Wednesday, December 19, 2018 (for Advent Four)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”  (1 John 4:7)

(The Unconventional Baptist is going to take a two-week Christmas break. See you in January!) 

                There were times when I was in pastoral ministry that during Advent and Christmas I would wonder what, if anything, I could preach about the baby Jesus which might sound fresh, new and creative. Not that the Nativity Story, itself, is boring but there is only so much that one can say about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love before I feared that it might become too repetitive and people begin to tune out.  We’ve heard this before. There is nothing new here to see or hear.

It’s a wonderful story, but so what? What does it really got to do with you or your world or your life except it is a pleasant distraction for a few days of the year – at least, if one can afford it, or get along with family over turkey dinner or manage the stress and worry.

It is all too easy to gaze into a manger and become blasé about this curious event in Bethlehem.

How many hundreds of times have we sung the same old Christmas carols over and over again?

How many Christmas pageants have we, as parents and grandparents, attended and seen the same old dressing gowns, baby Jesus doll and shepherds’ costumes?

How many candles have we lit on Christmas Eve?

How many times have we heard Luke 2: 1 -20 be read?

Here is an incredible, wondrous and highly imaginative and inspired Story which tries to bring the Love of God down to earth, just for us. Let us not take this Story for granted or assume that there is no relevant, current, contemporary   message that could renew, re- animate, and re-introduce the themes, the majesty, the glory of Christmas for each and every one of us.

Paul wrote, “But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's children.” (Galatians 4: 4 -5, Good News Bible)

When the right time came – I would suggest that our present time too - today, this Christmas -  is especially also the right time for the Love of God to be seen and felt and to engage the world in which we live.  There is no more appropriate time than right Now for the fresh Word of Love to become flesh and blood and bone to bring a message of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Heaven knows that we could use this Message, especially in this day and age.

I haven’t done the homework about who chose them or when these themes were chosen for Advent. But I know that as I observe the world in which we live I am struck as to how critically important these four themes are for the times in which we live. I am not prepared to sentimentalize these themes into cozy, warm, Christmas-y feelings. They are deep-seated, tough themes for hard times as they challenge the political, secular, worldly drift that, as surely as Caesar Augustus’ decree, treats us as commodities and political bases to maintain power and coercion.

Ignore them at your peril.

Perhaps, that doesn’t sound very Merry Christmas-like. But what I am trying to say is that the Birth of Jesus is a sweeping venture by God to re-engage humanity in the Work of God’s Love and Grace, which we name as Redemption.  This Birth is highly imaginative, creative, lively, all-encompassing even in its simplicity and mystery. Don’t underestimate the sacred power which permeates its core and purpose.

Find yourself in embedded in the lives of Elizabeth and Zechariah, or Mary and Joseph or the shepherds’ field, or the innkeeper or the magi or even Herod. Find yourself swaddled in the dynamic of the imagery and subtle overtones of God taking on the arrogance and pride of the Roman world with a message of all things, Love.  

Blows your mind!  Have a truly wonder-filled Christmas!

Dale

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 (for Advent Three)

“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)

 We have been watching a lot of what I call sappy, romantic, Christmas TV movies this year. I have even suggested doing so some of the time. It shows how desperate I am – OK, I will confess that I actually have enjoyed one or two, but don’t tell anyone!

The plot for almost each and every movie is pretty much the same – a pretty, unsettled woman who is usually in an unrewarding career in the big city, as well as in an unhappy and unsatisfactory relationship with a nice but work-driven man goes home for Christmas, (usually  a warm and fuzzy, friendly small-town, USA) to think things out, but gets caught up in some local, altruistic Christmas cause and in so doing meets another man whom at first she doesn’t like but who is always charming, understanding and compassionate. (Well, I didn’t say these movies were realistic, did I?) There is some crisis of misunderstanding between them but by the end of the movie they are madly in love, Christmas is saved and we are to presume they will live joyfully ever after.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if our lives could be a Christmas TV movie? We would all live happily ever after! With all hearts’ desires. With love in the air! With peace on earth and goodwill to everybody! Joy to the world, indeed

Although there is a co-relation between pleasure, happiness and joy. All three can be good but the concept of biblical joy stands out above the rest, I think.

