Wednesday, September 27, 2017

                Our mayor and members of the Peterborough City Council are fundamentally good and moral people. They work hard for our City and do the best they can. But I feel they have dropped the ball. Although it was not actually their decision per se, a City department has allowed a white supremacist group to hold a “political” rally in Confederation Park which also is home to our War Memorial. My father’s name is etched into the stone with the many hundreds of others who answered the call to fight Nazism. And now an alleged  neo-nazi organizer wants to hold a rally against the federal Liberals and their immigration policies under the guise of expression of “free speech”.

                I have always defended democratic freedom but I also believe the right of free speech is also a privilege that calls for both responsibility and accountability.  Hate speech, especially against people of colour, religion, race, gender, etc. is a cheap, spiteful, hateful abuse of free speech.

                I have emailed the mayor and each of our ward Councillors to protest and oppose this rally and use of the War Memorial for their racist purposes. The Mayor and four others have responded. To each of their credit none of them support the aims and purposes of this group, although they have been rather slow in coming out and saying so. But each has also said that legally they had no choice – people have a legal right to lawful, peaceful assembly and the City had no grounds to turn them down.

                Although I understand that the City was between a rock and a hard place and officials now have pledged to keep the group away from the War Memorial I would still have preferred that the City had been more proactive to keep this racist group off-line altogether. This Council has taken more time to fuss over whether cats should be leashed and urban chicken coops than giving strong, courageous leadership in this matter. It looks to me, at least, like they were not prepared for the decision and the backlash and attention which it is now causing.

                A lot of bad things can happen when we say “we had no choice” or “we were under orders” or we look the other way or we become too cautious to get involved or think the problem will go away if we ignore it or that it’s somebody else’s problem or we just want everybody to get along and be liked by all.   “I’m just doing my job; minding my own business; just doing what I’m told.” 

                Saying the just thing and doing the just thing, that which the Bible describes as righteousness is never easy. “Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?’” (Matthew 9:4) Jesus was speaking to his critics and opponents, and challenged them forthrightly even though it put him at grave risk.  It always strikes me as ironic that Jesus, a Jew to the core, would be hated for his race by white supremacist groups, even though some of these vile groups hide behind Christian symbols. On another occasion he had this to say to them, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Matthew 12:34) Finally, on another Jesus’ note:  “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed,” (John 3:20).

                Now, I strongly believe that evil is best fought with more than just words.  Good deeds, just action, right thinking, and the works of love, grace and mercy can help stop evil in its track. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” (Romans 12:21). But please note that this admonition implies action rather than passivity, deeds as well as words, engagement as well as resistance. Otherwise, we reap what we sow.

                I am sure that many of you have read the short poem written by the German pastor, Martin Niemöller during WWII. He was an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. But it is well worth sharing again:

              First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist. 

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist. 

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Jew. 

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Dale

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

                10,000 steps a day!!! Yikes!!!

                That is what my doctor has recommended to me after my complete physical yesterday – 10,000 steps a day. Who comes up with these ridiculous numbers? Was it some physical fitness nut in a spandex suit who enters marathons just for fun? A civic servant in the Ministry of Health and Welfare chuckling away in her or his office? I bet it was my Grade 9 phys.ed. teacher, Mr. Bell; just the kind of malevolent thing he’d enjoy doing.

                10,000 steps a day. Let’s see. It’s about 2 steps from the couch to my desk. It’s about 5 steps from the couch to the refrigerator. It may take 6 steps to get to the bathroom – from the couch. I sometimes go into the living room to read (I’m tired of the couch) – maybe 8 steps at the most. Once or twice a day I climb the stairs – that’s 14 steps each time, coming and going. Sometimes I have to look for the TV remote; that’s a couple of steps or so. I have to walk to the car a couple of times a day – that’s got to be good for another 15 steps or so both ways. Add in the miscellany steps like grocery store trips and the like.  How am I doing? Hey, look at that; I am about up to 150 or 200 steps on a busy day. Son-of-a-gun; I seem to be just a little bit short.

