar Christmas decorations? Christmas panic and urgency as December hits and you haven’t begun to shop?

                In my childhood, there was nothing better than the arrival of the Sear’s Wish Book, full of wondrous toys.

                Most of us, for good or ill, have something that says “Tis the season.”

                Some of us might groan at the thought. Some might a little skip in their step. Some might grumble and complain. Others might feel full of Christmas spirit and generosity. Some will depend on the kindness of strangers.  Some will seek peace and goodwill.

                You can’t ever stop Christmas. Although, I read this week of a human rights organization which deemed Christmas as “religious intolerance” which is kind of funny in an ironic way because that designation is, itself, its own form of religious intolerance. I doubt they caught the irrational stupidity of their statement.

                “At the right time” we are given the Christmas season. Just when we are ready to despair at what is happening in the world or what we are dealing with in our personal lives, God has some Good News. “God sent his Son, born of a woman.”  Sure, there is a lot of hoopla, celebrating, busy-ness as Advent unfolds, but the key message is just that – just when we needed it most, God gave us the Gift of his Son. Now, we have hope. “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

                We may be world weary, full of cynicism or skepticism, disenchanted with certain factions of our lives, stressed by overwhelming circumstances, bored with our lifestyles, uninterested in the sacred or divine, apathetic about the needs of others, lost in bad habits and worse choices, overcome by the demands laid upon us, etc. etc.

                But when the right time came, maybe just in the nick of time, God throws us a lifeline. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 9 - 12, The Message Bible)

                When I get our Nativity set out this year, set it up under the Christmas tree, then I may sense that Christmas has begun.

As always, just at right time.

Dale

 Wednesday, November 22, 2023

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”  (John 15: 12 =-17, New Living Translation)

                It’s quite easy to accept a friend request  - just click the accept tab - to become  a friend  on Facebook, but quite another actually to engage in the friendship.

                Recently, I was taken to task by someone whom I didn’t know but had accepted her request to become a friend. She was annoyed with me for not responding to her “How are you doing?” Her exact words were, “Hello it seems you don’t want to talk to me so why did you accept me in the first place.”

                Good question!

                Now, I get a lot of friend requests from both known friends and many strangers because of this blog. I don’t accept them all. Some look suspicious. Some seem inappropriate for one reason or another. Unfortunately, when I do accept one and a text comes back that asks, “How are you doing?”, most of the times, it seems that this is a trojan text – not the person it says it is from, and then it tries to sell me something i.e. It’s a scam. This happens with people I do know as well as well as strangers. I don’t know if this is AI or a robot generated, but it is all bogus. So now, anymore, I don’t usually answer “How are you doing?”

    Now, my hurt, new almost- friend began with the prohibited phrase and got ignored. Sorry!

                It is way too easy to click a button and think you have made a friend. This method is impersonal, carries no real obligation than maybe a quick chat now and then. It is generally quite artificial and superficial for the most part. Conversations are short and sweet.  I am not saying this is all bad but let’s not carried away that we are truly making hundreds of real friends through this process.

                I will be honest. I am not all that good at sustaining outside-of-family friendships. I am too much of a recluse, harboring my privacy, an introvert enjoying my own small world. It is not an especially good thing. Just ask my friends!

                Friendships are hard for me. I wish it were not so. Friendships take commitment, trust, tolerance, patience, good humour, acceptance and total understanding.  I flounder sometimes in practicing those characteristics outside of my most immediate family.

                Nevertheless, Jesus has requested my friendship and I have accepted his request. He is not my pal, my buddy, my BFF but he is my Friend, a life’ s companion, a confidant, a fellow brother along life’s way, an encourager and a close advisor.  But the same is true in this friendship as any other. This Friendship also take commitment, trust, tolerance, patience, good humour, acceptance and total understanding.  It comes with responsibilities and investment of time, energy and labour. “I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit.”

                I can’t get away with just clicking the friend request button and then ignoring him. He expects an answer from me.  He expects me to engage in a deeper conservation with him. It is not just “How are you doing?” and some glib response or ignoring it all together. It is also about listening, asking, discussing, engaging in the relationship to which I have been invited. Not always easy, sometimes painful, but always full of Love, Grace, Compassion, Mercy, Forgiveness – the deep-down traits of a good Friend.

                “What a friend we have in Jesus,
                All our sins and griefs to bear!
                What a privilege to carry
                Everything to God in prayer!
                Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
                Oh, what needless pain we bear,
                All because we do not carry
                Everything to God in prayer!”

