Tuesday, December 31, 2024 – New Years Eve

“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” (1 Corinthians 16: 13, The Message Bible)

                
                After the angels have soared homeward to heaven… what then?
                After the shepherds have returned to their fields… what then?
                After Mary and Joseph have left the stable… what then?
                After the Magi have taken new roads for home… what then?
                After the Star of Bethlehem has dimmed and winked out… what then?

                When we put up our Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago, instead of an angel, we set a star on top of the tree. It had lights on its points and we needed to insert batteries into a small battery pack for those lights to work. But this meant that the star would be lit continually, day and night, as long as the batteries lasted as I wasn’t about to climb a step ladder to change the batteries. Ladders and I do not get along. Slowly as Christmas got closer, the lights on the star began gradually to get dimmer and dimmer. Finally, a day or two before Christmas Day, the lights went out, the battery power depleted. But it was nice while it lasted.

                Regrettably, Christmas doesn’t last forever. The beauty of the season fades as we welcome in a New Year. It would be wonderful to enjoy the power of hope, peace, joy and love for as long as possible. But eventually, the real world reasserts itself and Christmas becomes a distant memory all too quickly.

                After the gifts are unwrapped and sorted… what then?
                After the tree is taken down and the ornaments packed away… what then?
                After our families has gone back to their cities and homes… what then?
                After the Christmas music fades and is heard no more… what then?

                We need to remind ourselves that the Christmas Story is but the beginning of the whole story about Jesus Christ. The Nativity of Jesus is a wonderful, sacred, mystical story but it only sets the stage for what is ahead in our encounter with Jesus. We leave the Christmas accounts from the Gospels in order to meet the man of Galilee, the One who has come from God and has left the manger to meet us in our real world.

In a way, our encounter with Jesus is also a type of nativity – ours, a new birth of our redemption, our salvation, our healing, of reconnecting with God in a healthy and transforming way. “Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, ‘The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers wilt, God’s Word goes on and on forever.’ This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.” (1 Peter 1: 22 -25, The Message Bible)

                 But we will need to recharge the spirit for this New Life to be effective. Left neglected and unattended, we take the risk of allowing God’s Spirit to fade from our lives. We need to seek out meaningful and intentional ways to nurture and nourish the Love of God which sustains us in our daily lives. Prayer, of course, is essential. Worship is important. Reading and meditating on scripture is helpful. Loving others as we are loved is necessary.  Our New Life in Christ can be a fragile and vulnerable state of living unless we feed it, encourage it, sustain it and allow to grow and prosper.

                Christmas isn’t actually over, but it points us in a different direction and leads us on a new venture. Christmas proclaims that there is far more to come, just as amazing, just a miraculous, just as life-changing, just as satisfying, just as amazing.  We are still and always will be  in the Presence of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the one who has come into the world to save us.

                So, as we enter this New Year, let us indeed stand firm in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Give it all you got! Resolve that nothing will distract you or persuade you to give up. Christmas isn’t done with you or me yet.

                Here is the blessing for your 2025: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, New Living Translation)

Dale

               

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 – Christmas

“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1: 9, New Living Translation)

               “It’s what I really wanted for Christmas.”

                Many years ago, when our eldest daughter, Katie, was about 6 or 7 years old, we had a church Christmas supper at First Baptist Church in Ottawa. As was the custom, after supper and some carol singing, Santa made his appearance for the children. Each child came up and sat on Santa’s knee and told Santa what they wanted for Christmas. But when Katie got to Santa and was asked what she wanted, she shouted out in an exasperated cry, “I don’t know what I want for Christmas!”

                Now, I am sure that she did all right that Christmas once her Christmas list was written. Our children may not have gotten everything off their lists but we made sure they were few if any disappointments. I stopped Christmas shopping with Susan for the kids after seeing Susan march up to the counter at the near-by Toys-R-Us store with a shopping cart filled to overflowing. The final price tag made me blanch! Our adult kids marvel now at how Susan and I managed to make sure our four children had a great Christmas.

                But I grew up in a similar vein at Christmas. I had poured over the Simpsons and Eaton’s Christmas catalogues (toy sections, of course) and made my Christmas list. Again, I didn’t get evryth8ing, but I never remember a Christmas when I didn’t get the items at the top of my list. Table top hockey set, skates, race car set, hockey equipment, and the like.  I was never disappointed.

                All of us can probably remember a Christmas or two when a gift was extra meaningful, extra special, and was at the top of our wish list. Maybe, it was homemade. Maybe, it wasn’t expensive but it was obvious that the giver put a lot of thought and care in choosing the gift. Perhaps, it was something that you never would have gotten for yourself. Maybe, it spoke of the love and affection the giver had for you. Perhaps, it came as a surprise, something delightfully unexpected but wonderful just the same.

What I really wanted for Christmas comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and meanings.

This should remind us that the gift of the Christ Child is exactly what this old world needs today, what you and I need.

In the book of Isaiah, we hear the prophecy, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isiah 9:2) Perhaps, we may not totally relate to the description here. Although I would claim that because of the game of thrones our world leaders engage in through their Herod-like arrogance, wars, lies and abuse of power, we are badly in need of a new power that cancels them out and restores the goodness of God’s Creation. Jesus Christ is that power: “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2: 15)

                We may feel wistful for Isaiah’s promise but we all understand the need for light. We understand what it is to live in darkness and have the deep need for someone to light the way ahead. We identify with the shepherds who spend the dark night tending to their ordinary lives and then are amazed at the new light that leads them on a different journey. “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

                Jesus is exactly what you and I want and need this Christmas. All of us need some portion of this amazing gift: emotional healing, physical comfort, encouragement, his grace, his forgiveness, his love, his peace, his joy, his Presence so that we see our way through the darkness and obscurity which hurt and wound us.  We need his Light in our lives. God put a lot of care and thought into this Gift. “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12)

                Just what I wanted for Christmas!