                10,000 steps a day. Who’s my doctor kidding? I bet you that I would have to walk from here to Lakefield to get in 10,000 steps – a trip of 40 kilometers or so. Apparently, there is an app for my phone which will tell me how many steps I have taken in a day. Yeah; like I need my phone laughing at me.

It has taken a great of time and effort to build this bodily temple to corpulent laziness. It seems a tad irreligious to tear it down with 10,000 steps each and every day.

Sadly, he is probably right about me needing more exercise. Getting more exercise is another thing altogether. “One dies in full prosperity being wholly at ease and secure; his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist…” (Job 21:23) Doesn’t say anything about doing 10,000 steps – sometimes you gotta love proof-texting, although I find "milky loins" just a tad disturbing. Oh, well, as they say, any great journey begins with the first step. I’ll start first thing tomorrow!

The condition of the human body was an important part of Jesus’ holistic ministry as evidenced by the many stories of healings that speak to us throughout the Gospels. Broken and diseased bodies were a chaotic reversal of the goodness of God’s Creation in which God created both male and female in his own image (Genesis 1:26). Conversely the blessings of God’s Reign (i.e. his Kingdom to come) was to help his Creation be restored to its full state of well being.  

Jesus toiled on behalf of that Kingdom as “the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick,” (Luke 5:17). It was a major component of his ministry, and he touched and included in this ministry the poor, foreigners, Roman soldiers, ostracized lepers, women, children, shunned Samaritans and so on. Not surprisingly, it was one of the main attractions that brought the crowds to Jesus – his ability to heal.

We are not talking about TV evangelistic healing theatre. We are pointing to a deeply compassionate, humbly simple, sincere loving touch of the Master so as to reveal the Love of God in every broken body and blinded face and tortured mind and diseased limb. One can stumble over the literal how of history and miss the poetic Love of the Mystery which permeates these healing stories.

I believe that we are given these stories as a sign of hope and possibility, not to abandon doctors and hospitals and treatments, but to dare to trust that God intends for each and every one of us to be whole, to be sound in body and mind, to be loved and to be blessed.  That when disease and illness take us over this is not God’s will of Love for us, but an aberration of God’s gracious living Creation.

Take it one step at a time, my friends; one step at a time.

Dale

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

                Now that I have assumed most of the duties of chief cook and bottle washer, it has given me a huge appreciation for all the many, many hours and years that my wife, Susan, put in the kitchen cooking up meals for our family. I have always enjoyed cooking as a hobby of sorts, coming up with great stew recipes, making the occasional fancy dinner, being creative and innovative.  I have always enjoyed cooking on the BBQ. But I will confess coming up with different ideas for suppers every night is tough.

There is only so much chicken, or hamburgers, or sausage,  or pork chops and steak a guy can cook before it becomes rather tedious and boring. Susan is a fantastic cook, yet she is quite tolerant of meals that have become routinely dull and repetitive, although she recently asked that I buy no more kale salad kits.

I have been resorting to frozen food like lasagnas, pizzas, and pre-cooked suppers. The other night we had fish and chips. I never seem to learn that frozen, battered fish is the absolute worst. It was a very forgettable meal. It has to be fresh fish!

Food plays an important part in Jesus’ ministry. He was always chowing down with somebody. He loved a good a party with good eats. He’d even invite himself for supper. Poor Martha, a close friend. was slaving in a hot kitchen preparing a big meal for Jesus and the lads. He catered to big picnics out on the hillsides making a few fish and a bit of bread go a very long way. He told great stories about banquets and feasts. He enjoyed the table fellowship with the poorest or the most powerful and rich.

Food meant hospitality, friendship, community, laughter, and socializing.  And I also believe the abundance of food was a gift and a sign of God’s Kingdom to come.

