Wednesday, May 27, 2026

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you." (Hebrews 10:35)

      When Jesus preached not to be anxious about anything during his sermon on the mount, he never reckoned with the modern stress of dealing with technology. Nothing causes me more stress and anxiety than dealing with computer's idiosyncrasies. All is sweetness and light when the tech works properly but as soon it fails, my panic rises and my blood pressure goes haywire. I become a whining six-year old!

      I am currently in such a crisis. My main working computer experienced a major meltdown. It's in the shop for a total reboot, a cleaning, a purge, radical overhaul, a purification. Excuse me for a moment as I dry my eyes. The real pain in all this is that I am paying for my sins of the past for not backing up most of my work along with other pieces of information and many pictures. I kept meaning to back it all up; just never got around to it. Now, gone forever! Yikes! My 10 years' worth of blogs, thankfully, have been all saved  on my blog-site. But all else is kaput, out there in the nether world of cyber space.(I am writing this on my Chromebook which makes me very nervous.)

      All this angst reminds me that we should be more careful about taking care of the important things and people in our lives. It is so easy to become careless about paying attention to tje things and people that matter. We can forget to reinforce the values and principles which lead to a faithful life. We don't back-up our relationships the way we should. We fail to pay attention to the signs that there are problems which need to be addressed before it is too late. Jesus has taught us not to neglect the important things in life. (Matthew 23:33)  "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33)

       It is so easy to take our lives for granted. We may think that we have all the time in the world to take care of the "business" of living. We fail to notice when there are telltale signs of things beginning to go awry, putting off corrections, repairs and remedies. In the long run, it mean that our neglect leads to health issues, broken relationships, existential crises, cloudy futures or spiritual breakdowns. We are not computers - we can't simply reboot and start all over.

       Our text reminds us, especially, not to be so careless with the critical and essential relationship which we enjoy with God through Jesus Christ. I was still using an old Windows 10 operating system which had become too obsolete to sustain my work. I needed an upgrade to Windows 11. Likewise, we need to be constantly refreshing  our faith and spirituality. Don't let your faith expire by neglecting its maintenance and improvement. Don't throw away and lose the details of what made you a believer. The Apostle Paul wrote:  "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jess Christ is among you; if not you have failed the test of genuine faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)

      We do not to remember what we have lost; we want to hang on to what we have and  build on it. "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago." (Psalm 77:11_

       Now, where did I put that thumb-drive?

Prayer:

Our ever-present God, sometimes in all the hustle and  bustle of our lives, we neglect the critical necessities of keeping up a faithful, relevant and lively dialogue with you. We allow things to go stale. We ignore the signs of brokenness and failure. Awaken us afresh to the uploads of your Love and Grace. New every morning is your Love. Help us to renew our lives according to that Love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer:

Our ever-present God, sometimes in  all the hustle and bustle of our lives, we neglect the critical necessities of keeping a faithful, relevant and lively dialogue with you. We allow things to go stale. We ignore the signs of brokenness and failure. Awaken us afresh to the uploads of your Love and Grace. New every morning is your Love. Help us to renew our lives according to that love. In Jesus’ name, Amen

        

 "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25)       

        Five out of our seven grandchildren are involved in organized baseball, this summer. As of today, they are all enthusiastic and passionate about their participation. They can't wait to get to the ballpark for their games or even get to their weekly practices. Playing ball is one of their favourite things to do. They hate to miss a game or even a practice. That has not always been the case. Ther have been moments when they were very reluctant to leave the house, like on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon to go to curling or a dance class But right now, their enthusiasm and keenness is .at a high level. encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

    It is a daunting, parental challenge to get all the kids to their games and practices. Two of the boys are on travel teams and therefore have to get to their tournaments outside their city. almost every weekend.Extra duty for mom and dad. But all the parents have to juggle their schedules and make sacrifices to ensure their children get to where they need to be. They seem to do this with their own enthusiastic support. But they have told their children that if they ever do not want to play sport anymore, for whatever reason, they won 't be forced to continue. They can quit and no recriminations.

    There was an article in the Globe, this week, about a mother who had to deal with her daughter quitting soccer and how to deal with it. She wrote about the dilemma of wanting her children to follow through on their commitments yet not wanting to force her daughter to do something she didn't want to. Issues like enjoyment and having a basic level of competence pay a part in whether a child sticks with it. It is also helpful when we expose our children to different ranges of activities, sports, experiences. Variety is good and saves burnout from just being in one sport.

    But it has made think of  the challenge of getting our children to go to church. I don't know how many times I have heard an adult tell me that the reason they don't go to church is because a parent forced them to go when they were young. They usually add how boring church was or how long the sermons were. Once they became teenagers and had a choice, they stopped going. I remember that as a preadolescent, I wasn't allowed to play house-league hockey on Sunday mornings; church came first.

    Or what about the parents who say they will let their children decide about religion when they get old enough, although they never expose then to any faith-based community to begin with so that they can make a informed decision. The choice had already been made for them.

    But really, is there anything new under the sun? Apparently, the church to which the epistle to the Hebrews was written was dealing with people who were ducking out on worship, neglecting to meet together. Remember the Parable of the Banquet where the invited guests made up excuses so they wouldn't have to attend. 

    We all make excuses for not attending church. Weather. Stayed up too late the night before watching double overtime in the hockey game. Creaky, old joints. Guest preacher. For me, right now, it is just so much easier to stay at home and watch the service on the internet and enjoy a second cup of coffee. It is far more convenient. I don't ask myself whether or not I am encouraging anyone. Am I m missed? On the other hand, I can still well remember how I felt when I looked out at my congregation and saw a lot of empty pews. It was quite discouraging.

    Our presence matters. Our fellowship with others matters. Our efforts into community building matters. Our being in  the company of our fellow "saints" matters. We rub off on each other. we comfort each other. We are stronger together than apart.  I get a wholly different vibe when I attend a service in person than when I simply watch on-line.I wish that my church was closer than it is but that too is just an excuse. We, Christians,need one another. And if that means that we must make an extra effort or that we need to rise to the obligation or that we make it  part of our regular routine, no matter what, then that is good.