                May you all experience a very blessed and happy Christmas!

Dale

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 – Advent Four

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, New Living Translation)

               “Don’t open until Dec. 25^th.”

                Only seven more sleeps.  The delivery boxes are piling up. Are there some for me?

                For some inexplicable reason, I have gained a reputation as a gift pincher at Christmas, a gift shaker. This hurtful, character assassination even has even led my grandchildren to shout, if I but approach the Christmas tree under which the gifts are displayed, “Grandpa is pinching!” Why, I never…. well, almost never… once or twice, maybe, at the most…

                Anticipation is part of the lure of Christmas for many of us. Not just for what is under the Christmas tree, but the expectancy of family gatherings or the joy of reunions or a visit from a loved one, after some time away.  The date is clearly marked on our calendars. We keep ourselves busy preparing for the Day itself. Some families may celebrate Christmas before or after for practical reasons. But December 25^th is the traditional date for everything Christmas. It is what most of us aim for. That is the Day in which Christmas takes place. You can’t hurry it.  You can’t make it come any quicker. Just ask any child who is excited about Christmas Day.

                I think that it's worth the wait. Then the Day unfolds its hope, peace, joy and love in all its splendour. It may not always, sadly, be this way for everyone, but the potential is always there, the Good News bursting in on our realties and raising us closer to God in a myriad of ways.

                I have always experienced a different sense of time on Christmas Day. All has been prepared. TV is shut off. The phone doesn’t ring unless it is family. No errands to run. Christmas Day, in our families, is an all-day affair as we take our time to enjoy the whole day. The Day unfolds in many peaceful ways. Okay, it gets a little boisterous as the kids unwrap their gifts, but that too is part of the sacred “magic” of Christmas. But even then, each person takes their turn and we watch as gifts are unwrapped, so we can enjoy their pleasure or surprise, no great hurry. The Day is capped off by a Christmas dinner. The post dinner experience is full of laughter, conversation, and an overwhelming sense of thanksgiving.

                It is worth the wait. One can’t and shouldn’t rush these things.

                For everything, there is a right time to receive “what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise.” (Galatians 3:22)

                “But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.” (Galatians 4: 4 -7)

                It seems to me that this is Paul’s way of saying “Merry Christmas.” We use December 25^th  to celebrate this one-of-a-kind event, the gift of Jesus Christ. He is the gift that keeps on giving, of course. But Jesus is worth the wait as he brings with him an engaging presence, a rarefied contact with God in person that makes the Day uniquely special and unlike any other.

                If the shepherds had shown up at the stable two days earlier, they would have seen nothing but an empty manger.  And gone back to their sheep. Their daily lives would have remained the same. But by the urging of angels they go on Christmas Day, in search of peace and goodwill, in search of a Saviour, in search of the Word made flesh. They weren’t disappointed.

                “As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. ‘Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.’ They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.” (Luke 2: 15 -18, The Message Bible)

                Advent is about the anticipation of Christmas Day. Christmas Day is the actual experience of a Savior being born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.

                Until then, no pinching.

 Dale

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Advent Three

“At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.” (Luke 2: 25, New Living Translation)

                “I can’t wait until Christmas.”

                Waiting in an emergency room in the hospital is a little like waiting for Christmas in some respects. Yesterday, I was in our hospital’s ER for ten hours waiting for all the different stages of the visit to unfold. First, I waited to get registered. Then I waited to see the triage nurse. Then I waited for blood work. Then I waited to get called to the examination waiting room. Then I waited to get called to assess my problem. Then I waited for the first course of treatments. Then I waited while the first results of tests come in. Then I wait for the Dr. to prescribe further tests. Then I waited around some more. Then I waited for the Dr. to make his appearance to tell me what was the diagnosis and prescribe next steps, next drugs and next treatment. Small wonder that it took ten hours.

                The long and the short of it is that I have been diagnosed having diabetes. One might say that unlike Advent/Christmas this is an unhappy result of all the waiting. For sure, I am a little rattled at this unexpected development, but on the other hand I now know why I have been feeling so crummy lately and now I will have medications and treatments which will help me begin to get better.  That’s worth the wait.

                Like ER visits, Advent waiting is also a process. We don’t get to Christmas without that process. The Jews of Jesus’ times had been eagerly waiting for hundreds of years for the Messiah, waiting through suffering, foreign oppression, at the ends of the civilized world. It must have seemed indeterminable.

                For us, whether we like it or not, our eager waiting is marked by four Sundays of Advent, each very important in getting to Christmas.  Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. Each of those characteristics speaks to each one of us in different ways depending on what “ails” us or what may be separating us from God, or what may be hindering us from feeling the Christmas Spirit. Slowly we move through Advent, step by step, gathering the information and evidence that will eventually reveal the Good News of Jesus Christ and that we have Someone who is on our side through thick and thin.

                Waiting is hard. It challenges us to be patient, faithful, trusting and perseverant. We hope that there will be a happy ending at the end of the waiting. Often there is. But sometimes the happy ending is wrapped up in some new, challenging circumstances and we will need to seek the blessing inside the problem. We will need to grasp the hand of God and be utterly amazed that our salvations rests in a manger in Bethlehem. This is what we have been waiting for?  A baby in a manger? Seems preposterous!