Jesus took very seriously the invitation in Isaiah: "Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway - buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money - everything's free!” (Isaiah 55:1, The Message) The words from Jesus’ parable of the great banquet reflect this: "Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23)

At the end of the Gospel of John there is a marvelous vignette of Jesus cooking some fish over a charcoal fire. It has been a few days since the news of Christ’s resurrection was revealed to the disciples.  But the disciples had  gone back to the tried, true and safe – fishing. Resurrection is a hard bit of news to get one’s head around but they easily understood the repetitious tossing of nets and hauling them in. They hadn’t recognized the man on the shore telling them where the best fishing spots were. But once they started to catch fish Peter recognised it was Jesus and he dove into the water stark naked. (There is a baptismal imagery here but I won’t get into that just now.)

Jesus is cooking them breakfast. By the way I love fresh fish for breakfast; Dad did it all the time at the cottage - fresh, pan-fried perch with toast and eggs; ymmm. There is such simplicity, grace, and humility in the action of the Risen Lord.  Nothing ostentatious. Nothing flamboyant. Sit down and let’s have a meal together.  Come, gather around the fire and warm your bodies and fill yourselves up. Taste and see that God is good. Let’s share each other’s company and tell mysterious and wondrous tales of new life around the campfire. Let’s break bread together.

Now that is something I can’t buy in the frozen food section of the grocery store.

Dale

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 

                Poor Charlie!

                While Susan and I were spending a wonderful, long weekend in Goderich with our daughter Maggie and her husband Ryan, Charlie and his brother Kramer, our two dogs, were off to the kennel at our veterinary’s place. Charlie loves going away there for the weekend. He loves all the attention which the staff give him and he struts in as if he owns the place and could, if allowed, just prance off on his own to where his bed awaits.

                But this time, I requested that they give him a bath and also just a trim around his back end where there were some mats. The operative word here is “trim”.

                Now Charlie is normally a very bushy dog. In fact, his mostly brown fur is long and wispy. He is part Australian Shepherd and Border Collie. And it always looks as if the two breeds can’t make up their mind as to what kind of hair Charlie should have. It looks like he has stuck his paw in a light socket. It goes everywhere. All that dog hair makes him look roly-poly and over weight.

                When we picked the boys up on Sunday night, we weren’t sure Charlie was indeed our dog. The back-end trim had very obviously turned into a radical nose-to-tail hair-ectomy. Talk about being down to the short hairs! Our rotund, hairy pooch was now a sleek, short-haired dog from stem to stern. It turned out that he was so full of mats and tangles, and so bushy that the only way to get him clean to the skin was a thorough and deep-seated brush cut.  We can even see the little wart in the middle of his back, peeking through the very short fur.

                Charlies seems to be very self-conscious since coming home, a little abashed and uncomfortable at his new appearance.  He now looks more like an Australian Cattle Dog than an Australian Shepherd. I am not sure that he likes the new look, even though we keep assuring him that he looks just fine. But he just sadly looks up at us as if to say, “Don’t look at me; I’m naked!”

                Jesus was never very comfortable with those who ceremoniously clean only, a superficial purity  at best  but which did not get down to the roots of a person’s spirit and character. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence,” (Matthew 23:25). He told them to clean the grit and grime of their lives from the inside out and then everything will be clean. One has to get down to the short hairs of sinning, bad behaviour, careless talk, and anything that fouls and besmirches the human mind, body and spirit.  “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong, “ (Isaiah 1:16).

                By and large, most of us don’t want to be that exposed, revealing our warts and all. “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?’” (Proverbs 20:9) We like to cover up the problems and issues we have. Maybe just a trim here and there, but nothing too radical! We want to pretend that everything is all right just the way it is and always has been. But when Jesus and his Way bring to light the parts of our lives that need to change in order for us to live healthier and more abundant lives it may take a little uncomfortable exposure before we understand that maybe we aren’t what we thought we were but find our true selves in the transformational Love of God.

                “Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow,” (Psalm 51: 7).

                Make sure you get behind the ears!

Dale

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

                “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding…” (Proverbs 3:13)

                As the NASA satellite Cassini crashes into Saturn this week (why must we spread our garbage to other planets?), Susan reminded me that our oldest son, Nicholas, did a Grade 2 project on Cassini when it launched from earth in 1997.  Nick’s oldest, William, enters Junior Kindergarten this Fall. I wonder what wondrous things he will learn as he begins his long trek through school.