    Hebrews 10 is a call to persevere under the circumstances in our lives. Christ did  not quit on his mission to make things right between God and ourselves. "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm." (10:23) We have been blessed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of our sins, That is worthy of our attention. That is a call for our devotion that demands our faithfulness. "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you. Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do god's will. Then, you will receive all that he has promised." 10: 35 -36)

Prayer:

Our ever-patient God, help us to be mindful of our need to interact with you and with other believers. May we be a source of encouragement, compassion and support within our faith communities. May we be as present to you as yo are always with us. we pledge our faithfulness and witness to the cause of building you Kingdom together. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 Wednesday, May 13, 2026

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp.” (Psalm 137:5, New Living Translation)

            “On the count of three; we will forget all about this. One. Two. Three.”

This is how the flock of sheep in the marvellous, poignant movie, The Sheep Detectives, deal with calamity, with those things that are unpleasant, hurtful and troubling. They have the ability simply to wipe it all out of their minds and continue to live in their supposedly idyllic world under the care of their good shepherd, George They have forgotten all about pain, suffering and death.  Their world is simply and wonderfully confined to their green pastures and the tender loving care of the shepherd. Even when their shepherd is murdered, their first inclination is to count to three and forget all about him and his death. But the lead ram stops them and reminds them how important it is to remember always the one who had thoughtfully named each one of them and had constantly cared and tended for them.  George shouldn’t be forgotten even though he was gone. He had a place in their hearts.

But it is tempting to envy the sheep’s ability to forget pain and death. We have never been able to explain adequately why there is suffering in our lives or why God allows bad things it happen to us. We do know that we go through fire, wind and storm. We are grieved by and suffer through the loss of loved ones. We suffer setbacks and losses. We make terrible choices and mistakes. We know sickness and disease. We look at the world and shudder at its state of affairs. Wouldn’t it be pleasant, sometimes, to count to three and forget all about the past?

There is one sheep in the movie who can’t ever forget like the others. He remembers everything, both the good and the bad. When the heroine sheep, Lily, realizes this, she asks him how he can possibly bear it. He replies that it is all the good things that he remembers which helps him, like remembering his mother’s face.  He held onto these memories in gratitude and love. The memories didn’t change the world one bit but it sustained him. They helped him survive and thrive.

Do we really want to forget those whom we have loved and have been part of our lives? Do we really want to forget those times when we life made us happy, joyful, content? Do we really want to forget those deeply satisfying times in our lives when life was full and abundant? Because if we forget all about the bad times, we will forget all about the good times with the people who mattered the most.

Like Jesus said, we have sadness in this world but our tears will turn to joy. “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” (John  16:22) Memories are a powerful source of love, joy, hope, energy, strength and nurture.  They remind us of what is important and who matters. Our memories lead us into  a future that may never be perfect (on this world anyway) but a world made better because of the people we loved and who loved us.

The Sheep Detectives has Psalm 23 written all over it, although I doubt that was the inspiration for the movie. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  These words remind us of the continuous loving presence of God for each of us. Even when they murdered our Good Shepherd, we were not abandoned. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” These are words which I never want to forget. Thankfully God remembers us in our afflictions, trials and hurts. “He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100; 3)

The Psalmist, King David himself perhaps, says that forgetting the wonders of God’s Presence would be like cutting off the music. He’d rather not be ale to play the harp than forget the beauty and grace that God gives.  Let us continually remember and not forget the ongoing, ever-present Love of God. Let us never forget those who have shared that love with us. Yes, it hurts sometimes, but the joy far surpasses the sorrow we experience.

Now, on the count of three. One. Two, Three.  Remember!

 

Prayer:

Ou Loving Shepherd, may we never forget the Love that you have for each and every one of us. May we cherish the memories of the people who have shared and enriched our lives. Grant that we will always recall all the beauty, grace, joy, wonder, generosity that have filled our lives each and every day. Help us when sorrows, struggles and pain try to overwhelm us. Help us to trust in your Compassion and Love, now and forever. In Jesus’ name. Ame

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

“We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” (Psalm  126:2, New Living Translation)

                I will confess that I did not listen to the podcast but the title intrigued me: “We need to add laughter to our to-do lists.” That was enough to send me scurrying through the Bible to find references to “laughter”. Admittedly, there are not many but the writer of Ecclesiastes affirms that there is both a time to cry and a time to laugh. (Ecclesiastes 3: 4) There is mockery, even by God of the unrighteous; there is taunting by Jesus’ critics; there is scoffing; but the sheer joy and glee of a healthy laughter, with only a few notable exceptions, are seldom found. Perhaps, the Bible takes the broken world so seriously that the sound of gracious laughter is infrequently heard.

                But if there ever was a time for some laughter, we could use it these days. The world is in rough enough  shape to make us cry. We mourn for the lack of civility, peace, compassion, tolerance, mercy and justice.  Statesmen-style leadership is in tatters. Wars wage. Hunger strikes. Poverty prevails. Do I need to go on? What is there to laugh about? “Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.” (James 4:9)

                But, perhaps, we need to consider that laughter is a wonderful remedy for the condition of this world of ours. “Pick out a pleasant outlook; Stick out that noble chin; Wipe off that "full of doubt" look Slap on a happy grin!” Sounds Pollyannish, doesn’t it?  Holy laughter doesn’t pretend the world is always a happy place. But sacred laughter does lift our spirits towards God’s goodness so that we take delight in his provisions and grace.  Laughter takes us beyond the world’s miseries and reminds us that God is always at work in our world even if and when we doubt it. Joy and laughter are intrinsically linked together. “The joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10)

                I cannot help but think of the Biblical story of Abraham and Sarah for whom God promised a son even though they are both very, very old.  Both of them laughed out loud at the mere thought of such a  thing. “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” (Genesis 18:12) But God had the last laugh. They did have a son, Isaac, the forbear of the Israelite nation. Sarah joins in God’s “joke”: “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6)