                But wait! There is for more to this story than Bethlehem. We wait again for this child to grow into his role as the Messiah and fulfill God’s work on the Cross and through his Resurrection. Perhaps, we can say that Advent is but the beginning of growing into faith. It initiates the long process of what it is means to follow Jesus Christ, from birth to death. Learning. Growing, Experiencing. Accepting.  Sharing. Enduring. Persevering.  But in the end, we achieve the prize of the upward calling.

                “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

                Christmas is there, waiting for us.

 Dale

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – Advent Two

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! (Luke 1: 28 -29, New Living Translation)

                Batteries not included.

                There is nothing worse than for a child to open up a Christmas present which is a toy that needs batteries. But the package informs us that batteries are not included. Susan is very good at assuring that batteries are sent along with the gift, but I’m sure there have been times when we have been caught without. So the hunt begins. We check the junk drawer. There is every battery known to humankind but the right size. Then we start pillaging other devices for their batteries like the TV remote, shavers, other toys in hopes we find the much-needed battery. Worse come to worse, we hope that the local convenience store might have what we need and isn’t closed on Christmas Day. Ah, the day is saved after all!

                Mary begins her Christmas story without the necessary batteries. She is confused and disturbed by the angel’s words. A bit later, she even asks, “How all this can be?” She is being offered a tremendous gift but, at first, she lacks the understanding which is needed for a full appreciation of the moment. She was not prepared for the angel’s message. She was missing the essential spiritual energy boost to comprehend the import of what was happening to her.

                The angel supplied the battery, so to speak: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Then it dawned upon Mary. It clicked. Her Christmas took on life. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

                There may be times when any of us come into the Advent season “confused and disturbed.” We can’t find the Christmas spirit.  We don’t feel that we have the energy to do everything which needs to be done before Christmas day. There is enough stuff going on in our lives already that Christmas itself seems daunting and even somewhat overwhelming to some extent. Our get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went. We might ask ourselves, and it is OK if we do, what is Christmas really all about. Is the fuss worth it? How can this be?

                It is then I hope and pray that the Holy Spirt calms our worries and helps us to appreciate the full meaning of the Christ Child. May the power of the Most High speak to our anxieties and lift the veil so that we find the momentum which leads to Christmas itself. Like Mary, we will stop our fretting and accept with peace and goodwill the Good News of Jesus’ Advent into our messy world. We will stop resisting Christmas and accept it with grace and humility. God will give us the power by which this Christmas and every Christmas is truly experienced.

                We may not see any angels on our doorsteps, but in the simple reading of all the Christmas stories, it is as if the angel is still speaking to us and telling us of the Good News which is ours today. “Don’t be afraid” the angel starts out saying to Mary. Indeed, Christmas is not something to dread or put off.  The Good News is for us in all its wonder. It speaks to us in our everyday world and experiences even when it seems hard to fit it in.  Its energy comes from the Love of God for us. Its vigour comes the from grace of God. Its vitality comes from the hope, the joy and peace God gives.

                “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1: 19 20)

 

Dale

 Advent One (December 1)

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (Matthew 24:44, (New Living Translation)

               “Some assembly required.”

                What parent, late on a Christmas Eve, has not read those ominous words?

                One Christmas Eve, Susan and I were trying to put together a doll house for Katie’s Christmas morning surprise. She was about six years old or so. Following the instructions as best we could we were making progress on the dining room table when who of all people showed but a bleary-eyed Katie, herself, wanting a glass of water. Talk about arriving when least expected. Somehow, she didn’t notice what we were doing and we got her back to bed with no harm done.

                Sometimes, it is a lot of assembly required, not just “some.” Don’t even get me started on decals which needed to be applied, usually in the smallest and most difficult of spaces. Parents can only hope that all the parts are there. And heaven help parents if the instructions don’t make a lot of sense, even if they are in English. I’d like a word with Santa who drops off toys with the warning label, “Some assembly required.”

                But as we prepare to celebrate Advent on Sunday, this warning label may make some sense from a faith perspective. It would be wonderful if Christmas would arrive all neatly bundled and everything ready and no assembly required. But to get the full import of what the Advent of the Christ Child, truly means we have some work to do to put it all together as the Day approaches.

                So, we read the same stories over and over again about Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds and eventually the Magi. We hear fresh sermons and read fresh blogs helping to interpret this wondrous event. We sing the familiar carols, listen to beautiful choral music which celebrate that which is on the horizon. We clean, cook and decorate in the anticipation. We buy and wrap gifts for our loved ones. We put up the Creche which reminds us who this season is all about.

                All these pieces are important for a full Christmas. Our instructions, the Bible stories of Christmas, help us to understand how to connect Jesus to our lives and how to get to Christmas with our spirits intact and properly readied. We have to be prepared to put things in the proper priority and not get too far ahead of ourselves unless we slip up. Although Christmas doesn’t come unexpectedly, December 25 is a lock, for many of us it does seem to sneak up on us and come at us all of a sudden. But we need to take these four weeks of Advent and do those things which give meaning, which give us the hope, peace, joy and love that make Christmas shine in our heart and souls.

                Some assembly required. Our goal is to appreciate and understand that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son for us so that we will not perish but have everlasting life. That is a lot to unpack and figure out and make sense of. It should make us think about who we are, whose we are and how we are to manage the future. This Gift comes with instructions how to interweave our lives with the One has come into our world, the Word made flesh. Love others as I have loved you. That’s a big piece of the “puzzle” to fit into our Christian project. It doesn’t happen all by itself, automatically. One has to work at it, apply oneself, figure it out. Some assembly required.

                God is good. We have been given the next four weeks to put this Christmas all together. I pray and hope that you will manage.  Get ready – here comes the Christ Child.