The only space I was interested in when I was in grade two was the space between my ears. It boggles my mind what they learn so early nowadays.

Did you enjoy your years in school? I was okay with elementary school. But I hated a high school. Peer pressure. Gym classes. Homework. Gym classes.  Mathematics.  French. Gym classes. Exams. We had to take Latin for three years. I enjoyed English and History. That was about it. And Music wasn’t bad. But as for the rest of it, it was five long, torturous years, but I made it.

Did I mention gym classes? For the life of me, even to this day, the gym curriculum baffles me – wrestling, gymnastics, track and field, rope climbing. “You want me to take this long pole, run as fast as as I can and stick the end into that tiny little hole and do what?!!!”  Teach me something that I might actually use for exercise when I am out in the real world.

I didn’t enjoy learning until I got to university. Then I thrived and hungered for knowledge, understanding, information, ideas, concepts, philosophies, and I enjoyed having the freedom to learn and study subjects that interested me and captured my imagination.

Having facts, figures, information, or even knowledge doesn’t necessarily give us wisdom. Like Linus once said in a Peanuts cartoon, “I am never so stupid as when I trying to be smart.” There is, ironically, wisdom in that statement.

The book of Proverbs gives a lot of space to the concept of wisdom. It is an integral part of Creation, very near to the heart, mind and spirit of God, himself. But it is not so heavenly bound so as to be no earthly good. Quite the opposite. Wisdom is a gracious gift given to us for “sound judgment and discretion” (Proverbs 3:21). Wisdom leads us along straight paths and leads to good, sound, upright living. “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you,” (Proverbs 4: 11)

The opposite of wisdom seems to be foolishness. “A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom,” (Proverbs 10:23). The foolish seem inclined to pride, insincerity, immorality, hatred, smugness, mockery, idleness and ignorant talk. “The folly of fools is deception,” (Proverbs 14:8).

A wise person knows when to speak and when to be quiet. It leads to patience, humility, fulfilment, joy, well-being (shalom), and possibility.

“Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off,” (Proverbs 24;14).

Wisdom probably cannot be taught in a classroom.  It comes from experience, having an open mind and heart, being vulnerable to correction, being able to grow, being imaginative, being flexible and willing to change as the world changes around us. None of us should ever stop learning, to contemplate the world around us, to explore new ideas, to gain insight, understanding, and then to deepen our consideration and expression of love, grace and mercy in a hurting world. Wisdom is about making a critical difference.

“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16).

Why didn’t they teach that in gym class?

Dale

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

And I’m back… 

This week our one-year old grandson, Spencer, began (reluctantly) his first days at day care. He has just begun walking. Katie, his mother, posted a Facebook photo of him on his first day. Fresh hair cut, new clothes, his own little backpack. Adorable! What else is a doting grandfather going to say?

But the look on his face was priceless. No smile, a grim look as if saying, “What do you mean I have to do this for the next 18 years of my life!” Sorry kid, but welcome to September, the beginning of the school year.

I can remember those first few days of school when I was going to elementary or high school. New teachers, shiny new textbooks, new blank notebooks and new unused lined paper. This year, I would say as I began, I am going to keep my notebooks neat, tidy and up to date. I am going to do my homework every night. I am going to get my projects in on time. I am going to work hard and apply myself, and get straight A’s in all my subjects. You’re looking at the poster boy for good student of the year award.

Yeah, right! 

It was the same during my years in pastoral ministry.  I eagerly anticipated what to me was the real start of a new church year - in September. Programs would start up again along with choir, Sunday school, and small groups. Maybe there would be a new idea or two that I wanted try. Worship services got back to normal after everyone’s summer vacation.  But sometimes the issue was that few others shared my enthusiasm for September and it was often after Thanksgiving before anything really got going. By then, my initial gusto was fading fast.

Now that I am in retirement, I kind of miss that rush of starting something new and fresh in September. Maybe if I go and lie down I’ll get over it. I am sure that Susan has all sorts of suggestions. No problem - I will get right to it - after Thanksgiving.