                And there it is really. We need to embrace the holy laughter of God. We need to allow ourselves the freedom to revel in his good Creation, his Love, his satisfaction when we do well by God.  We need to smile in the little joys of life. We need to appreciate the serendipitous, the whimsical, the silliness, the often ridiculous, even the nonsensical, the surprising, the exceptional, the  preposterous  because God can speak and act through these things and lift our spirits and bring us into his Holy Presence with thanksgiving and joy: “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)

                Our sacred laughter is a sign that we haven’t given up on God, each other, ourselves or the world in which we live. We know the “punchline.”  God will have the last Great Laugh as he puts the world back in order. “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” (John 16: 22 -24)

                Our sacred laughter doesn’t mean that we don’t take things seriously. But it helps us to keep the world in perspective. It offers us a healthier alternative to despair, fear and the chaos around us. It leads us to free ourselves from the captivity of the powers and principalities that would enslave us in their humourless, dreadful, morose reality. Sacred laughter encourages us to see the world in the Light of Jesus Christ, to enjoy the true and authentic things of God, and to let the Holy Spirit engage us with the mind of both God and Jesus.

                Perhaps, this is a lot of stuffy theology out of just a title of a podcast to add laughter to our to-do lists.  But simply put, find a reason to smile to today.  Have a chuckle or two. Enjoy the day or someone you are with.  Laugh at what is absurd. (Heaven knows you’ll find enough of it.) Give some  much-needed space for some joy to seep into your life. Pass it on. “Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.” (Philippians 2:18)

 Prayer.

Our Loving God, forgive us our gloomy outlook at the state of your world. We have lost our perspective that you are graciously at work even despite all that is broken and lost. Grant us an increased faith that will rediscover   the joy of your Creative Love. Help us to enjoy the important things that truly matter in our lives. Lift our spirits into the sacred realm of your laughter and joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

“And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, New Living Translation)

                “Can you think of a positive, caring person in your life who might help you out?”

                This question is leading a youth shelter in St. Catharines to help homeless and/or addicted youth, often with mental health issues as well, to do more than just hunker down at the shelter. It is opening doors (almost literally) so that these lost youth break the cycle of their life-shattering difficulties.

The article illustrates what happened with one youth. The case manager asked this young man if there was a caring, positive person in his life who might help him out. It turns out that he thought of his father and gave the case worker permission to get in touch with him. The father said he didn’t know whether his son was dead or alive. “But I want him home.” The young man, with promises that he would take and stay on his medication, went to live with his father that very day. The story reports that now, a few years later, the son is still living at home and doing well.

This has the Parable of the Prodigal Son written all over it.  The Prodigal’s story is very contemporary in many ways. A young man leaves home and falls into a harmful, wasteful life-style. He is broke, homeless, hungry, far away from home, living poorly off the streets, snatching food where he can even if it is only fit for pigs.

Then a remarkable thing began to take place. He came to his senses. There was a rare moment of clarity and self-awareness, that his life was a living hell. That is when he thought of home and more importantly, he remembered his father, a positive, caring person in his life who might just help him out. In hopeful  contrition and humility, he seeks to return home, unsure what his father would say or do. But we learn that the father has been watching the road all the while, waiting, hoping, longing, “But I want him home,” we might hear him saying to people who are asking him why bother, why waste his time.  The father sees his son and picking up the hem of his robe so he could ruin more easily, sandals flapping on the dirt road, the father rushes up to his son and embraces him and welcomes him home gladly and throws a party to celebrate his return, “for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.” (15: 24)

It is this story which reverberates through the youth shelter’s story.

Both stories remind us how critical it is to have someone in our corner, someone who loves us unconditionally, someone who has our well-being at heart, someone who forgives and forgets. Robert Frost said it well: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” But it is more than an obligation, a duty or a burden. It is the free, gracious, unreserved response of someone who sees through the pig slop and throws their arms around us.

The parable invites us to see God in that way, as our heavenly Father, Abba,  who is eager to welcome us back into his loving arms, no matter what. God forgives, pardons, saves and is eager to bless our reunions with him. “Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” (Psalm 68:19) God does not forget us, nor abandon us to our messes, nor shun us when we go bad, nor give up hope for us, “for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (1 Chronicles 28:20)

Both stories also remind us that there may be people in our lives who seem lost to us, friends or family, ones who have fallen by the wayside of our influence and love. Are we prepared to be patient with them, welcoming them back, forgiving them, being open-armed, open-hearted and unfalteringly be a beacon of hope and light for them?

Both stories also remind us that if we are the ones who ever need love, care, and a positive influence, we who are on the outside looking hungrily around for acceptance and inclusion, that we look for those positive influences who see beyond our faults, weaknesses, and mistakes and help us return to family, fellowship and community.

            Come home, come home
            You who are weary, come home
            Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling
            Calling, O sinner, come home.

 Prayer:

Ou loving heavenly Father, help us to seek your Presence no matter how far we ourselves have lost our way. We pray for those who have fallen and can’t get up that you bring them to their senses so that they will run back into your ever-open arms. Help us to be as forgiving and open-hearted with others as you are with us.  Thank you for a Love that has our welfare and well-being at the very core of y9our Grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

“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)

              Yesterday, I had one fleeting moment of panic and distress.  I thought I had lost the last piece of my 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. I had all the other 999, but the last piece was missing. The picture would be forever incomplete if I couldn’t find that one, missing piece. I had spent hours and hours in putting together this very difficult and challenging puzzle. But it would feel almost meaningless if I couldn’t find that last piece. I was willing to scour every corner in the apartment to find it, looking in every nook and cranny. But fortunately, I looked behind my chair and there it was on the floor. The lost had been found. Now, I didn’t have a party and invite everyone in our building, but it was cause to have a small, personal celebration. At the very least, it saved Susan from listening to my complaints and unhappiness. The angels may have been amused… or not.

                The woman in Jesus’ parable lost one of her ten coins.  We can speculate why that one coin was so precious, even though it is not really germane to the story. It may imply that woman was poor and needed every dime she had to eke out a living for herself and maybe a family. Every penny counts when it comes to buying groceries, paying the rent, paying bills, keeping  the children clothed, etc.  Or perhaps, ten coins were the exact price she needed to pay for something essential. What if she needed a doctor or medicine or a new loom for her  rug weaving business?  Nine coins wasn’t going to be enough. It simply had to be ten. Nothing less would do.