Dale

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

“I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it… Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7: 19 -20, 24 25, New Living Translation)

               I should become a luddite – someone who despises technology and would like to take a sledge hammer to my computer. I am so incompetent when it comes to technology. I use it, of course, each and every day. I couldn’t write this blog without it.  But my, oh my, when some sort, any sort, of glitch happens or things don’t go according to Hoyle, I am in very deep, troubled waters without a lifejacket.

                So, when my Facebook account failed me, I was a in a frantic pickle. Some of you may have noticed that my blogs weren’t making it on your Facebook since September 11. I was writing them and posting them each week but I didn’t realize that they were not going through until mid October. Yikes!  I tried several things on my end – to no avail.  That’s when I went down the rabbit hole – I should have known better.  I sent out frantic texts via Facebook to all and sundry about the problem. But my daughter, Katie, then informed me that my account had been hacked and an ad for adult “toys” (if you get my drift) had glommed on to my texts. Yikes had turned into egad and little fishes! It was all going from bad to worse. I was in panic as I couldn’t erase the foul message on my end. Finally, Katie took over my account from her place and erased the messages. We (well, really not me) have figured how to get the blogs posted on Facebook safely.

                My technological ineptitude illustrates Paul’s frustration with sin. The harder we try to get away from it, the worse it becomes. We get all tangled up in sin’s machinations. We think we are doing just fine and then sin throws a monkey wrench into our lives and the harder we try fix things, it just continues to be a spiral of compounding our mistakes and slip-ups.  We have fallen and can’t get up despite our best of intentions.  We say too much and offend even more. We offer help and just get in the way. We give advice that backfires. We make promises that we can’t or won’t keep. We think we are doing some good but our involvement becomes intrusive and unwelcome. We would like to do the right thing but the good gets tangled up in human affairs and agendas and blows up in our faces. Sin can make us do the wrong things even if we think it is for a good cause.

                But take heart!  Just as Katie came to my rescue, Paul reminds us that Jesus also comes to our rescue in our fight with sin and its consequences. He “fixes” our life’s accounts. Jesus forgives and redeems us.  Jesus rescues us from sin. We still have to confront sin every day of our lives, but we are not alone in this battle; we have a Saviour, someone who turns bad into good. We are not lost causes, ever incapable of doing good. Rather Jesus empowers the good that is in us and helps us to rise above our worst. “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” (Romans 12:21)

                Quite probably, I will never conquer my technological incompetence and will always need somebody’s help. Likewise, none of us can defeat the power of sin alone without God’s intervention, without God’s Love, patience, mercy and encouragement. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:20)

                When things are going screwy, and we have no answers to the problems we are facing, it is best to hand it all to God through Jesus Christ. It can only get better when we do.

 

Dale

 Wednesday, November 13, 2024

“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11, The Message Bible)

            Service with a smile – how hard can it be?

I am frustrated with the Canadian service industry in general. We have been trying and trying to hire various people to do some work around our house this Fall, both outdoors and indoors. We leave phone messages and get no call back. We get people who say they will come around and then don’t. Some phone weeks later. Some even suggest that we fix our problems ourselves i.e. the cable company. Susan is a trooper in her pursuit of the needed service calls, but it is often an irritating act of futility. I have recently tried to get more involved with our stalled, basement reconstruction. I phoned a company Friday; they promised to call back within 48hrs – we’re still waiting. To be fair, I phoned a local company; the man came within 20 minutes, figured out the problem and can start Monday. Isn’t that how it should work or am I being too picky?

Giving good service is a challenge. A lot of things can get in the way or become excuses or hold us back or are out of our expertise in some cases. But when we are called upon to be of service in any way, shape or form, we should try to give it our best effort.

Jesus told many a story about servants. He emphasized that they should always be ready to serve and it is a serious responsibility. “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.” (Matthew 24: 25, New Living Translation) The parable of the talents teaches us that we should double our efforts to produce good works. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (Matthew 25:23) Although, some of us may be aghast that we now have more responsibilities. Yikes! Christian service is an act of loving humility. “But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.” (Luke 22:26) Jesus is not just talking a good spirit of voluntarism but a dedicated duty of serving others in the name of Jesus.

Of course, translations have softened up the language by replacing the word ‘slave’ with ‘servant.’ Slavery has all the wrong connotations in our modern world and for good reason. Nobody wants to be a slave or be obliged to have to do anything against our will.  We might say that some people are slaves to their work, slaves to their ambitions, slaves to their reputations.  But nobody wants to be enslaved to serve another out of obligation and necessity.  We want to be free beings, make free choices, doing what we want when we want and how we want.

Yet Jesus uses the word slave or servant, if you prefer. In fact, Jesus portrays himself as a servant. He sets the example for us. “Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” (John 12: 26) when Jesus stooped down and washed his disciples’’ feet, normally the work of servants, he gave us the perfect example of what Christian service means.

“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.  I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” (John 13: 14 17)

                If we are slaves to fame, fortune and power, that is not going to work in the Kingdom of God. But if we truly follow in Jesus’ Way, then our destiny is found in the work of service in the world around us. There are certainly plenty of opportunities for us from om food banks to homeless shelters to church boards and committees, to hospital volunteers or driving cancer patients to their appointments to name but a few. I serve on the hospital’s Spiritual Care Advisory Committee and occasionally fill in for one the chaplains. I should do more.  

Whatever we do, we should do it in the Love and Name of Jesus. He expects us to call back, show up and do a good work.

            Brother, sister, let me serve you;
            let me be as Christ to you;
            pray that I may have the grace to
            let you be my servant too.

 Dale

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.” (Luke 15: 8 -10, The Message Bible)

                The lost shall be found.