When our dog, Kramer, ate the huge chunk of Christmas cake which he had stolen off the kitchen counter, I’m sure that he took momentary pleasure out of the feast. But he could have had a severe stomach ache and the pleasure was only temporary. He’ll be looking for what he can scarf next.

Susan and I were very happy last week-end when we took William and Henry to see the movie “The Grinch”. It was 3-year-old Henry’s first movie and it was fun, pleasurable and satisfying. But the experience quickly becomes a pleasant and happy memory and we move on, while treasuring it in our hearts.

Joy is a spiritual, emotional, transformative, redemptive experience which lasts throughout one’s whole life, no matter what happens or how it happens or when it happens. You can’t take it away because it has been absorbed into our spiritual DNA. It colours how we see the world and interact with it. For example, when the women found the empty tomb of Jesus they were filled with great joy and the resurrection experience changed their lives forever.

Joy is one of God’s gifts to lift us out of the depths of our lives and throw us into God’s Grace and Love and enable us to hurry towards Bethlehem and see this thing that has been promised to us. “Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Luke 2:20)

It is not something so much we can create but that which is given. We open up our minds, hearts and souls to allow this Joy to shape and condition our whole being. It comes to us as we put our trust, our hope, our faith, our being into God’s hands.

This Joy is about Good News. We are not forgotten nor abandoned by God. We are not alone to face our sorrows and losses. We are not lost or surrendered to Evil in any form. We are not deemed to be worthless or insignificant. Note the parable in which the angels themselves rejoice every time when God rescues one of his children, every son of Adam, every daughter of Eve.

This Joy gives us confidence to meet the predators in our lives, to resist the temptations and desires that do not satisfy or complete us. This Joy fills in the gaps with the creative laughter of the Spirit who stands with us in the hard times so that we are never overcome or overwhelmed. This Joy brazenly promises New Life even when faced with death.

 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Dale

Wednesday, December 5, 2018 (for Advent Two)

“They don’t know where to find peace.”   (Romans 3:17, New Living Translation) 

                What is your idea of peace and quiet? How would you define a sense of well-being or what it would mean to have a spirit of tranquility? What quiets your soul? When do you stop and smell the roses or the coffee or whatever it takes to enjoy life and rest easy in the moment?

                My notion of being in that peaceful space is sitting in a big Muskoka chair on a deck facing a large body of water and just watching the clouds go by and listen to the birds or watch for fish jumping and doing absolutely nothing but swat away the occasional fly or mosquito.

It doesn’t sound like much but maybe that is the genius of perfect peace, sometimes. Not striving; not doing; not accomplishing; not scurrying around; not busy-ness; not being driven by agendas and timetables and spread sheets.

But there are people who don’t know how or where or when to find peace.

For one, there are a lot of us Martha-type personalities – can’t sit still for a moment, always on to the next thing to be done, work ethic up to the wazoo, always on the phone or off to the next appointment, the kind of personality of whom Jesus gently chastises, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!” (Luke 10:41)  Most Marthas whom I know take some offense at this uncomfortable encounter, just a little.

Christmas can be associated with stress and anxiety over all the details that need to be finished by December 25^th. Shopping, baking, decorating, cleaning, entertaining, wrapping, concerts, special church events, and the list goes on. High Christmas expectations and lofty goals of wanting a perfect Christmas can drain a person and by Christmas Eve one can be too pooped to participate or enjoy the fruits of all their labours. Christmas has become an endurance test or a race to the finish.

There is also another way to cloud peace.

Paul is stringing together biblical concepts to underscore his estimate of human sinfulness. It is not a pretty picture – not so much as an ounce of kindness, compassion, truthfulness or morality. They are as far away from peace (shalom) as they possibly can get. Their lives are hectic, frazzled, chaotic, exhausted by sinfulness and selfishness and the way of peace they have not known.