                The woman’s reasons could be anything, but the real point of the parable is in the woman’s determination, perseverance and thoroughness in looking for that lost coin. Nothing was going to deter her from finding it. She turned her house inside-out and upside-down in her quest to find that one coin. When she finally found it, underneath the stove or tucked under a carpet or hiding under the sleeping dog, she was overjoyed. I am not sure what she may have spent on the subsequent party, but presumably it didn’t take much of those ten coins. Maybe, she didn’t really need all ten coins at all but she was so unhappy with her loss that she was fiercely determined to find the coin in order to have a full purse.

                God is like that woman!

                Yes, God has all he needs in and through his Creation. We could argue that God lacks for nothing. So what if members of humankind get lost? Is God supposed to account for every man, woman and child in the world? Life happens. People make mistakes, sin, fall by the wayside, act irresponsibly, give up, are broken, make bad decisions, live lies, are selfish, have abandoned God, spent all their time, talents and treasures on self-centred choices.  There are lost and lots of good people in the world; maybe far more than the bad ones. So what are  a few losses here and there for God?

                Yet, God is like that woman!

                God wants his world to be complete, to be whole, to be thriving, to be rich in love and abundant living. So, God will not be satisfied until he reconciles the lost portion of humankind back with the rest of his Creation. “The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, New Revised Standard Version) God perseveres in finding us, no matter where we are hiding or where we have wandered off to or whenever we're feeling lost and forsaken. God practices the kind of Love which Paul wrote about: “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13: 7, New Living Translation)

God never gives up on any of us, no matter what! He will look through whatever scrap heap, mess and chaos to find any and all of his beloved sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.  Maybe that’s you or was you or is someone you know and love.  Just believe this, the angels are baking a cake topped with sparklers, have set out the party platters of food, turned up the music, cleared the floor for dancing and invited all of heaven to celebrate when God’s finally finds one of us nd brings us back into his care. Now isn’t that a wang-dang-doodle!

 Prayer:

Our Loving God, thank you for never giving up on us, especially if and when we give up on ourselves. Forgive us when we make it so difficult for you to find us. Keep looking because we really need to be found so as to be made whole. May we rejoice with the angels when your Love finds us, heals our wounds, makes us included and welcome and set your banquet table out for us. In praise and thanksgiving, Amen.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

“By this we know that we are in him: whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked.” (1 John 2: 4 -6, New Revised Standard Version)

            I am up for the challenge.

My daughter, Katie, has offered to take me to a Toronto Blue Jays’ game in late May. But - isn’t there always a “but”? -  she has challenged me that I have to be ambulatory enough to do all the necessary walking that it will take to get to the ballpark, roam around the stadium to see the memorabilia of 50 years in the big leagues, and get back. That is a lot of walking under the best of circumstances. But I have not been too limber or agile lately, mostly due to my arthritis, but I also just don’t get much physical exercise, period. So, I am now “in training.” I am walking down our block with cane in hand to the near-by park, each and every day, weather permitting. Coincidentally, Katie’s house is on the far side of the same park. My goal is to increase the number of steps I take, each and every day. By game time, who knows – maybe I will come close to walking around the whole park which is of considerable size. Don’t bet on it, though! But here’s hoping.

It boggles the mind to think how much Jesus walked in his three years of ministry. There were no taxis, buses, cars, planes or trains.  Unless there were Uber camels or Lyft donkeys, he had to walk everywhere he wanted to go and he wanted to go to a lot of places throughout Judea, Samaria, Galilee, etc. He and his disciples walked mile after mile, kilometer after kilometer, in order to spread the Gospel and meet the people, to heal, to preach, to interact with the world around him, to make himself available to one and all. Although it is believed Capernaum was his home base, he was never home much. Thus, he said of himself “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man[a] has no place even to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) His sandals must have ben worn thin.

It seems appropriate then that early Christianity was known as “The Way.” (Acts 9:22) Disciples and others were called to come and follow Jesus. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) The way of faith was not an easy road to take: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) The apostle Paul wrote about “following the truth of the gospel message” (Galatians 2:14) or “following the whole will of God.” (Colossians 4:12). Peter picked up the theme, too “He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) It leads us to understand that practicing our faith is an exercise in walking in trust, in belief, in doing good works, in move forward into the world with Christ’s love, compassion, forgiveness, and his likeness. Christianity is not a passive belief system; it is a movement. We can’t just sit back and become idle. Our faith demands practice, effort, intention, as we seek to follow Jesus Christ.

                Not only  just “follow”, but that invitation often was accompanied by the challenge “to go.” Jesus was sending his followers into the world to be light or salt. “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20, The Message Bible) That’s right - we are all called to be missionaries of a sort; maybe not to the far corners of the world but he sends us into the near-by-corners of our neighbourhoods and communities. “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” (John 17:18)

                So put on your most comfortable walking shoes or best running shoes, spiritually speaking. There is a lot of ground to cover.  The life of faith is not generally a short race; it is a marathon. So limber up. Don’t just be a spectator. “And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

                Are you up for the challenge?

Prayer:

                Our Creator God, grant us a renewed strength and vitality to sustain our walk with Jesus. Help us when we falter or stumble. May we always be in step with Jesus, following in his footsteps so that we are meeting the challenges of doing his good works in the world about us. Help us to walk aright, so that others will see the Way though each of us and be led to follow, too.  In Christ’s name, Amen.

 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day. (Psalm 139: 13 -16, The Message Bible)

               I just know that you are all dying to know how my jigsaw puzzle is going – the one I mentioned a few weeks ago. You may recall that it is a 1000-thousand-piece puzzle featuring 350 or so of just the faces of Lego characters, all with different expressions and facial features, all in various colours of yellow, brown and black. It’s been a challenge but that is what I like when I am doing jigsaws.  