                I read a story this week about a diver who found a 1965 McMaster University signet ring in the Barbados waters. (McMaster is also my alma mater.) To the diver’s good  graces, he wanted to return the ring to the original owner. All he had to go on were the initials etched inside the ring - FMP. But he contacted the university. They did a search and came up with only one possibility. Sure enough, the 1965 graduate had lost the ring in 1977 while wading in the waters with his son. They had looked for it but to no avail. Now, a diver had found it after digging down more than 30 cm, after his metal detector kept pinging that there was something in the sand.

                Will wonders never cease, eh?

                Losing something precious or, at least, meaningful is a frustrating disappointment. It panics me just misplacing my car keys or wallet or cell phone for even a few minutes. Susan once lost a small diamond pendant I had given her up at the cottage. We searched high and low, but couldn’t find it. Yet, a couple of years later, we accidently came upon it at the cottage.

                Therefore, I think just about any or all of us can identify with the woman who had lost one of her ten coins. This may be all she had to live by and even the loss of one coin was serious and problematic. Perhaps, she had a family to feed, a mortgage to pay, bills that were overdue to put a contemporary spin on it. With a diligent persistence and fierce determination, she turns the house upside down until she finds it. Then, she throws a party.

                But it doesn’t always have to be a loss of something material. We can lose heart. We can lose confidence. We can lose our reputations. We can lose our faith. We can lose our way. We can lose hope. And yes, we can lose family, friends and loves ones. Losses of these sorts may be overwhelming and devastating. How can we ever hope to recover and find joy again?

                One of the lessons of this parable is that we should never give up. Jesus once told another story about a woman who wouldn’t give up in seeking justice for herself. (Luke 18: 1 -8) He used the illustration to support his teaching that people should always pray and never give up. “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:18, New Living Translation)

                Another lesson is the assurance that God never gives up on us, even if we are ready to give up on ourselves.  “God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks.”  (Psalm 36: 5 – 6, The Message Bible) The persistent, even stubborn, Love of God, is looking out for us and is relentlessly ready to welcome us back into his loving arms as surely as the prodigal son was welcomed back by his father, “'for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” (Luke 15:24, NLT)

                Sometimes, we try very hard to hide from God and that is not quite the same as being lost, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We are ashamed, naked in our humanity, feeling like we have done something which is unforgivable toward God or someone we love. Yet the principle is the same – God seeks us out and communes with us his concern, his discernment but also his unending Love.  It is far better to “face” God with all our sins and mistakes than hide from him. God is just going to find us anyway. “I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!” (Psalm 139: 8) But we need to believe that this is not a scary, judgmental thing, but a hopeful thing. Rather, “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

                When we think we are buried in the silt and debris, God's Love pings and he looks diligently for us.

                So whether you are lost or are hiding, be assured that God has not given up on you. However God finds you, the band is warming up, the food is on the table, the party is set to go. Just waiting for the honoured guest – you! Won’t that be a wang-dang doodle!

 Dale

 Wednesday, October 30, 2024

“Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.” (Psalm 25:7, New Living Translation)

                So, of course, I have been watching baseball’s World Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It takes me back to my youth when one or the other always seemed to be in the World Series. I was a big Yankee fan back then but I am leaning more toward the Dodgers this time.

                One of the things that bugs me as I watch is the plethora of instant replays. Sure, show it again for the big plays like homeruns, defensive gems, exciting moments in the game, errors, challenges of a play – those memorable moments during that game which make a difference in the outcome.  But what I don’t need to see more than once is someone striking out or fouling out or taking strike three or any mundane, ordinary, baseball occurrence. Yet the network will show all of everything umpteen times and more it seems. It’s overkill.  They also like meaningless shots of players in the dugouts, spitting sunflowers seeds, chewing gum and scratching their heads. It’s a wonder we don’t get several replays of that, too.

                Then, with horror, the thought occurred to me what it would be like if we had instant replays of situations in our everyday lives. Just think if the world could see again and again those mistakes, errors, sins, bad moments, poor decisions, gaffs, rudeness, selfishness, etc.- all those things that you or I would like to forget and hope that others have as well. Oh sure, it might be grand to remember the highlights and victories,  but  who  needs to see again and be reminded of our mistakes and worst moments. It is easy enough to get stuck in the past; I don’t need many reminders of my flubs and blunders. “Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?”  (Psalm 130:3)

                There is a lot in scriptures about what we wish God would remember and what we would prefer God to forget. Forget the past, God; shut down your TIVO. Throw away or erase the tapes. “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” (Psalm 51:1) Please forget whatever has come out of my mouth that was unworthy of you. Disremember my foolishness, my sinfulness, my rebelliousness, my unrighteousness. Remember what you said in Isaiah: “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” (Isaiah 43:25) Hallelujah!

                But there are things we wish to see again and again of God’s Love for us. “Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.” (Psalm 25:6) We can never get enough of that repetitious and unforgettable Love. “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.” (Psalm 77:11) Our scriptures are a replay of the works of God which helps to remember that God is on our side. “For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” (Psalm 103:14)  As we repeat the works of God in our scripture reading, we are given assurances about the ongoing work of God in our present times. “Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope.” (Psalm 119:49)

                There is a tension between our past and God’s Love. There is a strain between our sin and God’s grace. There is a difference between our humanity and God’s mercy.  There is tension between the weariness of the old and the creation of the new.  “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  (Isaiah 43: 18 - 19)

                We are to remember and replay the commandments of God in our lives, especially the commandment to love others as we love ourselves.  There are times when we need to apologize and seek reconciliation. But we also need to let go of our pasts and seek the renewal of our lives in Jesus Christ. Let go of all the grudges, assumptions,  anger, prejudices, judgments which we keep replaying over and over again and instead “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13 -14)

Dale

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.” (Galatians 4:4, New Living Translation)

                Merry Christmas to one and all!

