Wednesday, September 6, 2023

“If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.” (2 Corinthians 12:6, The  Message Bible)

                Allow me to do a little grandfatherly bragging, a bit of boasting.

                Our eight-year-old grandson, Henry, was named his team’s MVP for the season. He plays second base for a rep team, a level that is a little higher than house league. Rep teams play other teams from other cities.  One has to have some better skills for the game to play on a rep team. His brother, William, is also on a rep team for ten-year-olds.

                I got my love of baseball from my father. I passed it on to Nick. When he was less then a week old, he was sitting on my lap as we watched the MLB playoffs, together.  Nick has passed the love of the game to his boys. So yes, it makes me very proud to see them enjoy and excel at the game we all love so much.

                Being voted as the Most Valuable Player on Henry’s team is pretty cool. So darn right, I am going to do some boasting, some bragging, and take pride.

                Boasting about someone else’s accomplishments is okay by me; people should be appreciated for what they do. But I have never been very comfortable about bragging about myself which is not to say that I have never been arrogant or big-headed. Been there, done that! Nevertheless, there is enough humility in me that prefers to deflect praise or acknowledge the things that I may do well. Perhaps, there is something in my upbringing that one doesn’t work for praise and constant commendation but rather for the pleasure or satisfaction of a job well done.

                “It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” (Ephesians 4: 8 -10, TMB)

                I once knew of a Baptist minister who openly claimed that the was our Convention’s best preacher. He wasn’t; he may have been good but there were many who were equally capable but never crowed about it.

                Boasting is a balloon of hot air, waiting to blow up in our faces. “Don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.” (James 3: 14, New Living Translation)

                In his letter to the Philippians, Paul speaks about the things that would be cause for personal boasting, “even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.” (Philippians 3: 5 -6, TMB)

 But them he goes on and says, “Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.” (Philippians 3: 8 -9, TMB)

Now, I am sure that we needn’t be so severe on ourselves that we regard all that we do as foul refuse or garbage. But I do think we can take a cue from Paul in what is appropriate to brag about: “Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me...” (Romans 15:18,  NLT)

But let’s be clear, we don’t get to brag about our piety, our religiosity, any sense of spiritual superiority, church-y entitlement, or even biblical knowledge. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13: 1 – 3, NLT)

Let others boast about you and me because we exude love, compassion, kindness, empathy, acceptance of one and all, and spread that Love around. “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” (Colossians 3: 12 -14, TMB) 

Dale

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

“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 14: 10 12, The Message Bible)

                Has anyone seen my cheque book? I was looking for it yesterday.

                We have begun the overdue decluttering, sorting, cleaning, tidying up of our home. By “we,” I meant that we have hired someone to come in and do much of it for us. But when someone else does the work of sorting and sifting, it means that, occasionally, something actually gets put away - I know not where, when I go looking for it. Thus the “missing” cheque book.

                My desk may look like a messy muddle of papers, envelopes with notes on them, scraps of paper, books and so on, but for the most part, I usually know where things are despite the apparent disorder.  My secretary in Ottawa - a very orderly person, everything in its place and a place for everything (after all, she was a Presbyterian!) – would always sort out my office desk when I was on vacation. I couldn’t find a blessed thing when I returned.

                Anyway, I had to dig through bags, boxes and the like before I finally found my cheque book.

                This parable of the woman who swept and scoured her home in order to find just one lost coin came to mind. I keep finding loose change as things get tidied up. But this is different. It is obvious, that although she still had nine coins left, that the tenth coin was valuable to her. In today’s market, it might have been what she needed to pay her rent or mortgage, or pay off an overdue bill or  buy enough food for her family. Or perhaps, it was for medicine. This tenth coin was valuable, maybe a necessity for whatever purposes she had or whatever she needed.

                So she goes on an intensive search, sweeping, dusting, cleaning, sorting, peeking under the bed, checking the cupboards, going through the garbage, “looking in every nook and cranny.” All-out effort!

                Recently, our seven-year-old grandson lost a small part of a new toy in the car. Trust my daughter Katie, the next day, she takes a flashlight and  turns the back seat of the car seat inside out  until she found the tiny piece.

                You get the picture of this woman who is relentless in her search for the lost coin. No stopping until she finds it. Hurray!

                Jesus uses this parable to illustrate God’s loving and gracious pursuit of each and human being. God wants everyone to experience his Love and Grace. “No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9 New Living Translation) No one is too small, too insignificant, too unimportant, so lost, that God does not want to find and celebrate their new found life through redemption and salvation.