                I am getting close to being done. But I am down to a very hard, difficult stage. The majority of the faces are basically done. Now I am down to trying to find very little pieces of the faces to complete the puzzle. It is a little piece of an eye-brow here, a part of an eye there, maybe a tiny little corner of a mouth, a little stubble of a beard, a freckle or two. This is going to take some patience and perseverance to finish. But I won’t give up or stop until I am done.

                I wonder if God sometimes finds us, who are created in his own image, like a puzzle. It was originally a good and beautiful world.  “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” (Genesis 1:31) But does God look at the world made for humankind and see it like a jigsaw puzzle just coming out of the box – a jumble of pieces, some upside down, unconnected, a hodge podge that has no form or coherency, that needs sorting and organizing, that needs patience and endurance to put back together?  Does God look at our broken world right now and wonder, in frustration, whether he can put the pieces all back together again, to make it like he pictured it at the beginning, i.e. like on the lid of a puzzle box, so to speak.? When and how did the world fall to pieces?

                Our Psalm outlines the meticulous care which God gives to his world, especially the lives of humankind.  The Psalm affirms God’s intimate knowledge of each and every one of us. Like my faces in my puzzle, God knows even the little details of who we are and why we are and who we need to be. He knows us inside and out.  God knows where we belong. God knows when a piece is missing from our stories and he looks to find it for us. He understands our brokenness and fragmentation. He understands when we are trying to fit in, feeling upside down, trying to find our right places, to connect with others around us. No part of our lives is tool small, too insignificant, too unimportant, that God does not give us a helping hand to help us put it together. Like the hymn celebrates, “He walks with me, he talks with me, and He tells me that I am his own.”

                Back in the day, it was popular, for a while, to say “God doesn’t make junk.”  There is truth in that although I dare say that I wonder if there are times when God is exasperated, frustrated and might wish to put the “puzzle” that we are back in the box and back on a shelf somewhere. But that is not how God so loves the world. God has committed his own son to enable us to get our lives all together and just maybe then, we can help God put the world back to right, “thy will be done in earth as it is heaven.” God made man and woman to be pieces of his Creation, to be stewards of the world he created. He made us to work in partnership and collaboration to nurture love, peace, joy and justice between us, despite our differences and diversity. He has placed each one of us in his Creative masterpiece as a piece of the puzzle.

               “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 2:10)

 Prayer:

Our loving Creator, we confess we sometimes fail to understand just how good and kind you are towards us.  We complain about our lives or how broken the world is. Help us to remember that you are still very close to us and have our ultimate welfare in your hands. Grant us the courage and the wisdom to be a part of your good will, that we, too, may become participants in helping you to build your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – Holy Week

“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22, New Living Translation)

                 At Jesus’ religious trial, the High Priest, Caiaphas, accused Jesus of the ultimate blasphemy, of declaring himself to be the Messiah. “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” (Matthew 25: 65-66) And so the Council decreed, “’Guilty!’ they shouted. ‘He deserves to die!’”

                Guilty - that is a terrible judgment to lay on anyone shoulders, least of all Jesus. Our faith asserts that Jesus was innocent, without sin, yet the world in which he lived in judged him, condemned him and punished him severely for his “guilt”.  It could be said that all Jesus was guilty about was telling the truth, showing compassion to one and all and revealing the pomposity of these same religious hypocrites who were now judging him. Who was really guilty here?

                  Guilt is not a particularly fashionable word in our modern culture, sort of like the word ‘sin’. Outside of our country’s courtrooms and its legal verdicts, words like sin and guilt make us feel very uncomfortable and unpleasant.  They are words that bite and take chunks out of our souls, so best left alone. Nobody is perfect, we get that.  But most prefer to avoid feeling guilty. Back in the day, it was popular to note that the Greek word for sin literally meant “to miss the mark.” That is a much softer landing spot for acknowledging our mistakes and blunders of behaviour, words and deeds. So we goofed, we’ll do better next time. Sorry about that.  Forget about it. Bad things happen. Let’s move on, shall we? To err is human; to forgive is divine.  Nobody, myself included, wants to feel guilty. It’s like a death verdict on our psyches.

                Psychologist, Chris Moore, argues that “guilt is not simply an unpleasant emotional burden – it can be a powerful force that helps repair our relationships.” (Gayle MacDonald, Globe and Mail) He points out that guilt is comprised of three things. “There’s fear or anxiety about the damage that might have been done to a relationship. There’s compassion for the person who has been hurt. And there’s self- directed anger about what you did.” This sounds to me all too neat and tidy, very clinical. Even he still back-pedals on the power of guilt, “If you feel guilt, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It usually means you care about other people.” Not sure what world he lives in, because the world that I live in largely feels no guilt about much of anything, even the most egregious behaviour, and feels no spirit of remorse or any desire for reconciliation.  But I do resonate with his theory that “The most powerful antidote to guilt is forgiveness.” But that is not an easy road to travel.

                I am the last person on earth who should be counselling about guilt. If I, reluctantly, stop to think about my own life, I have plenty to be guilty about. Relationships have been broken. People have left my churches because of my leadership. I have failed at times in parenting. The list goes on. You can stop me any time. In the midst of a lot of good and many blessings, I feel badly and guilty about my failures. “My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.” (Psalm 38:4)

                The one thing that the good psychologist does not bring up is that we never bear our guilt alone. If we are willing to confess and open up to our failures, then, at least,  God is on our side. “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (Psalm 32:5) It is rightly said that confession is good for the soul.  Confession is about total honesty and truth about ourselves; no pussy-footing around, no excuses, no alibis, no avoidance of the ugly truth. We begin by confessing to God, then mustering up the courage to fess up to the people we have hurt, ignored or harmed. I am still working on that last part. “Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalm 32:2)

                Our text from Hebrews reminds us that we can bring our guilty consciences into the presence of God. It affirms that Jesus’ Crucifixion was the remedy for our guilt and sin, “but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.” (Romans 5:16) This ultimate act of forgiveness by the way of the Cross is once and for all.  Our guilt has been removed. Our shame has been erased.  We are given a New Life.  Let’s make the best and the most of it, to forgive as we have been forgiven, to love as we have been loved, to be reconcilers as we have been reconciled.

