Prove it!

I had the great privilege of speaking at the Retired Officers Retreat this morning & then to sit down and chat with several retired pastors in my denomination.

Quite often in circles such as these I am known as my father & mother's son. I was quite surprised by how many faces I recognized (not to mention a little unnerved to see my training principal of ten years ago sitting in the front row!).

At lunch one gentleman was recollecting how his mother had died when he was five years old and his sister 6 months old. His father, being a pastor in TSA was told that there was an appointment waiting for him in another province but he couldn't take his children. For two years, these two grieving young children & their grief stricken father lived separately. WOW! Now a retired officer himself, he said, "That just wouldn't be tolerated today!" True, but what a sacrifice.

Another conversation began between myself and a woman who is now 76 years old and has been retired for 11 years. She told me that they ministered in the days when you were not guaranteed a salary & sometimes went weeks without receiving one (and there was no retroactive pay). She said, "We never wanted for anything and we always had what we needed." She said, "We proved our faith & God's faithfulness by having food on the table for our kids when we had no money. We had to put two new sets of shocks in our car from having the camp kids ride around in it when we were youth leaders. We paid for that ourselves from nothing." Sacrifice.

She then looked me in the eye and sincerely asked, "How does your generation of officers prove your faith & God's faithfulness? I'm sure there are stresses, just different stresses."

She stumped me.

Sure, as officers we sign a paper that we aren't guaranteed a salary (and it isn't supposed to even be called a salary rather an allowance). But the reality is, in ten years I haven't had to miss one. I have it very good. Are there stresses - yes! But how are my kids seeing the proof of my faith & God's faithfulness by how I live? What does the sacrifice look like for me?

Big Studly Tuna

Read the interview with Phil Vischer (Veggie Tales creator) here.

For now, I'll spoil the ending for you:

What advice do you have for pastors trapped in a false gospel of impact?

First, there is a danger in applying business principles to ministry. Businesses use numbers to measure success and ministries shouldn't. Using numbers to convince ourselves that we are doing God's will is dangerous. Second, remember that nothing is scripture except Scripture. We shouldn't look at a model another church is using and simply adopt it. Because God has uniquely led someone doesn't mean he is leading you into the same thing.

How are you employing these new ideas in your ministry now?

My new company is called Jellyfish Labs because jellyfish cannot choose their own course; their direction is derived from currents. As a Christian I should be thinking of myself more as a jellyfish than as a big studly tuna. I have a wall full of new ideas. But the moment I pick one and call it my dream—my big, hairy, audacious goal—I'm holding onto it too tightly. And that's a big change. God is now my dream, my deep desire, not what I can do for him.

Quote-UnQuote

"When the story of these times gets written, we want it to say that we did all we could, and it was more than anyone could have imagined."- Bono

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can."- John Wesley

GIT-R-DONE!!

Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

Here's a situation that may seem familiar to you: In class or bible study, your teacher/pastor asks a question about something you aren't quite sure about. The teacher/pastor starts looking around the room for someone to answer it. You slink down in your seat, trying to make yourself invisible--praying that you won't be picked. Ever had an experience like that?

Unfortunately, many believers react the same way when it comes time to serve God. When they see a need or a service opportunity, they do everything they can to make themselves invisible, hoping that God will pick someone else to get involved.

And that's a mistake.

You see, Christian service isn't just about helping others. It's about pleasing God and drawing closer to him. The best way to strengthen your bond with your heavenly Father is through obedient acts of service. If you decline the opportunities he gives you to serve him, you're the one who will lose in the long run.

Will you be that person? Will you step up to the plate like Isaiah did and say, "Here am I--send me"? Don't let excuses like busyness or inexperience stand in your way. Few people have enough free time to get involved in service projects. People who are serious about service make time. And most people who volunteer for service work have no idea what they're doing. However, they learn very quickly that when God calls someone, he also equips that person. He will not let a small matter such as lack of experience stand in the way of his work being done.

So what are you waiting for? It's time to volunteer!

Read more on Isaiah's assignment from God in Isaiah 6:1-13.

Adapted from "Revolution Devotional" by Livingstone Corporation

Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll..and...Religion

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll used to be the Big Three of rebellion. Some families are adding religion to that list.

An increasing number of teens and young adults who were raised in nonreligious or nominally religious families are getting swept up in religious fervor. This is creating a complicated and sometimes painful family dynamic.

Read the rest of the article here.