                But the parable also acts as a reminder that we also need to clear out the clutter and disarray in our lives. We need to sort through the debris and trash that may be filling our minds, hearts and spirit. We need to throw out the garbage of resentments, grudges, anger, hatred, prejudice or anything that prevents us from finding the true and sometimes hidden value that makes life rich.

                “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.” (Galatians 5: 19 21, TMB)

                It can be a lot of hard work to clean up our lives in order to find that relationship with God who, apparently, has been looking for us along.

 But once that life is found, once we have been found, there will be rejoicing in heaven itself! Hallelujah! There is going to be one wang-dang doodle of a party.

Dale

               

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles. (2 Corinthians 7: 4, New Living Translation)

                O what a wonderful morning!

                This past Sunday morning was as near perfect a Sunday morning that I can ever recall. I was the guest preacher at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Everything came together during the service. The sermon almost preached itself. The hymns were right on topic. The post-sermon responses from the congregation were heart-warming. There have been positive emails from those who watched the webcast. I wouldn’t change a thing, even if I could. It was a five-star morning.

                But the thing that made it a five and half stars  - the icing on the cake, the coup de grace, the cherry onn top -happened when the service was over and I was walking down the centre aisle with Paula, our associate minister. There was my seven-year-old grandson, Spencer, with his family, beaming his big smile and saying, “Grandpa! Grandpa!” I barely had time to give him a clumsy high-five. His sister, Amelia, was dancing alongside in the pew. I hadn’t seen them in the congregation until that moment. But the joy in Spencer’s face, the excitement in his greeting, the unconditional love in his twinkling eyes meant the world to me in that moment. A great worship service and the love of a seven-year-old boy - my cup runneth over!

                It has been a heck of summer. Susan has been diagnosed with a return of her cancer and is under treatment. We lost our dog, Charlie. The basement has flooded and they are going to have to rip out the carpet and strip down the walls. Move over, Job, and share your ash pit, please.

                But in the midst of all these “troubles,” I found encouragement, blessing, joy, happiness in the smile of a little boy and the warm reception of our church family. They are praying with us and for us. I wish Susan could have been there for the ambience of it all wrapped around me and embraced me. It was reassuring. It was supportive. It was encouraging. It made me happy, indeed.

                “You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.”

                That is the power of family, be it one’s own flesh and blood or be it my brothers and sisters in Christ. Words don’t necessarily need to be spoken. It is the smile of a little boy. It is the assuring handshake of a fellow believer.

                What greater gift can we give another person than when we offer encouragement, reassurances, love, laughter and good cheer?  We usually can’t fix the problems or troubles, nor should we usually even try to fix things, but we can show our caring, our tenderness, our compassion, our empathy by simple and meaningful gestures of support and love.

                “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (Philippians 2: 1 -2, NLT)

May God smile upon you!

 Dale

 Wednesday, August 16, 2023

“While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.” (Ephesians 4: 1 -3, The Message Bible)

                Go, take a hike!

                Yeah, I mean you!

                Sorry to sound rude, but I have discovered the joys of taking virtual hikes on-line. One can go anywhere in the world and enjoy a beautiful, peaceful trek through nature. Pine forests. Lakes. Mountains. The only sounds are usually the crunch of the footsteps of the videographer or the sound of wind in the trees or the rush of water in a brook.

                Mind you, the “best” part is that I don’t ever have to leave my big, blue comfy recliner. I just settle back and take in the scenery along my “walk”. Now, one could argue, rightfully so, that a virtual walk doesn’t compare to being actually on the trail, live. The exercise would do me good. Could I be any more lazy? I can’t even argue that it’s better than nothing because it is nothing. I don’t take one single step in the venture.  I do get a relaxing, meditative, anxiety-reducing experience, but that is about it.

                The apostle Paul often uses the concept of walking as a way to describe our relationship with Christ. It is appropriate when we think how Jesus would challenge people to “follow me.” “Whoever says, ‘I abide in him,’ ought to walk in the same way as he walked.” (1 John 2:6, New Living Translation) In fact, Christianity was first known as “The Way” (Acts 9:2). This implies that our discipleship is a journey, not just a destination. It suggests that our faith should be moving forward, progressing, walking toward a new horizon each and every day, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7. NLT)

                In today’s text, Paul urges us to go, take a hike - “to get out there and walk—better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel.”  Virtual following of Jesus is not an option. We should not sit in our spiritual easy chairs and contemplate how nice the Kingdom scenery is. “Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8, NLT) Our following in Jesus’ steps especially means loving one another as he has loved us. The milestones along this Way are our good works, our words of kindness, our acts of compassion, “so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10, NLT)