Dale

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

He entered a house there where he didn’t think he would be found, but he couldn’t escape notice. He was barely inside when a woman who had a disturbed daughter heard where he was. She came and knelt at his feet, begging for help. The woman was Greek, Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked him to cure her daughter. He said, “Stand in line and take your turn. The children get fed first. If there’s any left over, the dogs get it.”  She said, “Of course, Master. But don’t dogs under the table get scraps dropped by the children?”  (Mark 7: 25 -28, The Message Bible)

                 Our grand-dog, Finzi, has been staying with us for a few days, this week. Maggie brought him when she came home for a visit. He is a large, jet-black Newfoundland. But he is also a gentle giant, very loving and a joy to have around, even if he can be a bit expressive from time to time. “I am a Newfoundland, hear me woof!”

                And like any good grandparent, I spoiled him considerably while he was here. This meant I gave him crusts of my toast at breakfast, pieces of my sandwich or potato chips at lunch and strands of linguine at supper. So did Susan. Table scraps indeed. Who could resist those big eyes? It was that or get drowned in Newfoundland drool!

                The Gentile women challenged Jesus: “But don’t dogs under the table get scraps dropped by the children?”

                Have you ever noticed that it is often women in the Gospel stories who are most likely to dare to confront Jesus? Immediately, there comes to mind the Samaritan woman at the well who engages Jesus in a long debate. But there are others who defy social boundaries, brave others’ scorn or get in Jesus’ face, as they might say today. Martha gets annoyed when Jesus won’t send Mary back into the kitchen to help out with dinner and scolds Jesus. Both Mary and Martha rebuke Jesus when he didn’t arrive in timer to save their dying brother. The woman who touched his robes secretly had no business touching Jesus but she did. The woman who anointed his feet with precious perfume had no business at the dinner party as others noted but she broke the gender barrier and customs just the same. Even his mother, in telling him what to do at the wedding in Cana and although he “talks back”, he does what she says just the same.

                Then, there is this woman, a foreigner, a gentile, an outsider, a stranger, perhaps poor, all indicating that there is very little importance or significance about her. But she needs Jesus’ help with the health of her daughter. And she won’t be put off easily. She begged. How humiliating; how needy; how humbling!

                It first appears that Jesus sends her back to the end of the line. We are reading these days how Food Banks can no longer keep up with such high demands. So, imagine if you are standing already at the back of the line at a food bank and the door slams in your face just as you get to it. This is the woman’s dilemma. Jesus affirms that his current mission is for his own people, the Jews. When that is done, he will consider her request. “Stand in line and take your turn.”

                Perhaps, it was just a test for the woman or perhaps a lesson for his disciples but it seemed somewhat unusual for Jesus to be so nationalistic.  I guess, at first glance, it would be like a Palestinian asking for help from an Israeli, these days. Not going to happen. This woman might get the dregs of Jesus’ compassion and assistance but it seemed little else.

                But the woman is persistent, like the woman in Jesus’ parable about the persistent widow and the judge (Luke 18: 2 -8) Let’s take note as to how this parable concludes: “So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?” (Luke 18: 6 -8, TMB)

                The woman with her tenacious faith moves the needle of Jesus’ love and compassion. No longer just for the chosen people but for the whole world. This needful Gentile woman expands his heart, already overflowing with Love, to engage even her with the Good News of God’s restorative Love and Mercy.

                “Jesus was impressed. ‘You’re right! On your way! Your daughter is no longer disturbed. The demonic affliction is gone.” She went home and found her daughter relaxed on the bed, the torment gone for good.’” (Mark 7: 29 – 30, TMB)

                This episode reveals how faith in Jesus breaks down old and persistent barriers and ugly labels which divide us, which are then used to deny help and assistance. It also reveals the generous magnitude of Jesus’ Mission of Kingdom building which works outside those same boxes that we have put each other in.  Finally, the story reminds us of the value of a persistent, perseverant and insistent faith which does not give into the negatives, the limitations, the restrictions that society or religion lays upon us.

                All of us, any of us, deserve more than just table scraps but the full blessings of Jesus’ banquet table.

                “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.” (Matthew 5: 6, New Living Translation)

 

Dale

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4, New Living Translation)

                Allow me to introduce you to Fiona the sheep – aka the “World’s Loneliest Sheep.”

                She was recently rescued from off a cliff in Scotland where she had been stranded for the last two years. Nobody seems to know how she got down below, on that craggy cliff but you know sheep – they tend to wander off and get lost and fall into danger quite easily. There was a cave in which she must have sheltered. The news article doesn’t say what she ate, but it does mention that she was actually overweight and was covered in two years’ worth of wool growth.