                “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.” (`1 John 18 -20)      

 Prayer:

                Our loving and forgiving God,  it is hard to confess all the mistakes and blunders that have tripped us up in our lives. But we very grateful that you pick us up with forgiveness in Jesus Christ. He paid such a horrific price to lead us back into your Presence and Love.  In his death, we have had our sins and guilt washed away and we have been made clean.  May we abide in your generous Love and show that Love to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 Wednesday, March 25, 2026 – Lent Six

“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: 16 -17, New Living Translation)

                 Last night was our annual, fantasy baseball draft. If you are not familiar with what that is, let me try to explain as briefly as possible. A group of family and friends sit at our computers for an hour and a half and we take turns choosing MLB baseball players to be on our respective teams, a total of 18 players per team. Then, as the baseball season rolls along, each week, two teams go head-to-head. Scoring is based on several statistics that each player accrues during that week. If my players, The Whiskeyjacks, have better results than the other team’s players, I win the week. Nerdy stuff for us baseball fanatics.

                The draft has many, many rounds. At the beginning, players are flying off the board. If you snooze, you lose. Everyone is trying to choose the best players who are available. The all-star calibre players are always the first to be chosen. We are a large league and it doesn’t take all that long for the cream of the crop to be chosen. Sometimes, I had a player whom I really hoped to choose but he was gone by my turn.  After the mid-stages, we’re scrounging around for the next best who are still available. Even so, everyone ends up with a really good team. We can make trades or add and delete players as the season goes on.  For a baseball nut like me, it is a lot of fun.

                In the Gospels, we can read about how Jesus chose his twelve disciples. They came from different backgrounds, occupations and upbringings.  There were fishermen (Peter and John), a tax collector (Matthew), among them. As we follow their development, they ae very different in their personalities and character traits. Peter was brash. Thomas was cautious and careful. Judas became a political opportunist. They argued amongst themselves about who was the greatest. They could be curious, loyal, confused, disobedient, and yet protective of Jesus. They didn’t have theological degrees from a seminary. They were very ordinary. Certainly not all-stars.  But Jesus chose them to be his disciples, to teach them, to guide then, to empower them – it was a labour of love. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

                Perhaps, that is the point – Jesus chooses regular people to follow him. We don’t all have to be super-stars. We all don’t have to be gifted and spectacular Christians although as Paul pointed out we’re all gifted in some way. “Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”  1 Corinthians 12: 29 -31) Paul then gives us his beautiful description of Love as “the better way” (1 Corinthians 13) which is in line with our words from John’s Jesus. “This is my command: Love each other.”

                It can be both awesome and a little challenging that Jesus has chosen you and me to be one of his followers. We may not feel adequate, prepared, equipped, mature enough, wise enough, good enough. Or too old, too busy, too wordily, too sinful, too broken, too lost. Some may claim that they don’t know how to pray; they don’t read their Bible much; they don’t go to church much. Others may say that thy have no time for God or that God feels distant. Some feel unloved, alienated, angry, confused, hopeless and helpless.

                Good New, people. Jesus has called you and named you as one of his Own. Jesus’ invitation breaks through our inadequacies, doubts, fears and reluctance and affirms that he believes that you are just the one he wants to be his friend, his companion and his disciple to further his work and presence in the world. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise that you are not worthy of Jesus’ Love and Invitation. He has chosen you and me. Crazy as that may sound, it is true. We are part of his undertaking to bring God’s Love into the whole world.

                “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Prayer;

Our Creator God, we thank you that, no matter who we are, or what we are going through or what we have done or failed to do, you still reach out to us and choose us to be a part of your Great Vision. We confess that there are times when we would rather hide from that calling. But we are thankful that Jesus’ Love is so encompassing that it embraces us all. May we take op our cr9os and follow him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – Lent Five

“And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked. Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.” “My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.” But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!” (Genesis 33: 8 -10, New Living Translation)

                I’m late starting my annual Winter’s hobby project.  I guess it’s a Spring project now. Not Lego, although it’s related somewhat.  This week, I opened a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Here’s the thing. The picture is that of 340 tiny faces of Lego characters, row after row of them. Every face is different. Smiling, frowning, laughing, squinting, angry, surprised, some with glasses or goggles, some with clown faces, bearded faces, male and female faces, and so on and so on.  Every face is different. All the pieces are shades of yellow and orange. This may take a while…

                Faces tell a story, don’t they? Our faces reflect our moods and demeanor. I can think of several times when someone told me to smile, that I was looking too grim or serious. It was not how I was feeling at all, but my face is “set” that way, so that I guess that I don’t always look friendly or happy. Even so, faces can be a natural indication of the person inside. When we greet someone, our faces are the first impression that another person has of us.  A warm, friendly smile says more than any number of words.

                There was a recent article in the Globe and Mail by Nolan Bryant which celebrates a genuine smile as an important quality of life to have. “In a world of unceasing bad news, there is something quite revolutionary about an authentic smile.” He claims that “the smile has become countercultural.” It got me to thinking that a smile is a bridge towards someone else. A smile needs to be shared.  Receiving a smile makes us feel better, welcome, safe, connected. Our smiles do the same for others. Think of the efforts we go through to make a baby smile, all sorts of silly sounds and noises, and what utter pleasure and gift it is when the child responds accordingly.

                One of my favourite songs is Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” either the Nat King Cole version or the Gregory Porter one. “Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking When there are clouds in the sky You'll get by.” I am not advocating that we hide our problems behind a false bravado.  Faking happiness is no road to true happiness. When life has wiped the smiles off our faces, it is time to seek help and counsel.  But I also think there is a benefit to dig deep and find the significant joys and blessings that put a smile on our faces. Not forced, not phoney, not coerced, not smarmy, not sneering, but a smile that comes from the heart and perhaps, from the heart of God. “Let your face smile on us, Lord.” (Psalm 4:6)

                The brothers, Jacob and Esau, had a very broken relationship. In fact, Esau was ready to kill his brother for stealing his birthright. Jacob had fled as far away as possible. But now, after many years, and building up his personal wealth, Jacob decided to return home and see if he can make amends with his brother. He hopes that his wealth can buy Esau’s favour as he offers his brother all sorts of gifts. Like the prodigal son, Jacob laments his unworthiness: “I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant.” (Genesis 32:10) When the two men met, each accompanied by a large force of people with them, it looked ominous.  But instead, “Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.” (Genesis 33:4)

                Like the father of the prodigal son, Esau embraced his long, lost brother. Jacob realized his exorbitant gifts had no use in the act of reconciliation. His finds his redemption solely in the smile of his brother. “It is like seeing the face of God!” A true, sincere, authentic smile reunites the brothers.  Helping to erase the bitterness, the animosity and the resentment. A smile reaches across the abyss of their brokenness and brings new beginnings.