                What’s that you say?  Too early? Too soon? We haven’t even had Halloween yet?  But I have already seen Christmas commercials on TV. (All praise to Walmart) I haven’t been in lately but I wouldn’t be surprised that Canadian Tire is already stocking their Christmas shelves. Christmas, commercially speaking, seems to come earlier and earlier every year.

                Now I know that some will say, during Advent and Christmas, that it would be wonderful if the Christmas Spirit lasted all year long with its emphasis on hope, peace, joy and love. Or perhaps, our Christmas wish would be that the generosity of the Christmas Spirit would extend into the months ahead for the poor and the homeless. Or, if only peace and good will toward all humankind would reach into the war-torn parts of the world, what a wonderful world it would be. I’d be far empathetic if that were the case, rather that ‘buy this’ or ‘buy that’ and beat the Christmas rush.

                But, of course, December 25^th   was a very arbitrary choice to celebrate Christmas Day, to begin with. We are given no actual date for Jesus’ birth. This date was chosen in 336 A.D., as much associated with the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun and light and the beginning of the end of long darkness. Early Christians often appropriated pagan concepts and Christianised them. So, December 25^th it is.  Not in October!

                But wait just a minute.

                Our text tells us that “when the right time came, God sent his Son.”  Although Paul is writing about an historical fact, it gives us the opportunity to not limit Jesus’ arrival into our lives only to December 25^th.

                The right time may be right here and now for many of us. We may be at a point in our lives when we really need the Love of God through Jesus Christ to interrupt and intervene. We may so be overwhelmed by the demands, pressures and stresses of time management run amok, that there is no time like the present to experience hope, peace, joy and love. We may be mired in our past’s sins and failures and need forgiveness, mercy, grace right now. We may be afraid for the future and feel uncertain, unprepared and unsure, and need the assurances of the rest of the paragraph from Galatians, “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)

                That’s right – Christmas is indeed for children. We are God’s children. We do not have to wait to December 25^th to discover the gift of God’s Love. It is always right there before us, ready to unpack and enjoy.

                “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. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted…” (John 3: 16 -17, The Message Bible)

                It is all about the right time - that perfect time when our lives are intercepted by the love of Jesus Christ and we are gathered into the joy i.e. the Christmas party, that breaks out in heaven when one lost soul is saved. (Luke 15:10)

                If that isn’t Christmas, I don’t know what is.

Dale

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2, New Revised Standard Version)

                Ten adults, seven grandchildren aged five to eleven, and one dog – there was a lot of joyful noise making in Mississauga on Thanksgiving Sunday as the Soble clan et al gathered for dinner. The dog was the quiet one!

                I am usually averse to a cacophony of noise but there is something about the joyful noise of a family gathering that is rich, healthy and celebratory. Same family stories told once again, new ones added, laughter, good-natured teasing, banter, sports discussed ad nauseum, children whistling in and about, hugs and great company. None if it is very serious, deep or profound – just the joy of being together, all being relatively healthy, capped off by a dinner in which everyone contributed. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.” (Psalm 98: 4)

                Of course, the psalm writers are referring to bringing  a joyful noise into the act of worship in the temple. There are times and places for silence:  libraries, funeral homes (except sometimes laughter can help with sorrow), classrooms, listening to a live symphony, and most might assume a church’s sanctuary during worship time.

I have had people get upset if anyone starts clapping after a solo or a choir piece. In one church some wanted me to announce that there be no clapping. Not a chance – it is a spontaneous expression of appreciation for the performance. I am sure Jesus is clapping. There is time to be quiet in worship, of course, but there are times when we need to “let it out” and demonstrate our praise visibly, like the time when King David was met by all the people who  “were dancing before God with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.” (1 Chronicles 13:8)

I confess that I am not a demonstrative sort of guy but I enjoy authentic spontaneity and the exercise of spiritual freedom that others feel and express when touched by the Spirit of God in some way. It is hard to get people to laugh out loud when a good joke is told in the sermon. It is hard for some to feel comfortable to lift their hands toward God. There is the old joke which asks how do you stop Baptists from raising their hands in worship. Answer: Lower the ceiling fans.  Groan!  But you get my point. Worship is not always to be a dreary, stuffy, somber, dull experience. It is okay if we break into song, praise, joy, “singing aloud a song of thanksgiving and telling all your wondrous deeds.” (Psalm 26:7)

But if so, in worship, why not take this approach to all the beautiful and wondrous occasions which fill our daily lives? Admittedly, there is already a lot of noise in our lives, the constant roar which emits from the world around us. But what if we could speak against that din?  What if we could raise a counter melody which rises above the fray? What if we could find our voice and express our unbridled thankfulness and joy in a broken world?

Jesus helps us to discover that voice. “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) He has given us assurances, promises, encouragement, strength, boldness, that even if there are times when we weep and mourn, “you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.” (John 16:20) These words echo the words in Nehemiah: “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10).

May we discover that which is praiseworthy. May we express our gratitude for the good that fills our lives.  May we anticipate that even when the going gets tough, we will have reason to make a joyful noise in the kingdom of God.

“May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Colossians 1: 11 -12)

Dale

 

Wednesday, October 9

The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need. (Acts 4: 32 -35, The Message Bible)

        Come, ye thankful people, come, 

        raise the song of harvest home;

        all is safely gathered in,
        ere the winter storms begin.
        God our Maker doth provide
        for our wants to be supplied
        come to God's own temple, come
        raise the song of harvest home. (Henry Alford, 1844)

           I have always appreciated that we, Canadians, celebrate our Thanksgiving in early October as opposed to the American version in November on the cusp of Advent. It stands alone. It has always been one of my favourite traditions of the year. Its simple theme of appreciation, praise and gratitude for all that life has to offer needs little, other embellishment or enhancement as do some of the other holidays.