                It was a very steep cliff. The authorities deemed it too dangerous to attempt a rescue. But a group off Scottish farmers decided to give it a try. They rigged some ropes up to an ATV winch and slowly and carefully lowered a couple of them down to the sheep. Apparently, Fiona was glad to see them and did not shy away. The two men wrapped Fiona up in a sling contraption and they hauled her back up the cliff. She is now recuperating on a farm.

                Such a story cannot help but evoke the Parable of the Lost Sheep which Jesus told. It seems incredible that a farmer would leave his ninety-nine sheep and go looking for one little lost sheep. I don’t know - maybe it was his prize sheep that he was going to show at the local, Nazareth County fair. But more than likely, it was simply what shepherds do; tend their flocks, even the dumb and irresponsible ones who get themselves in terrible predicaments.

                God has set the standard for shepherds: “God, the Master, says: ‘From now on, I myself am the shepherd. I’m going looking for them. As shepherds go after their flocks when they get scattered, I’m going after my sheep. I’ll rescue them from all the places they’ve been scattered to in the storms… I’ll lead them into lush pasture so they can roam the mountain pastures of Israel, graze at leisure, feed in the rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. I’ll go after the lost, I’ll collect the strays, I’ll doctor the injured, I’ll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they’re not exploited.’” (Ezekiel 34: 11 -16, The Message Bible)

                I know of a pastor who dislikes the whole sheep analogy.  He seems to find it offensive to compare humans to sheep. He sees sheep as stupid, mindless, stubborn, smelly animals.  I might ask him: your point? There seems to be a little Fiona in us all, whether we like to admit or not. All too easily distracted to look where we are going. All too easily getting ourselves stuck in some unsafe circumstances. All too easily getting ourselves into trouble and needing the help of others.

                “We're poor little lambs Who have lost our way! Baa baa baa!”

                Perhaps, the parable’s shepherd got an earful from his neighbours when he returned with the lost sheep. While he was away, the other ninety-nine got out of their pen and trampled on the neighbour’s gladiolas and ate the lettuce and carrots in their gardens. That’s sheep, for you! But they were all now accounted for, all 100. Unity was restored. All were safe. The lost was found. It was time to throw a party and invite the neighbours. Let’s have a wang-dang-doodle!

                Remember this next time you are feeling lost, forgotten, trying to scrape some sort of meaning out of being stuck on some moral or spiritual cliff. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” (Psalm 23: 1 -3, NLT)

                As the children’s song goes: “I just wanna be a sheep. Baa, baa, baa, baa.” But one that is tucked safely in the loving arms of Jesus.

Dale

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, New Living Translation)

                To trash or not to trash – that is the question.

                Beginning yesterday, Peterborough instituted a new system of trash collection, including green bins for organic kitchen waste.  In the summer, we received a notice informing us that our collection day was moving from Thursday to Tuesday. But when Susan checked the website last week, it appeared that we were right on the border which meant our collection remained on Thursday. I trust Susan, but I don’t necessarily trust the info the city puts out. Which day was it really?

                So, yesterday morning, I kept going out to see what my neighbours were doing. If they were putting out their garbage, then so would I. If their curbs were empty, then I would also not put my garbage out. The thought crossed my mind that if my neighbours were also checking on one another, for the same reason, we were all in trouble.

                My scientific observation had mixed results. Some neighbours had put their garbage out. Others had not. If you can’t trust your neighbours, who can you trust? Subsequent further research revealed that Thursday is the correct answer.

                When I was growing up and fussing for something I wanted, I might say to my mother, “All the other kids have one” or “All the other kids are doing it.” The rejoinder was, “If all the other kids jumped off a bridge, would you do it?” I never thought to ask what these kids were doing on a bridge in the first place or why they wanted to jump off it, but I knew that I wasn’t going to win the argument.

                We may be taught to love our neighbour but there are serious risks in copying the behaviour of some of our “neighbours.” It could lead us down the path of unrighteousness.

                “My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world’s language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.” (1 John 4: 5 -6, The Message Bible)

                I am not suggesting that our actual neighbours are all wicked and evil. My next-door neighbour is a kind and caring man. But what scriptures are warning us about is the heedless and feckless buying into the culture of consumerism, self-indulgence, greed, lies, decadence, and looking out for only one self.

                “And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.”  (Colossians 3: 5 11, TMB)

                If your “neighbour” is putting out that sort of garbage, don’t follow suit!

                Put very simply, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” (1 John 2: 15 -        17, TMB)

                There is much in this world that we can and should appreciate and love. God’s love for this world is generous and gracious. “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” (John 3: 16 -17, TMB)

But the things that work against God’s Love, Beauty, Grace and Goodness are those things best left to go out on the curb for the garbage - whether our neighbour does or not.

Dale