                That's the time you must keep on trying
                Smile, what's the use of crying?
                You'll find that life is still worthwhile
                If you'll just smile            

Prayer:

                Our loving God, there is indeed much sorrow and hardship in right now. We confess we find it is hard to find good reason to smile. Yet, help us to understand that we are also surrounded by your creative grace and wondrous blessing that invite us to find true joy in our living. May we then share our smiles with each other readily and sincerely so that we build bridges of compassion and forgiveness between brothers and sisters in family and in our communities.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 -Lent Four

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” (Matthew 13:44, New Living Translation)

             Go, get your shovel! There’s gold in them, thar hills!

There was a recent news story about a French home owner, who discovered $800,000 worth of gold while digging up his back yard to put in a swimming pool. He found five gold bars and several gold coins. After examination by the authorities, it was determined that the man would be allowed to keep the gold.  I have had fantasies about something like this – finding a Mickey Mantle rookie card in a junk pile or a first issue Superman comic in a discard pile. They are extremely valuable. I would buy the piles of junk so that I could own those treasures.  I might not even sell them, but keep them for their specialness.

                My first thought is about who might have buried this treasure to begin with. The article never said. This leads me to think about the man in Jesus’ parable of the talents and the servant who buried what the owner had given him rather than invest it. “‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’” (Matthew 24:24 -25) The servant was afraid to take any risks whatsoever and was proud that he could return the master’s money untouched, “every cent.”

But as Paul once wrote, we have been given these treasures of life and are sent out into the world to put them to good and profitable use, to invest God’s Grace and Love with interest. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”  (2 Corinthians 4:7) Light needs to shine, not be hidden. Thus, we are also reminded by another of Jesus’ teachings: “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. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5: 15 -16) God has generously given all of us gifts, talents and treasures to liberally (“liberal” really isn’t a swear word as some may argue) spread the Good News near and close, far and wide. “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 24: 21)

So it is that the man who discovered a treasure in the field goes out of his way to purchase the whole field. Not to overthink this short parable, yet some might think that this was a brash and even foolish action to take. There may not likely be any more treasure to be found if indeed that was what he was hoping. More likely though, he believed that plot of land now had intrinsic value and a purpose. He obviously was not the original owner, but wished to authenticate his find by buying the whole plot of land. The analogy is that when we discover the Good News of God’s Love in Jesus Christ, we take complete “ownership” of its valuable contents. We buy in totally to the wealth of Grace, Hope, Joy, Peace, Love and Salvation which we discover in its rich offerings.

These two parables are two sides of the same coin, both about the responsibility of being good stewards of all that God gives us. Perhaps, “responsibility” sounds like a tedious, laborious, duty-filled word, lacking much joy or pleasure.  But in Gospel terms, it has its rich rewards, its satisfactions, its gratifications, its joy-making. “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38, The Message Bible)

Now get out there, people, and start digging.

 Prayer:

                Our generous God, we ask, first, that you lead us to look in the right places for your life-giving Kingdom. Then, help us to stop at nothing to take ownership of the prize of this upward calling. Show us all the ways that we, too, can be generous, faithful, sharing, compassionate and full of forgiveness and love. In this Lenten season, the true treasure is Jesus Christ who died for us. May we strive to be worthy of such a cost he paid for us to live in your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Lent Three

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4: 8)

               So, how are your New Year’s resolutions going? Not so good, eh? Then what about your Lenten aspirations? What did you give up for Lent? O wait, is that chocolate I see smeared on your face?

                It is not easy to keep the promises we make for ourselves. But take heart. I recently read an article by a psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Aspari, with the provocative title: “Forget Willpower: Let Your Values Drive Helpful Habits Instead.” Basically, she was using research that “supported the idea  that habits formed by personal values are more durable than ones formed by guilt or an attempt at self- control. Willpower is a finite resource that burns out.”

She offers scientific reasons for this, about how our brains are wired to create conflict between doing what might good for us and succumbing to the impulse to give up.  The apostle Paul was way ahead of her when he wrote: “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” (Romans 7: 18 -20, The Message Bible)

Just because we know we should do something doesn’t make it any easier to do. “Should seems innocent, yet focusing on what you should do fuels internalized pressure and a sense of guilt…”  Not that honest self-examination is a bad thing, I would counter, but if all it does is make one feel like a loser, a failure or  incompetent, then it has failed it purpose. Confession is good for the soul but so is grace and forgiveness.

The doctor wants us to focus on our values. “Values are like a compass. They point us in the direction we want to go and allow us take steps to get there over time, rather than having to reach a target immediately.”  She asserts that we should (?) “focus on the qualities you want to exhibit and your sense of identity.” Who are you; not what are you. What are your intrinsic values for living? What motivates you from within? I would think that if your core values are strong, then they will support your goals and purposes, maybe even your resolutions and Lenten promises.

But again, Jesus is way ahead of her: “It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6: 48 -49)

Our text from Philippians speaks to paying serious attention to the values we gain from following Jesus Christ. They are empowering values, a solid bedrock of faith, thought, action and conviction. The Message Bible restates this encouragement as doing one’s best “by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”  It will take some willpower, I would think, to help us stay on course in the pursuit of following Jesus Christ. Values need to be cultivated, nurtured, shaped, refined. It takes prayer. It takes the support of the Holy Spirit. “Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Better, yet, is to take positive action on your thinking.