We're here for a good time...

..not a long time

Been thinking about Smyrna these days.

Tough times happen; suffering, poverty, persecution from the unsuspecting source of someone close to us. Yet, these things have a short lifespan.

Would our approach to life be different if we expected thorns instead of being surprised by them? Should life be all rose petals? Is that even realistic?

Still, the temporary setbacks cannot thwart the hope we've been promised for eternity.

In the background:

Every year, has it's share of tears
Every now and then it's gotta rain
We're here for a good time
Not a long time
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day

Let's make the most of what we have!

Grace

"I picked up a man from the street, and he was eaten up alive from worms. Nobody could stand him, and he was smelling so badly. I went to him to clean him, and he asked, 'Why do you do this?' I said, 'Because I love you.'"
~ Mother Teresa

"Grace is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind."
~ Matthew Henry

Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace finds beauty
In everything
Grace finds goodness
In everything

From the Inside Out

Been thinking about the church in Ephesus & devotion/worship/first love.

This prayer is a step in the right direction back...

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

~Hillsong United

Truly Forgiven = Transformation

I was looking back in my journal to 1 year ago. I clipped a quote of his and here is a slice:

Conviction of sin, the marvel of forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God's grace. Repentance always brings a man to this point: I have sinned. The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it. Anything less than this is remorse for having made blunders, the reflex action of disgust at himself. ~Oswald Chambers

I'm reminded of when I was a kid. More often than not I was remorseful, even fearful, of being caught. Usually only sorry after the fact because I had been caught. That level of remorse never changed me. It made me more careful the next time not to get caught.

God grant us the gift of true repentance that leads to life change.

Move to Missional

I was listening to a McLaren talk the other day & he said something to the effect of:

Missionary = converting people to join our church

Missional = converting our church to bring God's blessing to the community

Gotta love McLaren!

Gone should be the days of the church inside a building, tons of programs and scratching heads wondering why people are disinterested in coming inside.

I agree, in need of conversion is the church itself!

God's blessing is for the world, let's go outside and share it!

OverExposure

In photography, overexposure is a term used to describe the condition of too much lighting displayed while a photograph is being taken. Conversely, underexposure refers to the lack of lighting during photograph taking.

Been thinking about proximity to the light that is Jesus Christ.

Moses spent time with God on Mt. Sinai and his countenance displayed that "overexposure". (see Exodus 34:29-35)

Time spent in the presence of Jesus, the light, illuminates one's life.

The question is of under or over exposure?

An Empty Trap

Our spiritual life is not one that can be measured, calculated or predicted. The only certainty we have is our uncertainty. But that is not a bad thing. It is indeed quite exciting, spontaneous and full of expectation! So we should not be floundering around, waiting, looking even longing for a certain (steady & predictable) route.

To be certain of God means we are uncertain in oursleves. We are uncertain what each day will bring, but certain in God. We are uncertain of what will happen to us, but certain in God. We are uncertain of where we are going and where life will take us, but we are certain in God.

We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what he will do next.

Unfortunately, many 'churched' people-- dare I say 'Christians', lead empty, lifeless and unexciting lives. Why? Because often as churched people, we have become advocates of our creed. Our doctrines, our traditions, and our rules. We are not certain in God, we are only certain in our belief about him.

It is time to put down the stale meaningless life and begin to enjoy the freshness of the abundant life.

Revolutionary Parenting

In Revolutionary Parenting, Barna notes that there are three dominant approaches to parenting currently operative in the United States.

Parenting by default is what Barna termed "the path of least resistance." In this approach, parents do whatever comes naturally to the parent, as influenced by cultural norms and traditions. The objective is to keep everyone - parent, child, and others - as happy as possible, without having the process of parenting dominate other important or prioritized aspects of the parent’s life.

Trial-and-error parenting is a common alternative. This approach is based on the notion that every parent is an amateur at raising children, there are no absolute guidelines to follow, and that the best that parents can do is to experiment, observe outcomes, and improve based upon their successes and failures in child rearing. In this incremental approach, the goals of parenting are to continually improve and to perform better than most other parents.

Barna found that revolutionary parenting was the least common approach. Such nurturing requires the parent to take God’s words on life and family at face value, and to apply those words faithfully and consistently.