                “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” (Psalm 86:11, NLT)

                It doesn’t mean that we won’t occasionally stumble, maybe even fall, sometimes go down the wrong road, get lost along the way, but if we keep our eyes on Jesus, our faith in him will get us back on the right path, help us find our footing, lift us up back up on firmer ground so that we may continue our walk with him. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.” (Psalm 138:7, NLT)

                I am reminded of those stories about Jesus when he would encounter someone who was lame and disabled. “Stand up, take your bed, and go to your home.” (Matthew 9:6, NLT) Stand up and walk. Empowering. Counter intuitive. Authoritative. Invitational. Life changing. Transformational.

                So, go take a hike! I think I will join you.

 

Dale

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small…They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it.    You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. (Psalm 104: 24 -25, 27 -28, New Living Translation)

                 It has been said that if dogs don’t go to heaven, then I want to go where they go.

                Late in July, we finally had to say good-bye to our beloved, nearly 16-year-old Aussie, Charlie. He had become greatly infirmed. Age had finally caught up to him. His quality of life was negligible. It was tough to let him go but it was time.  

                Charlie was one of the smartest dogs I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was quick to learn and once he learned, he didn’t forget. He loved his family loyally, even if he never cottoned to strangers. I am not sure why he didn’t like small children but he was always suspicious of their ulterior motives. He loved to lay in the snow for extended periods of time. He was a dog of routines. He could be stubborn. His suppers were a can of dog food, kibble with some shredded cheese on top – in that order, thank you very much. He loved it when he would go to pick up Susan from work – always the first one to the door at the right time. He was a fixture in our front hall foyer. I miss him lifting up his head as I pass by, wondering if I was going to get something to eat as he was a big mooch, especially french fries. The house just isn’t the same without him.

                Now to be honest, I really don’t know about the theological validity whether our pets get to heaven or not. My earthly self says that it wouldn’t be heaven without something furry and wanting a belly rub.

                But I am encouraged how scripture reminds us that all creatures, both great and small, are under God’s tender loving care. “All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.” John Rutter’s anthem, using those words, is one of my favourites. From the beginning of Creation, God has given us a plethora of beautiful creatures to fill our world, some of which give us  the unique pleasure to be engaged in a personal relationship. We’ve had dogs, cats, birds, and Guinea pigs. It creates sorrow when we lose them, but far more joy in having them as part of our lives. Maybe, that is how God feels about his creatures, the gracious joy in having them as a part of his Creation Story.

                As we observe the interaction between God’s creatures and himself, we are reminded that God’s same loving diligence extends to us, creatures of a different sort perhaps, but still part of God’s abundant Creation Story. Birds of the air, sparrows under the eaves of God’s temple, lost lambs, etc. – all remind us that God seeks for our good and well-being. He will watch over us like a “bird protecting its nest.” (Isaiah 31:5, NLT)           

“Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.” (Psalm 8:7, NLT)

So, just in case, I hope - see you later, Charlie.

 Dale

 

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

“For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses[a] and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”  (Romans 3” 19 22, New Living Translation)

                [I am taking a few weeks break. I hope to be back on August 9^th. Blessings!]

                 I really, really, really hate filling out forms of any kind. I know that my six-year-old grandson would tell me not to use the word “hate,” so let me say, then, that I really, really, really despise filling in forms. Inevitably, I fill in the wrong box with something that should go elsewhere. Or I miss a box. Yesterday, I was at Service Ontario with a form. What a disaster! Didn’t have the right information. Didn’t have the right ID.  I had to go home and with Susan’s help (per usual) start over again. I am terrible at filling out forms. It probably would help if I read them more thoroughly before hand, but who’s got time for that silly nonsense?  That is why white-out was invented.

                If I have to fill out forms to get into heaven, it may take a while before I gain entry. On the other hand, my idea of Hell would be a stack of forms, and never being ever able to finish any of them and being sent to the back of the line and starting over again and again, for eternity!

                 Paul reminds us that what it takes to be in God’s perpetual Grace and  Love is not strict obedience to the Law, as good and helpful as the Law may be. But ticking off the boxes when it comes to living according to the Law (i.e. the Torah) can be a never-ending, no-win situation. None of us can ever be that perfect. The high standards of the Law point to excellence, but as Paul also points out, “its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.” Try as we might, none of us can ever truly complete the forms God has set out for us.