 Prayer:

                O God of Grace and Love, motivate us with your Love to follow Jesus Christ. May we fill our minds and thoughts with the qualities which mirror Christ’s relationship with us.  Help us to persevere in our faith, both in word and deed.  Lead us not into temptation to fail, but to keep our eyes on Jesus, in whose name, we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Lent Two

Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Mark 4:9, New Living Translation)

                I am now sporting my new hearing aids for the last week. I am hearing and experiencing the world in fresh ways. I can hear things that I missed before. Simple things, really. For example, I hear the tiny click of the electric heat unit come on. Unwrapping tinfoil  or cellophane sounds like a thunder storm. Susan says I will be able to hear the crickets outside our bedroom windows in the summer. Best of all, I don’t have to constantly ask anyone else to repeat themselves.  Susan could be sitting right next to me and I wasn’t able to clearly understand what she was saying.  This new level of hearing is a fresh blessing.

                There is an interesting story in the Gospel of Mark about a man who has deaf and had a speech impediment (Mark 7: 31 -36)   It is one of the more graphic miracles that we have in the Gospels. Jesus physically put his fingers into the man’s ears and using his own spit touched the man’s tongue and prayed that his ears be opened. “Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” (v.35) The story acts as a prophetic, symbolic action, portraying one aspect of many of the Messiah’s work, i.e. that the deaf would hear (Luke 7:22). We hear that promise echoed by the people’s reaction: “They were completely amazed and said again and again, ‘Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.’” (v.37)

                Hearing and listening are critical aspects of receiving the Good News of Jesus Christ. “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14) Paul goes on to ask whether anyone is listening. “Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?” The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.” (10: 17)

                 Our problem today may be that we have too much to listen to. We live in a very noisy world. There is no shortage of voices and words. We are bombarded with persuasive promises and seductive possibilities. So much is demanding our attention, our ears. We are inundated with opinions, advice, counsel, information, perspectives, and viewpoints, often alleging some sort of truth or guarantee. Even this blog becomes part of that clamour, vying for your attention, although I pray that it is more useful  than most for many of you.

                Jesus was always trying to get the people around him to stop and listen to what he had to say and to watch what he was doing.  A lot of it fell on deaf ears. There were times that even his disciples missed the point. The parable about the Sower and the Seeds is very much about hearing the Good News above all else.

“Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

“The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

“The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.” (Mark 4: 18 -23, The Message Bible)

What kind of soil are you? This Lenten season, let us re-focus on listening to the Good News of Jesus Christ in its authenticity, its honesty, its ability to lift us above the din of the world, to speak to us of God’s great Love for us all. Let us re-orient ourselves to God’s Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. “O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying…” (Psalm 78:1)

Prayer:

           Our loving and patient God, we are not always paying attention to your Word as we should be. Forgive us when we stop listening to Jesus. Help us to unplug or ears and hear afresh the Good News of Hope and Salvation that is ours through Jesus Christ. Speak to us of your Grace and Forgiveness. Help us to understand the meaning of the Redemption we have in Jesus Christ, in whose name, we pray, Amen.

Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026

“You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.” (1 Corinthians 9: 24 -25, The Message Bible)

                Some of us are old enough to remember the opening words of the old TV show “The Wide World of Sports” on ABC, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” The latter was visually illustrated by a snow-skier epically wiping out on his downhill run.  Yikes!

                Susan and I have been watching a fair amount of the Olympics on TV lately.  Thus, we have seen both the thrills and the spills. We have seen both the tears of joy and the tears of defeat. We’ve heard stories about athletes who have overcome serious injurious, past failures, hardships, even cancer. Some were doubted when they began their sport’s journey. Yet here they were, finding themselves among some of the elite athletes of the world.

The winter Olympics features some of the most dare-devilish sports in the world. Sliding down a long icy chute on your back, riding on not much more than a sled which looks much like a cafeteria tray is not anywhere on my bucket list of things to do in my life. But we listened as these athletes explain how much they love their sport, how hard they have trained, the sacrifices they have made, what they have had to deal with and how grateful they are for those who have helped them along the way, for their families and coaches, their constant cheerleaders. All of them, win or lose, are proud to be Olympic athletes.

Several times, Paul uses athletic imagery to describe the Christian life. Not that Christianity is a sport, but he is encouraging excellence in our Christians endeavours. We don’t rest on our past laurels, but “press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14, New Living Translation) It suggests that we should not settle down in our comfortable (?) pews and sink into lethargy, apathy, indifference and inactivity, thinking that we have it made or that we have punched our ticket into heaven.  Being a follower of Jesus requires movement, actions, intent, practice and setting our goals and aims for being the best we can be for Christ.

We are not alone in this ambition. Like the Olympic athletes we too, are surrounded by encouragers. So often, I heard one of the athletes talk about how “it takes a village” to get them to this point in their sport.  My prayer would be that we all are blessed by some community of believes who have walked beside us with their own examples, their encouragement, their support and their teaching. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

There are always excuses for avoiding the authentic work which we need to exercise our Christian faith and practice. Right now, I am blaming the weather or my bad leg or something for not getting any exercise. It is all too easy to sit at home and watch church on my screen. But there are things any of us can do even if we feel “disabled” in some way, ways which we can exercise our faith by reaching out to others, caring for others, supporting our church financially. We can pray; we can study our scriptures; we can offer kind, encouraging words becoming part of the village.

Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season, a season of reflection, self-examination and a re-kindling of faith in Jesus Christ who walked the road to Gethsemane for us.  But I don’t think that it should be just a passive undertaking. Jesus cleared the obstacles of sin, hell and even death so that we may live fully and abundantly. He has opened a way for us to do remarkable things in bis name: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12) He has prepared us to strive for goodness, to achieve the best standards of love we can, to run the race before us.

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (Hebrews 12: 2 -3)

Strap on your faith and see what you can do! You ‘ll be amazed.

 Prayer:

Our Loving God, as we begin this season of Lent, we are encouraged to follow the footsteps of Jesus. Help us to understand the amazing sacrifice which he took upon himself for our sakes, so that we may have life and life abundantly. Encourage us so that we may honour him by doing our best and giving it our all. Help us to accept the challenges which we face and yet, strive for gold standard of Love in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.