Perhaps the most startling difference in these approaches has to do with the desired outcomes. "Parenting by default and trial-and-error parenting are both approaches that enable parents to raise their children without the effort of defining their life," Barna explained. "Revolutionary parenting, which is based on one’s faith in God, makes parenting a life priority. Those who engage in revolutionary parenting define success as intentionally facilitating faith-based transformation in the lives of their children, rather than simply accepting the aging and survival of the child as a satisfactory result."

For the complete article go here.

Least & Lowest

One Ring to Rule them All

Focusing on Jesus' crown of thorns:

“What did the great Romancer do when he wanted to present us with a token of his love and commitment? He made a sacrifice beyond comprehension. A sacrifice so great, so grand, so unfathomable, so ‘other than’ anything you and I could possibly imagine that it left an indelible mark in eternity. He gave us a ring of thorns, a crown of ultimate pain and surrender, a token of unarguable love. He presented us with a symbol bathed in blood and born in sacrifice.”

~Furious Pursuit p. 154

On Bended Knee

LISTENING

John 13:1-5, 23 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.... One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

MEDITATION

Imagine you're present at the Last Supper. The meal is over, and Jesus leans back to recline near the table, as was the custom of that time. He's among his disciples, people with whom he's shared three powerful, challenging years. They've all been through much together. Yet Jesus knows much is still yet to come. Imagine what the scene must have looked like.

Now imagine Jesus asks you to join him. What are you feeling as he calls you to him? Are you thrilled? Nervous? Fearful? Contented? Do you feel safe or vulnerable--or perhaps a combination of both? Pay attention to your response and your emotions. Take a moment to figure them out. Then imagine Jesus invites you to lay your head on his chest. He's inviting you to listen to the very heartbeat of God. What's your response? As you listen, what do you hear?[Spend about 15-20 minutes in silence.]

**Taken from "Enjoy the Silence" by Maggie and Duffy Robbins, copyright 2005, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/259916

The Shot Heard 'round the Stadium!

We were in Edmonton last weekend for Joel's final hockey tournament of the season.

On Friday morning, Joel's team, Shaw Meadows Ironheads, won their first game 3-1 against an equally matched team from Edmonton.

On Saturday morning, the Ironheads won their second game 3-1 against another equally matched team from Edmonton. In fact, this one went down to the wire with the score being 2-1 Ironheads with 2 minutes left. The other team pulled their goalie and we got an empty netter. (We would meet this team in the final!)

Following this game was a skills competition and then the kids went to West Edmonton Mall for the afternoon.

In the evening, the Ironheads played another Calgary team. There wasn't a heck of a lot of gas left in the tank. Despite this team not having won a game to that point and we not having lost a game to that point - we lost 4-2. Good for those guys. As a parent it stinks to watch your kids work so hard yet come out on the winless end of a tournament - NOT THAT I CAN RELATE, BOOYA!!

Sunday morning, the Ironheads played the Edmonton team from Saturday morning. Both teams had 2 wins & 1 lose. It was a well fought game. Tied at 1 all for the first 2 1/2 periods when the other team scored with 4 minutes left in the third period. With 29 seconds left in the third one of our guys (an unlikely hero who stayed up until 1:30 a.m. that morning) took a one time slap shot from 6 feet out and beat their goalie tying the game. No overtime. Straight to a 4 man shoot out.

First shooters for each team didn't score.
Second shooters for each team scored 1-1.
Third shooters for each team scored 2-2.
Fourth shooters for each team didn't score....
We go through 4 more shooters from each team without scoring.
Shooter #9 from Edmonton - saved by our goalie.

I look at the bench and see Joel with his stick up motioning to the coach to put him in. The coach does!

Shooter #9 from our team is Joel. I yell out "shoot it hard Joel!" He gets the whistle and makes his way down the ice toward the goalie. Back and forth, back and forth he stick handles the puck until reaching the hash marks. He keeps skating as he spots the opening between the goalies legs. He shoots hard...the puck goes five hole & hits the back of the net! The ref points to the back of the net! Joel's arms and stick goes into the air as his teammates pour off the bench and mob him! His coach makes his way to the center of little bodies where he picks Joel up and carries him on his shoulders back to the gathering crowd around our other hero, our goalie!

What a great game! I'm biased but seriously one of the best games and best finishes I've witnessed in any hockey game, even professional.

Hip Hip Hooray Ironheads!