                So, instead, we have been given a complimentary process to assist us in reaching out for God. “But in our time, something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us… Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.” (Romans 3: 21- 24, The Message Bible)

                A gift. This is God’s Grace at work in Jesus Christ. In effect, Jesus has filled out all the forms on our behalf. He has co-signed the application so that we might indeed gain entry into God’s  Realm of Love and Benevolence. “Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” (Romans 3: 27 28, NLT)

                This is not to say that we get to do anything or say anything we please. What Christ has done for us, so freely and graciously, has expectations and responsibilities. It may seem like Monopoly’s “Get Out Of Jail Free” card but we still have to live out the life we have been given. We are called to follow Jesus by living as his example.  In the joy and hope of being saved by faith, we are freed to let go of the sins which bind us and live generously, lovingly, compassionately, with a big-heart and an open-hand toward others. In fact, Paul reminds us that “if you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” (Romans 13:8, NLT)

We are loved so that we can love. We are saved by faith in God’s unconditional Grace and we need to love others as graciously. Seems too simple. Where is the fine print? What am I missing? What else do I need to do?  

                Just get in line with Jesus! He will carry us through.

                "Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.” (2 Thessalonians 1: 12, TMB)

Dale

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

“You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm.” (Job 30:22, New Living Translation)
“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind…” (Job 38:1, NLT)

                Do you ever feel like you are caught in a whirlwind, life buzzing chaotically, frantically around you faster than you can keep up?

                This week, I watched a video of a Little League baseball game being played somewhere in the USA.  The kids were about 7 or 8 years old. From behind, it showed the catcher in his position behind home plate, getting ready to receive the ball. All of a sudden, a small whirlwind, kicking up the sand, spun around the catcher, just him.  There he was, caught all by himself in the middle of this personal, miniature whirlwind of wind and sand. He stood there until the umpire had the presence of mind to go and pull him out. The boy was not ever really in danger, but it must have been scary, a least a little.

                Metaphorical whirlwinds come in many forms. Busy family schedules.  Work stress. Money problems. Debt loads. Health issues. There may be days when some feel that they don’t know if they are coming or going or have already been there and are back again. The world spins and we get caught up in its vortex of demands, pressures, stresses and an unrelentless pace to life. Even in my retirement, I get caught up in the things that should be done around the house, but physically find arthritically difficult to keep up with anymore.

                Job cries out in the whirlwind of suffering and complaint which he is experiencing. Who could blame him? Loss of family. Loss of property. An attack on his personal health. Satan has put a heavy load on Job when he challenged God, “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.” (Job 1: 111, The Message Bible) Job got his own, terrible life’s twister as a result. And although Job didn’t get to cursing God, exactly, he, certainly, in no uncertain terms, blamed God for creating this whirlwind and accused God of being very hard hearted and callous.

    I shout for help, God, and get nothing, no answer!
    I stand to face you in protest, and you give me a blank stare!
    You’ve turned into my tormenter—
    you slap me around, knock me about.
    You raised me up so I was riding high
    and then dropped me, and I crashed.
    I know you’re determined to kill me,
    to put me six feet under. (Job 30: 20 -23, TMB)

                But eventually God speaks out of the whirlwind, ironically – a physical storm that comes upon Job but one which carries God’s Voice to him. Job doesn’t ever get a perfect answer as to why good people suffer. But he begins to understand that God has not totally abandoned him or forgotten him. God speaks out of the whirlwind, reminding Job that God’s creative ability to shape the world has no equal. In effect, God sees the little sparrow fall, it meets his tender view and so God recognizes, hears and responds to Job out of his anguished storm.

                Perhaps, we are reminded of the Gospel story when the disciples are caught out on the Sea of Galilee during a storm. “A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, ‘Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?’” (Mark 4: 35 -38, TMB) Like Job, the disciples can’t quite figure out the apparent indifference of a sleeping Jesus. But then Jesus awakes; “he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Settle down!’ The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: ‘Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?’” (Mark 4: 39 -40, TMB)

                Quiet! Settle down. Presumably, he was speaking to the windy storm, but perhaps he was also speaking to his disciples. In the full brunt of our storms, we need to keep the faith, hold firm, trust God, and with Jesus’ help, see our storms through.

                I appreciate how the Message Bible has it: the wind ran out of breath. Jesus Christ stills our fears and worries, calms our anxieties, and pulls us out and through our whirlwinds.

                “He quieted the wind down to a whisper, put a muzzle on all the big waves.” (Psalm 107: 29. TMB)

 

Dale