But Advent carries the weight of peace in its spirit and breath. The Christmas angels sang of peace and goodwill. It is a poignant message given to an oppressed people in a land which had very little peace, except for the “Roman Pax” or Roman Peace, administered at the end of a spear or  by a slave collar or the threat of a cross. Yet God’s Peace breaks the impossible burdens of power and oppression. We are no longer slaves to sin or need to earn our freedom or salvation by works and deeds. We are given Peace, not as the world gives, but as God chooses to freely give.

Do not let this Peace get buried under all the Christmas buzz and activity.  Make yourself a cup of tea, cut a slice of Christmas cake for yourself, ask Google to play some quiet Christmas music, put your feet up and breathe deeply. Think on this – God loves you and cares for you; God has your well-being close to his heart. God once stirred the heavens so that you and I might cherish the creative beauty and wondrous sanctity of our lives and the world around us.

Have a silent night and find some calm. You just might discover the Christ child… the Prince of Peace!

Dale

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 (Advent One)

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:25, New Living Translation)

                It must be getting closer to Christmas.

                I can tell because, like the infamous grinch’s heart, the stack of Christmas advertising, flyers, brochures, and the like has grown two sizes bigger than what we would normally get in our mid-week paper. It must be at least three inches thick. Grocery stores, Canadian Tire, Walmart, clothing stores, jewelry stores, toy stores, etc. etc. – all clamoring for my Christmas shopping and money. Black Friday deals, cyber Monday deals, sales and discounts – oh my!

                Remember the good old days when all a boy needed was his Sears’ Wish Book or the Eaton’s Christmas catalogue. What a Christmas wish list I could fashion from just a few pages – everything a boy could imagine. Skip the clothing section – right to the toy pages. Alas, those days are ancient history; now I am inundated with a plethora of Christmas marketing telling me what I desperately should want for Christmas or must buy for my loved ones.

The ones which really make me laugh are the TV car ads which portray people who are buying new cars for their spouses or children as a gift for Christmas. One even shows a man buying TWO trucks and surprising his wife, although I don’t know how he got both trucks onto his driveway at the same time or better yet, how he could afford two brand new trucks to begin with.

Far more realistic was the news story of a young family with a one year old and both mom and dad will be losing their jobs at Oshawa’s GM plant next year. They are deeply concerned about what will happen to them. Will they lose their home?  Will they be able to cope on less income? It is scary for them. As was stated on a TV comedy show last night, the G in GM stands for grinch. Except it isn’t funny at all. Why do big corporations always seem to do this kind of lay-off right before Christmas?

                What worth is all the Christmas advertising to this family or anyone else who may be struggling with worry about the future?  I can throw it all into the recycling bin, often without even scanning it, but one cannot do the same with poverty, huger, unemployment, sickness, homelessness and the fear of providing adequately for one’s family or even just oneself.

                Yesterday was declared (by whom I don’t know) as “Giving Tuesday” to which I say “Whooopee Doo!” – one day out of 365 or even 25 shopping days or whatever a year. It just warms the cockles of my heart at the implied generosity of devoting a whole day (!) to ease the burden of my personal want and presumed need. If you missed it, do you wait a while year before you give something back?

                Advent and therefore Christmas itself is not, in the least, about self gratification and piling up the goodies and gifts that the secular world insists we should have. There is nothing implicitly wrong in having nice things and demonstrating one’s love for close family with gifts or enjoying good food and drink. When we can afford this Christmas lifestyle, make sure we give thanks to God.

We can afford to spoil our grandchildren somewhat at Christmas, and not to sound self-righteous about it, we also often include a donation to World Wildlife Federation in their name. There are donations to local food banks. I won’t pass a pan-handler without giving him something. Susan and I aren’t filthy rich but we are blessed by what we have and then some. My mother also was a very generous person – we still get mail for her from the several chariotries which she supported – I am kind of proud of her.

The deep sense of hope as defined by the Bible is the perseverant waiting for God, once and for all, to change this world into its maximum possibility where love, generosity, true satisfaction, no more thirst or hunger, peace and love take the stage. We don’t see that culmination just yet, except in all the small ways when we are generous, compassionate, thoughtful, sharing and loving.  Advent reminds us that we are waiting with confidence and trust that real human need is not met by advertising and Christmas shopping  but met by the gracious, active, ongoing Love exhibited by God’s people on earth.