Sanders on Big Decisions & Guidance

• Be unconditionally willing to do it, whatever it is. It may be that your will needs to be redirected. Be willing to be made willing.
• Be obedient to any light the Lord has already given. If you are not obeying that, why expect more?
• Be patient. The road ahead may not be revealed all at once; it seldom is. But God will show you each step as you need to take it.
• Remember the intellectual component in this exercise. John Wesley maintained, “God generally guides me by presenting reasons to my mind for acting in a certain way”—not feelings to my heart.
• Gather all the information you can about the options that are open to you.
• Seek advice from your Christian parents, your pastor, or a trusted Christian counsellor. However, don’t allow them to make the decision for you. It is your life that is at stake, and you will have to live with the consequences of that decision.
• Ensure that the course you propose to pursue is biblically legitimate. Submit it to the test of Scripture.
• List the pros and cons of the course you propose, and as you weigh them, ask the Holy Spirit to sway your mind in the direction of His will, believing that HE does it in keeping with James 1:5.
• Don’t ask for extraordinary guidance, for that is the exception and not the rule, especially as you mature spiritually. Spectacular signs are given only by he sovereign choice of God. Faith is content with quiet guidance.
• Make the best decision you can in the light of the facts, believing God has answered your prayer for wisdom.
• Expect the witness of the Spirit in a deepening conviction that this is the will of God for you. Circumstances may confirm your guidance.
• Be prepared for Satan to challenge your decisions. He did that with the Master.
• Unless action is urgent, allow a little time to elapse, and if the conviction remains and the peace of God guards your heart, act with confidence.
• Don’t dig up in unbelief what you have sown in faith.

~J. Oswald Sanders "Every Life is a Plan of God"

Furious Pursuit II

I've been going through Tim King & Frank Martin's book Furious Pursuit. It is an unbelievable book.

Brian McLaren says this about the book, "If you're sick and tired of spiritual to-do lists, religious shoulds and oughts, and the self-hatred that comes from feeling unacceptable, you'll find in Furious Pursuit better news of a better story. Tim King and Frank Martin have given us powerful truth, well-told."

The Bible talks about personal transformation in the context of thought patterns & ruts (Romans 12:2). How many of us need a change of thinking as it relates to God? How many of us need to hear His story retold? I do & this book is doing it for me.

Here's a lengthy quote worth thinking on:

If you and I are hard-wired to be in relationship with God, created by Love and for Love, then doesn't that relationship need nurturing? If our identity is wrapped up in God, then how do we open ourselves to the identity that God wrote for us? How do we allow it to transform us?

This is not your ordinary shift in relational dynamics. It's an about-face, a 180-degree turn, a reversal of everything we've been taught about our responsibility toward God. His Story not only compels us to see God in a different light; it exhorts us to live in a different state of mind, to relate to God differently, love him differently, and allow him to love us differently.

And that demands a life dedicated to drawing near to God, but not in order to get him to draw near to us--he has already done that. And not in an effort to please him--he's already pleased with us. And definitely not as a means of activating his love toward us--he already loves us. We draw near to God in order to allow his love to transform us and compel us to cast our eyes higher. He wants to engage us in the divine Courtship that is already underway. (From Furious Pursuit, page 72)

Imagine living life confident that God is near you, God is pleased with you, and God loves you no matter what. How would that thinking change your living?

It's a rut worth getting stuck in!

Furious Pursuit

Whether or not we ever choose to accept it, God loves us wholl and unconditionally in spite of our penchant for sin and rebellion and in spite of our faithless tendencies. His love is unlike anything we could possibly fathom on our own.

The great Baptist minister Will Campbell summed it up succinctly: "We're all bastards, but God loves us anyway."

One of the hardest truths any of us will ever grasp is that God is completely enamored with us, absolutely smitten, in love with us unconditionally with all his heart and soul! He loves us regardless of anything we've done, thought, said, or felt. It is possible to convince ourselves that the God who knows our every flaw could love us still?

~Tim King

Prodigal's Brother

Why do I feel so bad, heavy hearted, sad inside?
Why at a time of celebration am I bitter - unable to join in?
Why do I feel neglected, unwanted, unloved, uncelebrated?

I'm supposed to open my arms too, without judging
I'm supposed to forgive, without entertaining thoughts of punishment or justice
I'm not sure I'm ready for this - it will take time
I'm not sure I'm big enough for this - it will take more love than I feel

"He was lost and has been found" I'm told
"Come celebrate and rejoice" I'm invited
"All that I have is yours" I'm promised
"He's your brother" I'm reminded.