In all my churches where I pastored, on Thanksgiving Sunday, the communion table would be laden to overflowing on the floor with the fruits and vegetables of a generous harvest. Pumpkins, squash, apples, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, even loaves of bread, bags of rice and flour - you name it and there were ample goods on display. My little, first church in Wainfleet was the best at it.  The whole altar area was bursting in an abundance of harvest. It was like a farmer’s market had exploded.

The better part happened after Thanksgiving was “over” although we should never cease being thankful for all things. It was the custom in all my churches to box up and give the produce over to shelters and food banks. In the case of Wainfleet, we shared with the bounty with couple of the more needy families in the church. But the food never went to waste.

If I were to ask myself, what exactly is a “harvest home” referred to in the hymn, I would point to the act of sharing from our bounty. It is the model we can read about in our text from Acts. The Jerusalem Christian church, still in its infant stage of existence, celebrates its new life in Christ by an unequalled display of generosity. “They shared everything.”

It is almost impossible to imagine. We pride ourselves in ownership. We own our houses, cars, cottages, appliances, computers and so on. I am very grateful for all the stuff I own and count myself blessed. But the idea of selling everything and gifting the proceeds to others seems over-the-top, a crazy thing to do. Yes, Jesus, said to a rich man, “Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Luke  18: 22) But most of us usually rationalize this astonishing statement  to mean that we shouldn’t  be prisoner to our wealth. Fair enough, but let’s not slide out of Jesus’ expectation that we are to be generous, compassionate, empathetic and liberal with our giving.  It may have been that very verse which was the impetus for the early Christians in Jerusalem. They were a living example of creating a harvest home.

 A harvest home is a home where all are welcome from the very least to the very privileged.  A harvest home is a safe haven which offers comfort, blessings, hope, joy, peace and love. A harvest home has no locked doors to shut people out. A harvest home has a candle burning in the window. A harvest home has a place at the dining room table for everyone. A harvest home is replete with the aromas of food and drink, the sound of laughter, the embrace of love.  A harvest home is the shelter in the storms of life.  A harvest home is a sacred space where all are safely gathered in.

Not just our churches, but our family homes as well.

So let us all be thankful this weekend. God has provided.  Enjoy. Celebrate God’s goodness. Then pass it on! It’ll make the turkey taste that much better!

            Even so, Lord, quickly come,
            bring thy final harvest home;
            gather thou thy people in,
            free from sorrow, free from sin,
            there, forever purified,
            in thy presence to abide;
            come, with all thine angels, come,
            raise the glorious harvest home.

 Dale

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

“But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3: 12 -14, New Living Translation)

                I turned 73 years old yesterday. I don’t feel a day over 72. It was a great birthday – four baseball playoff games to watch and Susan made me a raisin pie, one of my favourites. Life can’t get much better.

                It has got me to thinking about what may be left on my “bucket list,” those aspirations, ambitions or things to do or see before one dies. No, I do not want to parachute out of a plane, kayak down rapids or scale Mt. Everest. But I would like to see, in person, a World Series’ game, preferably with the Blue Jays in it (LOL). I would like to visit Scotland, Spain and Australia. I would like to go to baseball’s annual All-Star game.

                But when I come to think of it, I have done some pretty cool things in my 73 years. I have been to the Middle East and the Holy Land, Indonesia, Rome and London (England). I have been to Spring Training games and Baseball’s Hall of Fame. I have preached at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, one of the leading pulpits in Canada. I have travelled across Canada from coast to coast, save for Labrador, NWT and the Yukon. That’s just a few things I have done or seen. My bucket may not be quite full yet, but I may need a larger bucket for what may yet come. I ain’t dead yet!!!

                I first learned the Philippians' verses as a young boy in my home church in Belleville. They were the theme verses for our Tyro boys’ group. Consequently, they have remained my personal, scriptural, life’s encouragement ever since. In recognizing that I am never finished in life, never totally complete. never totally having  arrived, never done with life,  never having completely achieved all that I could, I am to press on, strive to be better, look forwards to the future,  “I press on to reach the end of the race…”

                Now, I admit that I have become pretty lazy in my retirement.  Arthritis keeps me from running many races or doing the things I used to do such as gardening and the like. But Paul is not referring me to join an actual marathon but rather to keep my attitude focused on the future and to remain open to new possibilities in the areas of my faith and practice. I can’t change the past but I can shape, with God’s help, my future. “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

                Sometimes, in sports, children get a medal for just participating, whether they win or lose or anyone keeps score at all. That’s nice. But I think Paul is suggesting that there is more to Christianity than mere participation, just going through the motions, doing the least so that we can make into God’s Hall of Fame. Paul is not encouraging us to do the minimum but to strive for being better, to strain in doing good, to go-all-out in our Christian endeavours. “Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.” (1 Corinthians 3: 12 -14, The Message Bible)

                As long as we are alive and kicking, no matter our age, we can all strive to live lives that are worthy of the prize.

                “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4: 7 - 8)

                Somebody, pass me my running shoes!

Dale

               

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”  (Proverbs 22:6, New Living Translation)

                Grandparenting is easy; parenting was hard.