Dale

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

“But love will last forever!”  (1 Corinthians 13: 8) 

                And they said it wouldn’t last…

                On the weekend Susan and I celebrated our 40^TH wedding anniversary.  Yeah, I can hear some of you wondering how she has put up with me for so long. Believe me when I say that I sometimes wonder that myself.

                We rented a very large, century house in Goderich for the weekend. All our adult children joined us for some of the time, at least. Being surrounded by our children and two of the four grandkids made us realize just how much has happened in our 40 years.

                We were married in Walmer Road Baptist Church in Toronto. Susan remembers the weather being rain showers while I remember snow flurries. She was fifteen minutes late – but worth every minute of the wait, I should add, quickly. Her father, Bruce Neal, did the honours of tying the knot. We drove to New Orleans for our honeymoon where I could indulge myself in my love of jazz music.     

In forty years, a lot has happened. I am not much for nostalgia but memories do begin to flood in. My first church was in Wainfleet, Ontario where I was ordained. The journey with Susan begins there. It is journey which has taken us to Montreal, Ottawa, Brantford and Peterborough. Susan has been wonderfully understanding whenever I got the wanderlust as she is more of a roots and stability kind of person and I thrive on change and chaos. She once described me as the sort of person who, whenever things are running smoothly and going well, will shake things up just for the fun of it.

                Forty years. Raising four great children and now watching them as they raise our four grandsons. Rental cottages in Ontario.  Family trip to the Maritimes. Vacations in Nova Scotia. Little did we know when we joined forces what the future would bring. It hasn’t been all sunshine and roses, of course, but together and with much love, trust and courage we have few complaints and much to thank God for.

                I know that I couldn’t have done any of it without Susan. Nor would it have been as much fun, joyful and successful. By and large we have been greatly blessed.

                Of course, the journey continues and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Our large family is never dull, I can say that much!

                First Corinthians 13 is often used at weddings. Truly, it is a masterpiece of writing. It sets forth a model of love based on God’s Love (Agape). “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4 -7)

                Sometimes we test the limits of such love in our lives and relationships. Sadly, sometimes love gets lost in pain, abuse, hurt and anger.  But even so, love can be such strong stuff - an energy, a power, a resource which keeps us together. Love can be thrilling and dynamic. But it can also be a steady, calming force which fills in the gaps, build bridges in the hard times, and channels the rough waters into streams and pools from which to draw.  Love is a gift, a treasure and a necessity for rich, healthy, future-oriented and sustainable living. We all need it, deserve it, pine for it and celebrate it when we find it, however we find it.

                Like Paul said, “I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31) 

Dale

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

“We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance…” (Psalm 66:12, New Living translation)

                I have been watching the horrendous stories and film about the uncontrollable wildfires which are raging in California. The loss of thousands and thousands of acres of forest, along with wildlife, property and even whole cities is staggering. The loss of so much of human life is sad and fearsome. All told, it becomes overwhelming to take in or imagine. This must be hell for those who are trying to live through it.

                It is no wonder that the imagery of a Holy Fire became the frequently used, biblical image of God’s judgment, discipline, righteous anger and the ultimate penalty for God’s enemies. “Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence.”  (Nahum 1:6)  Even our dear, loving, compassionate  Jesus occasionally refers to the fiery hell of Gehenna, a smouldering garbage heap outside Jerusalem as the place suitable for the very worst of us.  “The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” (Matthew 7:13)

                Not a very pleasant thought, is it? Small wonder that many a Christian wants to avoid the topic altogether and instead nestle safe and sound in the loving arms of a much kinder and gentler God. I have heard no one, not even among the most conservative, right-wing Christian politico, claiming that these wild fires are an act of God.  Well, maybe the insurance companies will; they must be cringing at the cost of this devastation.

                I should point out that neither am I blaming God for these fires. On a piece on PBS last night there are several reasons why these fires have become so large and consuming – climate change, people who are now living in these forests, human carelessness, poor forest management, dry conditions, and the frequents winds that come from all directions. God wasn’t mentioned.