~Adrian Riley

Prodigal Returns

It was while we were yet far off

Before we had hatched a plan

or mapped a route back to your heart.

Before we had sent a postcard

to warn you of our imminent return.

While we were yet far off

you could see our footprints

turning in the opposite direction.

You knew that our hearts were entirely captured

before ever we recognized

a chink in our self-centered armor.

While we were yet far off

You had sent out the invitation

and blown up the balloons.

The presents were wrapped

and the chairs pushed back

to make room for the dancing.

As we rounded the corner

we could dimly see you,

craning your neck and leaping for joy.

We thought then

that a reconciliation might be possible.

While we were yet far off

you popped the cork

and added the final touches

to the party tea.

~Tracy Wheeler

Tempted

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Lenten Meditations

Help us grow in our desire for you.
We are learning the intimate connection
between the "discipline" we choose these days,
and the growth of our desire.
If our desire for our Lord is weak,
if it has to compete with so many other desires that choke it out,
then we need to re-form our desiring.
We want to be disciples -
those who love Jesus, are with Jesus in our desires,
and choose to follow Jesus.
Amen.

More Meditations, Readings & Prayers here.

Begotten

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

~The Book of Common Prayer

The Desert Files

I hope you find this Lenten excercise helpful.

Lent & YouTube

There is no sound on this video as it has been designed for silent meditation.

Lent & Presence

Today the heart of God is an open wound of love. He aches over our distance and preoccupation.... He weeps over our obsession with muchness and manyness. He longs for our presence. ~Richard Foster

24

I went on a personal retreat this past week.

My intention was for 48 hours of silence, solitude & fasting. However, I considered not going at all as I battled the flu, but still I went. When I woke up on the first morning there was 4 inches of snow on the ground. I was a 20 minute walk down a hill, over a river and up another hill to my car with bad tires. I chose to split having been satisfied that I had met with God.

I'll spare you all the details (you can drop me a line if you want to hear more).

What did God say to me over that period of time?

There is a common theme running through my life right now: living my spiritual life from my heart.

Nouwen was my spiritual director for the day - these are the things God spoke to me through his words:

By being awake to God in us we can increasingly see God in the world around us.
Meditation is the discipline by which we let the word of God become a word for us and anchor itself in the center of our being, as well as the wellspring of our actions.
The more we let the events of Christ's life inform and form us, the more we will be able to connect our own daily stories with the great story of God's presence in our lives.

Again, I won't go into details just to say that I've been looking at life as a puzzle to be solved and getting frustrated in the meantime. I've neglected to see life as a quest with Jesus as my friend & guide.

Nouwen kicked me in the pants:

A spiritual life doesn't necessarily lead to tranquillity, to peace, or to a beautiful feeling about ourselves or about how nice it is to be together with others. The chipping-away process can hurt. It might mean being lonely in a place where you never wanted to go. It might lead you to a vocation you never sought. It might ask you to do uncomfortable things. Or it might ask you to obediently and routinely do comfortable things that are not very dramatic when you prefer adventure. The spiritual truth is that God is at work in each of us and in our communities and families. Often, the companionship of trusted friends allows us to see how God is at work. We can't always see God's activity by ourselves.

My goals have been out of whack.

"Jesus doesn't call you to be successful, but to be faithful." ~Mother Teresa

What I needed to hear most was:

I am God's beloved, with me He is well pleased.

Nouwen says:

God's words "You are my Beloved" reveal the most intimate truth about all human beings, whether they belong to any particular tradition or not. The ultimate spiritual temptation is to doubt this fundamental truth about ourselves and trust in alternative identities.

Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that declares we are loved.

From the moment we claim the truth of being the Beloved, we are faced with the call to become who we are.

Becoming the Beloved means letting the truth of our Belovedness become enfleshed in everything we think, say or do.

It was a good 24 hours, one that will be repeated again!

Lent & Love

(God) will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in his love than in your own weakness. ~Mother Teresa

Lent - A journey to the Cross

Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday, & will continue until Good Friday.

Lent is a time set aside to reflect on Jesus' suffering and death. As we do so, it is an opportunity for us to take an inventory of our spiritual life & relationship with God as we meditate, confess & renew our lives in Him.

Each day you are invited back here for a guided meditation on this year's journey to the cross.