Beginnings are important.

Beginnings bring order and life out of chaos. “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…” (Genesis 1:1).

Beginnings signal hope and good news.  “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1: 1, 14)

Beginnings expect the best from us, even if we sometimes may fail. “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,” (1 John 3: 11).

It is more difficult to end well if we don’t try to begin well. “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit,” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

I don’t think that it is ever too late to begin again or that one is ever too old to begin some new aspect of life, growth, resolve, or endeavour. This may be one of the characteristics of being “born again”. Beginnings are the initiatives to put the old behind us and embrace the new life that God offers. New beginnings are having the ability to open a door to new possibilities and to own a future that holds out the prospect of blessing and well-being. As the old Chinese proverb goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first steps.

Happy September!

Dale

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

                Sometimes, scripture seems to offer different views on the same issue – seemingly polar 

opposites. For example, in Isaiah 46, we are encouraged, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other,” (v.9), but prior in Isaiah 43, we have the instruction, “Do not remember the former things, or consider things of old,” (v.18).  (Of course, context is everything for a proper interpretation, but I digress.)

                To remember or not to remember, that is the question.

I have always been a bit of an absent-minded person. My memory plays tricks on me. Take the simple act of going to the grocery store for just three or four items. I make a mental note of what I want before I leave. Our grocery store is a mere three-minute drive away. One would think that I should be able to remember the four things, but inevitably as soon as I get into the store I have forgotten at least one of the items.

So I wander up and down the aisles hoping that something will jog my memory. “Eureka, laundry detergent; that’s it.” Rapturous bliss!  “O crumb; what else I did come in to get?”  More aisle wandering.

You are probably thinking that I should write a list. Good idea, except that on the rare occasion that  I have written a list, and having put it down, briefly, to get my car keys I have left the house without the list.

But good news, eventually I will remember all four, grocery store items - usually as I pull back into my driveway, having just come from the store.

To remember or not to remember, that is the issue.

Now, of course, our previously quoted bible verses have nothing to do with where you have put your car keys, or left your eye-glasses, or misplaced your wallet or purse or remember what you had for breakfast. There are larger, deeper issues at stake.

For one thing, God is speaking to a people in despair, exile and feeling utterly abandoned by God. So, God stirs up their memories of their religious and spiritual heritage, of times and instances when God stood by his people, when God saved their necks, when God pulled them up on their feet, when God threw his love in their way and showed the way ahead. Remember the time God led us through the Red Sea. Remember the time that God helped Gideon. Remember what God said and did for King David. Remember that God said we would always be his people, no matter what.  “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago,” (Psalm 77:11)

But then God does not want his people wallowing in nostalgia, or wistfulness for the past, or wishing for the good, old days. Rather, these sacred memories are the key to a new future, new possibilities, fresh hope, lively promises, and confident expectation. The best memories point forward to the divine contradiction of the present pain, sacrifice and troubles.

Hear some more of Isaiah 43, for example:  “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old; I am about to do a  new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is. 43:18-19) I am sure that any of us who have gone through troubled waters might find assurance, courage, and strength in these words. Not just a reshaping of the old past, or making our former lives a little more palatable or bearable, but a daring, radical turn-around in our situation, a remarkable beacon of well-being and redemption in the midst of chaos.  In Jesus’ words, “Take courage; I have overcome the world!”  To do that which you or I or we could not do on our own, by our own, for our own, for it takes a divine spark to get the future moving.

Pay close attention now: I'm creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten.  

Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I'm creating: 

I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight. I'll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: 

No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish; No more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime; One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal - anything less will seem like a cheat. 

They'll build houses and move in. They'll plant fields and eat what they grow. No more building a house that some outsider takes over, No more planting fields that some enemy confiscates, For my people will be as long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work. They won't work and have nothing come of it, they won't have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed. 

Before they call out, I'll answer. Before they've finished speaking, I'll have heard. 

Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow, lion and ox eat straw from the same trough, but snakes - they'll get a diet of dirt! Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says God. (Isaiah 65: 17 – 25, The Message) 

Dale