                But I didn’t realize how complex and difficult it is for today’s parents, like our own adult children with their young families, until I read an article today on CBC News about “lighthouse parenting.” Never heard the phrase before. I have heard about helicopter parents; those who hover over their children every step of the way. But the article introduced me to other unfamiliar parenting styles. “Then came the bulldozer parents seeking to remove any and all obstacles out of our child's path… Then tiger parents pushed their children to be highly successful, while jellyfish parents were lenient and flexible….” There are more, but you get the idea. They left out “tough love” for parents of wayward teens as opposed to gentle parents who use gentle forms of persuasion and instruction.

                Now, I grew up in an age when the main biblical adage which supported some of my mother’s parenting style was: “Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won’t kill them. A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death.” (Proverbs 23: 13 -14, The Message Bible) A fly swatter was a favourite source of correction; yet I don’t feel emotionally scarred for life from having a few sore backsides in my day. It really didn’t happen all that much as I was such a model child. (Ahem)

                “Lighthouse parents, according to Parents magazine, provide a stable source of guidance for their children — like a lighthouse — while also giving them the freedom to grow and learn. They are sturdy, reliable, but not controlling…”  Lighthouse parenting strikes me as closer to a different, healthier, biblical model. “Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3: 2- 21.NLT) This style is implied in Jesus’ open invitation, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.”  (Mark 10:14) And despite its occasional emphasis on the use of the rod, Proverbs is not advocating child brutality or cruelty: “Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.” (Proverbs 13:24) Love is the guiding principle for how we relate, teach, guide and prepare our children for their lives.

                “The lighthouse method is a balanced approach, and develops emotionally healthy children and adolescents ‘who go on to have deep, enduring relationships with their parents for their entire lifetime,’ says U.S. pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg.” “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6) Just as a lighthouse is a beacon for safe harbor, a light which shows the way, reveals the rocks and dangerous waters, lighthouse parents, Dr. Ginsberg wrote, are "a stable force on the shoreline by which a child can measure themselves against." Another expert was quoted as saying, "A lighthouse's whole purpose is to guide,"

 I would have to do a lot more research and reading to be able to fill out the details of lighthouse parenting.  But I can imagine that it involves good, positive, moral role modeling. “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.” (Proverbs 20:7) It would seem to imply that parents are to be supportive, understanding, patient and yet provide clear expectations and behavioural, ethical standards. Therefore, there needs to be clear communication, but also very good listening, understanding and appreciation for what our children may be going through or experiencing. Parenting can be tough but so can being a child or a teenager. Most of all it means to parent with love, compassion and grace. Ideally, for me, it would mean to give spiritual nurture, to open up the sacred side of living, not to indoctrinate but to challenge a child to see the world beyond themselves in creative, holistic terms. Even, we grandparents can act as lighthouses for our grandchildren. 

Or as Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:15) Our families need all the light they can find in today’s world.

Dale

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.  If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” (John 14: 1 -7, New Living Translation)

                If Jesus is really the answer, what is the question?

                It probably depends on whom you ask or when you ask it and why you’re asking it.

                There is an old, hoary joke about two six-year-olds whose class is being asked by their Sunday School teacher, “What is furry, gathers nuts and has a long, bushy tail?” The one child said to the other, “I think it’s a squirrel, but I bet you the answer is Jesus.”

                “Jesus is the answer” can be a far too glib, simplistic, generalized answer to what goes in our lives. Not that it isn’t true but the way some people use the phrase, it can become superficial. It can whitewash the challenges, the trials and tribulations we endure. It can sound too facile in the face of loss, suffering and failure. Believers may understand better because they are steeped in the Church, but others who have no faith foundation may turn a deaf ear because of their lack of experience and therefore appreciation for the depth of its meaning. But even we. Christians, can sound like Thomas, “No, we don’t know, Lord.” There is some existential honesty in Thomas that might resonate. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

                “Knowing the Lord,” as a lady said to me today when she learned I was a minister and boasted how all her family “knew the Lord,” is crucial to our faith.  Her husband had been a minster as are most of her sons and a few other relatives. My family is rife with minsters as well. I envy her success rate as to the faith of her children. “Knowing the Lord” is not just for pastors and minsters but are words that should strike a spark in anyone and everyone. Then there are a few who claim to know the Lord, but certainly don’t act like it.

                Thomas knew Jesus personally and had watched him at work, at prayer, at miracles, at teaching sessions. Yet Thomas always appears as a natural doubter, somewhat of a skeptic, a prove-it-to-me kind of guy. Words alone never sufficed. He wanted to see for himself and experience firsthand what and who the Lord was. Our relationship with Jesus begins in what we observe about him, hear him say, watch him do, picture him as he is in the Gospels.  This relationship leads to more questions but it is a start.

                Jesus helps Thomas with the teaching that “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Three short words that say so much. Seeing Jesus as the Son of God resonates through those words. Our relationship with Jesus leads us through all of  life’s journey. His truth gives us insight, hope, counsel, encouragement, strength, and inspiration. His life instructs us on how to live, to love, to be, to care, to forgive, to bless.

                We are getting into deeper waters now when we say “Jesus is the answer.” There is another step to take that brings those ties with him closer and tighter. “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  (Galatians 2:20) We have a religious idiom for this, too: “saved by grace.”  But what it means is that we entered this mysterious, sacred relationship with faith, confidence and assurance that no matter what, no matter the question or the questions, we are never alone, never forsaken, never without hope, never without God’s Love. “From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

                It is perfectly okay to have questions and doubts and questions about Jesus. I expect there are a few occasions when he has his doubts about us. Maybe even, the more questions, the deeper one’s faith will grow. New insights. New understanding. New experiences. Only as we practice Jesus’ Way, Truth and Life, do we begin to answer some if not all the questions. It is a lifetime journey. “But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.” (2 Timothy 1: 12, The Message Bible)

                The squirrel was the right answer. Jesus is the perfect answer!

 

Dale