*** *** *** *** ***

Pilgrimage to Calvary

We keep 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. ~Hebrews 12:2

A man standing on the deck of a ship suddenly heard a deafening rumble as a volcano on the shore burst into flame. The whole countryside was lit up, and then the flame died. In those moments, he said, was revealed the fire that is ever burning in the heart of that mountain.

As we contemplate the Passion of our Lord, His suffering on Calvary, we have a glimpse of the love that is forever in the heart of God for each of us. Calvary is the supreme articulation of God's love for the world.

Taken from 40 Days with the Savior

I’m forgiven

because You were forsaken,

I’m accepted,

You were condemned.

I'm alive and well,

Your sprit is within me,

Because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,

How can it be?

That You, my King would die for me?

Amazing love,

I know it’s true.

It’s my joy to honour You,

In all I do, I honour You.

Who I Am In Christ

I am accepted...

John 1:12
I am God's child.
John 15:15
As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27
I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10
I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure...

Romans 8:1-2
I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39
I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4
I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6
I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant...

John 15:5
I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16
I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6
I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10
I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12
I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Freedom in Christ Ministries

Perfect Love

God is perfect love.

Created in the image of God, we carry the reflection of his perfect love within us.

Christ came to demonstrate that God’s perfect love can exist as a present reality in our world.

That reality of perfect love continues to unfold as we become more aware of Christ within each of us.

We each embrace our true identity in Christ as love – we become love in our world.

Whatever the cost, we love.

Unconditionally and indiscriminately, we love.

Selflessly and sacrificially, we love.

Though it may require our own lives, we are free to love.

We are more than just our earthly containers (our physical bodies) and even if our earthly containers are sacrificed in the process, we never lose our true selves.

As the body of Christ on earth lives perfect love, the brokenness of our world becomes healed.

The groaning of creation is silenced.

Hate has been overcome by love.

Fear has been swallowed up by freedom.

We move forward but somehow journey backward and gain access to the relationship and reality Adam had with God in perfect love.

The story was always true.

God’s kingdom comes.

Perfect Love’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

It’s what Jesus was saying all along. God and man, heaven and earth will be one.

With a beam reaching high into the heavens, and the other stretching parallel to earth, Jesus died so the new reality would be born.

~via Jim's blog

Instruments of Change

Been thinking on this quote the last two days:

"When you become a Christian, Jesus will invade your life and make you into somebody he can use to change the world. Through you, he will challenge racism. Through you, Jesus will attack sexism, poverty, and militarism. That was never taught to me when I was growing up. I never heard that I could be an instrument that God could use to change the world. All I was told was that being a Christian meant I would go to heaven when I died. I was never told that the primary reason Jesus saved me was to make me into somebody whom he could use to change the world into the kind of world he willed for it to be when he created it."
~Tony Campolo

I've been thinking, what a great thought to instill into my children of how Jesus wants to live through us & have us reflect his glory.

Over My Shoulder

This past week I went back over the year that was 2006.Here are my personal highlights (in no particular order):

· Retreat in January at Kananaskis
· Two separate visits with Pernell, Margie & the fam. My second trip in October was especially great as I had the opportunity of spending two overnights with them. Thanks guys - you made it an extra good-year (sure you haven't heard that before)!
· Several trips to Banff - I love that place. I saw Eddie Shack there a couple of year's ago.
· Two Hitmen games with my boyz.
· Watching Joel play his first hockey tournament in Edmonton during March break. We also made a trip to West Edmonton Mall that weekend to Galaxyland.
· Superbowl XL at Joey's with my other boyz.
· Taste of Chaos with As I Lay Dying stealing the show - good times w/Berkley.
· Watching Jacob at his first drum recital as he pounded the skins while his teacher plucked Seven Nation Army out on the bass.
· Getting to see my little ballerina in her big show debut.
· My buddy Phil & his girlfriend Ashley came to visit us - great to meet her & spend time together.
· Buying a tent trailer - wow, best purchase we ever made as a family! We created some great memories last summer - Kananaskis country, Radium, McLean Creek, Drumheller & Red Deer Lodge! I can't wait for this summer together around the campfire!
· Mom Burton's visit in the summer - we took her camping with us & the kids had a blast.
· Transforming Julia's bedroom from a dark dingy green to a bright pink blow deserving a princess.
· Our garage sale - stressful & sunburned yet worth the cash and getting rid of the clutter.
· Turkey Bowl 2006 - bigger crowd, fans & takin' a lickin' yet still tickin'!
· Calgary Tattoo Show & getting to catch up with Peel - I haven't had ink in two years simply because Peel's the man & I'm too far away - hurry up and come out west buddy!
· Breakfast with Rudy Carrasco a la Dave King. Of course breakfast was good with Dave too - thanks for the invite Dave!
· Going to see Of Mice & Men with my main squeeze for a little 'us' time.
· Two Flames games in four days over the Christmas break! First as a gift from my father-in-law to me (Canucks) and then as a gift to my father-in-law from me and my boyz (Kings).
· Underoath at Mac Hall & dinner with Bill of Silverstein - good times with Berkley & Graham, thanks boyz!
· Finally getting the opportunity to volunteer at the Y.
· Viewing 2.5 million lights at the Zoolights with my fam!
· Revisiting one of the gods of glam with Berkley & Graham (these guys are my concert buddies) - Bret Michaels! I was a huge Poison fan back in the day & this guy still has it.
· A Christmas Carol with my fam! What a great show! The theatre at Christmas time has become something of a tradition for us as a family.
· Mom Wiseman's visit while we went to Retreat last January. My kids are excited for her arrival this week.
· Christmas with my Father-in-law Gary & his wife Susan. It was somewhat of an extended family Christmas as Sue's daughter & her family live here in Calgary as well as Sue's son Adam came from Halifax to be here for holidays. We went on a sleigh ride together that was great fun!
· Countless coffees & conversations with friends.