                But maybe there is a solid, contemporary definition of Hell in this stark picture.  People are consumed by changes in their lives which they can’t or won’t control.  We choose to live in the wrong places, putting ourselves in harm’s way. We become careless and thoughtless about our words, actions and behaviour. We manage our lives and our relationships poorly and inconsistently.  The spiritual side of our living becomes arid by our inattention and neglect. We are blown in all sorts of directions by the winds of secularism, consumerism, politics, and social media. It is Job who said that sin (adultery specifically in this case) is “a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.” (Job 31: 12, NLT)

                Once upon time, fiery, blistering preachers were known for preaching “fire and brimstone” sermons, designed to scare you into heaven, I suppose – scaring the hell right of you, literally. There are probably a few who still try.  It has never been my style, but I recognize and believe that Hell is very real - a serious, troubling, nasty, evil effect of living without God in my life.

                Jesus said, “For everyone will be tested with fire.” (Mark 9:49) We face our hells in life and death and pray that the fires which are burning up our lives will, with God’s help and Christ’s Love, (as noted in our text at the top, above) lead to our refining; coming out of these terrible moments, occasions, events, mistakes, sins so that we become better, more whole, redeemed and saved persons.  We become as refined gold and silver. “But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.” (1 Corinthians 3: 12 – 13, NLT)

Although I also like how the Message interprets this verse, “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.”

I don’t about you but I could use a really good, reliable, spiritual fire extinguisher.

Dale

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

“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, New Living Translation)

                While digging into some of our family history, Susan discovered  the existence of someone in our family tree whom I had never known had existed, but who has played an unexpected role in our family, nonetheless.

This would be my Grandma Soble’s brother William Anson Smith. He was wounded during World War I in one of the major battles, dying a few days later of a gunshot to the head. We have even found a picture of my great uncle in his uniform through our on-line genealogical search. Grandma must have named my father, William Frederick, after him. Subsequently, our son, Nathaniel, also has “William” as part of his full name and we have a grandson also named William.  But little did we know that this was an unintentional tribute to this brave soldier. He was only nineteen when he was killed.

It adds another poignant level to this coming Remembrance Day. I also lost my uncle Russell Soble (Dad’s brother) during WWII.

Although memory of war and death leaves me profoundly sad at the tragic loss of good, young men and women who died for what they believed was a just cause, I am deeply moved when their stories, however unfortunately brief, remind us that these were men and women with hopes, dreams, families, and lives full of possibilities. They were real people living real lives. And their lives were cut short by the madness of war. (As an aside, I look at the video games that depict war games of various natures and wonder whether those who play them lose that perspective of the horrors of war when they so casually shoot and kill their enemies or can simply press restart if and when they lose.)

It is sometimes hard emotionally to relate to Remembrance Day until there is a name and a face which remind us that our own families have been forever affected by the loss of loved ones. War leaves us the question, “What if…”

The writer of Hebrews has spent all of chapter eleven extoling the virtue of faith as practiced by the heroes of our faith. Faith encouraged, emboldened, strengthened, enabled them to do and accomplish things that were very difficult and challenging. “By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them… Their weakness was turned to strength...” (Hebrews 11: 33-34) Others faced persecution, torture, and death, becoming destitute and refugees. They were all to be “commended for their faith” (11:39).

These heroes are lifted up to us to inspire us and motivate us to honour them with our own legacy of faith and courage in our own day and age. Let me express it the way that The Message Bible does: “Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit!” (12:1)

We may not be fighting on actual battlefields but we are engaged in struggles with evil and terrible wrongness and injustices all around us, or we need to face those who bring ruin and chaos into our lives and world, or stand against those who abuse power  or who take advantages of the weak and powerless, or speak up on behalf of the poor, the war-torn, the hungry, the homeless, the refugee, and the children. (I am dismayed and overwhelmed how little our political leaders are doing but talk about the severe, catastrophic starvation of hundreds of thousands in Yemen, mostly women and children. Shame on them all!)

So, thank you, Uncle William, for in knowing you even a little, I hope that my family can make you proud!

Dale