I love movies, again in no particular order, here are my favs of 2006:
· Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
· Cars
· Superman Returns
· Happy Feet
· Click
· You, Me & Dupree
· Barnyard
· Flushed Away
· The Shaggy Dog
· 16 Blocks
· The Holiday
· The Ant Bully
· Lucky Number Slevin
· Rocky Balboa

Worst movie that I saw in 2006:
· Lady in the Water
This flick absolutely sucked. Mr. M. Night is a one hit wonder. Sixth Sense was brilliant & his problem is that everything he dreams up will always live in it's shadow. Good night M. Night it's curtains for you.

I love music, here are my top CDs in no particular order:
· Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
· Flyleaf
· John Mayer - Continuum
· P.O.D. - Testify
· Evanescence - The Open Door

Lowlights of 2006:
· Vince Neil in concert. I was once again visiting my glory days of glam. I went to see him in all his embarrassing glory. As he was sooooo drunk leaning over the stage for a high five with someone in the crowd, his marshmallowed carcass landed on some unsuspecting fan. The guy couldn't remember the words to his own songs, he tried to play a guitar solo and couldn't find the on switch, and on top of all that, the music had to be cranked to drown out what was once a good set of pipes. Time to hang it up bud.
· I got a parking ticket & I was innocent, innocent I tell ya.
Seriously, doing this has allowed me to see what a great & full year I've had & hey, I'm still alive.This year I have one goal: Knowing God more personally. Not knowing about God, not in a theological way but in a personal experience kind of way. I'll hash that out more in the year. I believe if I succeed on this goal it will impact every facet of my life.

It's early but in case I'm not chattin' with you - Happy New Year!

THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

behind trees aglow with radiant light
behind all those festive ornaments bright...

behind strands of tinsel—like angel hair
behind oversized stockings hung up with care...

behind presents wrapped up in colorful array
behind seasonal wreaths put up for display...

behind carols sung by a choir so sweet
behind mounded platters of holiday treats...

behind decorations of red and green
behind hand-carved miniature nativity scenes...

behind those cold-nipped cheeks so rosy
behind blazing yuletide fires so cozy...

behind all the frenzied hustle and bustle
behind the sluggish shopping crowd shuffle...

behind the rush of last minute details
behind the deadline to get the cards mailed...

behind the short tempers that sometimes flare up
behind angry feelings that suddenly erupt...

behind countless things still left undone
no wonder this season's not very much fun!

how could this season be much of joy
when I can't even assemble this new-fangled toy?

I wonder if anyone could honestly find
genuine reasons to be loving and kind...

and as I ponder this lack of joy in my soul
I realize I've forgotten this season's true goal...

because the true meaning of Christmas you see
was wrapped up in the babe of the nativity...

for unto us that night a Son was given
who would die for us all and open up heaven...

angels proclaimed the dear Savior's birth
reminding me clearly of this season's true worth...

for God gave the most precious gift he could give
the gift of his Son so that all men may live

a new life without end with joy so divine
that Christmas could be a more meaningful time...

so when the holiday strain gets too great
with gifts still unwrapped and the hour growing late

the Prince of Peace wants to calm all the fuss
and renew the right meaning of Christmas...in us!

by Joseph Ostrander

Homeless Partners

Got this link from Steve.

To Send A Caring Gift And Message To An Individual Homeless Person, Read Their Stories, Select A Person, and Follow The Steps at this link.

The Consumer Trap

This is a timely reminder.

Breaking Free

Breath of Life, breathe on me...
Wind of God, blow through me...
Spirit of Truth, rebirth me...
pull back the covers of my practical, logical world
and baptize my knowledge with the mystery of faith.
help me to believe and to stop trying to understand.
after all, how could I ever wrap my mind around something--
someone--
greater than the universe itself?

your presence doesn't make me comfortable,
but it comforts me.
your light isn't easy to look at,
but it reveals me.
the spiritual life is an absurd mystery.
help me to enter it,
as it enters me.
the first step isn't one of reason, but one of faith.
help me to take it. even now. even here. today.
amen.

Taken from "Never the Same", copyright 2005, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here: http://echo3.bluehornet.com/ct/ct.php?t=1053968&c=963688224&m=m&type=1&h=059FA55F9D00C41E69930F9D33013093

Are You Starving Jesus?

I read this book in the summer - very good.

You can watch a short film about the premise here.

Advent Thoughts

Check out this advent calendar.

Make Poverty History

The rate of child and family poverty in Canada has been stalled at 17-18% over the past 5 years despite strong economic growth and low unemployment, according to a new report by Campaign 2000. The 2006 National Report Card on Child & Family Poverty finds that 1,196,000 children - almost 1 in every 6 children - live in poverty in Canada. In First Nations communities the child poverty rate is higher: 1 in every 4 children.

"These disturbing findings demonstrate that we need political commitment to a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Canada with targets, timetables and funding. Countries like the United Kingdom have done this with success and Canada can too." stated Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator for Campaign 2000.

You can voice your concern about child poverty and call for government action by going to http://www.campaign2000.ca/ and click on Take Action to send a message to the Prime Minister.

We See What Most Don't

We see the heartbreaking effects of poverty, homelessness, abuse and addiction every day. And most importantly, we see the people who desperately need support and compassion. For us it's impossible to turn a blind eye to suffering. Last year in Canada The Salvation Army served 2.5 million meals to the hungry, helped 10,000 people with addictions and provided one third of all shelter beds each night. This Christmas we ask you to open your eyes and your heart. And give.

6 Things You Need to Know About Homelessness

1. Homelessness becomes a life-or-death issue in Winter

Humans cannot survive outdoors overnight in temperatures below -15 degrees.
Temporary shelters across Canada sometimes find it necessary to turn people away.

2. Homelessness is a growing problem in Canada

• In Toronto, the City’s first official homeless census counted over 5,000 homeless in the city in 2006.
• In Calgary, 3,436 homeless individuals were counted in 2006, nearly twice the 1,737 from 2002, and dramatically higher than the 447 people identified in the first such study in 1992.
• In Vancouver, a 2005 study showed that the homeless population had nearly doubled since 2002, to over 2,100 people.
• In Edmonton, a 2004 study found that 2,192 homeless were living in the city, up from 836 when the first survey was conducted in 1999.
  

Click here to read the rest of the list.

The Coming

To consider during Advent:

When we stop to think about the simple way Christ lived his life and his concern for "the least of these", celebrating his birth with a multi-billion dollar exchange of video games, designer jeans, and sports equipment, seems strangely inappropriate.

~Jean Coppock Staeheli

So how do we celebrate Jesus birth?
Do we know how to celebrate His birth in a way that is keeping with His life & message?
How foreign is this "less is more" concept to our gift giving, North American ears?

advent spirituality: prepare ye the way

Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord in our lives. The questions below can help our inward preparation. They can be used during Advent, or perhaps over the holidays, as we start to focus on another year.

Am I content with who I am becoming?
Do my family and friends recognize the authenticity of my Christian spirituality?
Am I generous?
Do I have a quiet centre to my life?
Have I defined my unique ministry?
Is my prayer life improving?
Have I maintained a genuine awe of God?
Is my lifestyle distinctive?
Is my "spiritual feeding" the right diet for me?
Is obedience in small matters built into my reflexes?
Is there enough celebration in my life?

From Steve Taylor