God has created us so that we can know, and we can take action. But we are finite creatures, limited in what we can know and what we can do. God's dream for us is to share in his knowledge, his power by the Holy Spirit when we yield to him and turn to him through receiving Jesus as our Master and Deliverer. Down through the ages, though, people in their fallenness and pride have devised ways of trying to tap into supernatural knowledge and power without God's help.

In recent years there has been a resurgence in interest in magic, astrology, and the dark side of the supernatural. In the scientific age of the 19th and 20th century, magic and superstition were "pooh-poohed" as humans delved into science and technology with amazing results. We mastered the power of the atom and walked on the moon. But our postmodern generation has grown up with technology and now yawns when new discoveries are announced, science is taken for granted and viewed as boring rather than exciting. since the media view Christianity as archaic, discussion has swung to New Age, crystals, channelling, and other occult phenomena. What was "taboo" before has now come into vogue. Public schools, bowing to secularism, avoid mention of Jesus in what used to be known as "Christmas Concerts". Instead the emphasis has swung to "the magic of the season" - whatever that is - and the emphasis on magic and the supernatural follows quite nicely upon the increased attention on Halloween.

Did anybody NOT see a Harry Potter display while Christmas shopping last month? These books, written by a single mom from Edinburgh, have become all the rage. They have spawned numerous spin-off commercial items such as figurines and rock crystals. Harry Potter books are getting mixed reviews from Christian commentators.

What are these books about? The Focus on the Family "Plugged In" Website has this description. "The Harry Potter books highlight the adventures of a likable young wizard who is orphaned in infancy, raised by his non-magical relatives, and later informed of his magical abilities and invited to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter is a standard tale of good vs evil, and good always wins in the end. Harry, the hero, often triumphs because of his upright character and pure motives. Unconditional love and courage are held as ideals of great importance. By following Harry and his best friend Ron, the reader gets a glimpse of true loyalty and friendship, as well as self-sacrifice. On the other hand, witches, wizards, and other magical characters play the lead roles. Harry and his friends practice spells and create potions. And face-offs with the Dark side are predictably intense."

You can see the dilemma: good values are mixed with evil practices. But parents and teachers are raving because finally their juniors are reading instead of watching TV or playing video games! The Plugged In article continues, "Children who read about Harry will probably discover little about the true world of the occult. That’s why some Christian leaders and Christian publications find these books to be more fantastical than threatening. Christian author Chuck Colson describes Rowling's magic as 'purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic,' explaining that, 'Harry and his friends cast spells, read crystal balls, and turn themselves into animals—but they don't make contact with a supernatural world.'"

On the other hand, we received a forwarded email from friends warning against the books. A supposed copy of a letter from one pastor to another stated this. "This is the most evil thing I have laid my eyes on in 10 years... Let me give you a few quotes from some of the influenced readers themselves: 'The Harry Potter books are cool, 'cause they teach you all about magic and how you can use it to control people and get revenge on your enemies,' said Hartland, WI, 10-year-old Craig Nowell, a recent convert to the New Satanic Order Of The Black Circle. And here is dear Ashley, a 9 year old, the typical average age reader of Harry Potter: "I used to believe in what they taught us at Sunday School," said Ashley, conjuring up an ancient spell to summon...the three-headed hound of hell. "But the Harry Potter books showed me that magic is real, something I can learn and use right now, and that the Bible is nothing but boring lies." The email also purports to quote a High Priest of Satanism as saying: "Harry is an absolute godsend to our cause..."

Now, you can't accept unquestioningly everything you read in email forwards. But the reactions of these readers are not unrealistic. And with regard to promoting sorcery, The Plugged In website does say, "Desensitization to witchcraft...is already happening. In an abcNEWS.com interview, practicing Wiccan (witch) Phyllis Curott says, "Sure, you are seeing witches in Harry Potter do things they don’t do in real life. But it is positive. They are friendly. They are good. The book might change the way people feel about us."

So magic is a very live issue out there on the street. For a long time churchgoers have downplayed the stories of Jesus confronting evil spirits as part of his healing ministry, but what's happening in culture today is forcing us to acknowledge the supernatural as did the early church. Who hasn't been tempted to check out their horoscope just to half-laugh at it but inside wonder if it will come true? How many people have used Ouija boards, or know relatives who've been involved with tea leaves, palm reading, tarot cards, or other dabblings in the supernatural? Magic IS a real temptation. Why? In magic, a person calls upon the dark forces in their terms, in order to receive some power or gain supernatural knowledge, in exchange for one's own bondage. Tit for tat, but guess who comes out ahead. And, sadly, it works. The Enemy is only too happy to offer you some counterfeit special effects for a while in exchange for your soul.

So, with that as background -- look who comes a-calling on Jesus just after he's born! "Magi from the east". Traditionally we've laundered it by calling them "wise men" or "the 3 kings", but it's very questionable that there were 3, and almost certain they were not kings. They were Magi -- the elite religious priestly caste from Persia that give "magic" its very name. Zoroaster is said to have belonged to their tribe. They guarded the sacred fire, recited hymns at dawn, offered sacrifices of haoma-juice, buried the dead, interpreted dreams and messages of the gods, kept "magic" articles, and studied astronomy and astrology. Spooky! And God brings THESE guys to meet the newborn Saviour? We probably wouldn't even think of inviting them to church!

Yet if we consider carefully the events as Matthew unfolds them, in light of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we can see God's genius in not only affecting their lives profoundly, but highlighting the significance of Jesus and showing that a relationship with Christ is far better than magic. We also learn something very important about guidance that may apply in our present church situation.

Note the increasing degrees of revelation, how people find out God's will, or get godly knowledge. It begins with a star. That grabbed the Magi's attention, for they were astronomers as well as astrologers. God speaks to people where they're at; whatever our background, God has ways of suggesting we need his help.

In 1603-1604 (before telescopes) the famous astronomer Kepler noted a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, which was made more remarkable by the addition of Mars. In October 1604 he observed near the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mars a new (fixed) star of uncommon brilliancy, which appeared “in triumphal pomp, like, some all-powerful monarch on a visit to the metropolis of his realm.” It was blazing and glittering “like the most beautiful and glorious torch ever seen when driven by a strong wind,” and seemed to him to be “an exceedingly wonderful work of God.” He wondered if something similar might have happened at the time of Christ’s birth, and by careful calculation he found that a similar conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, with the later addition of Mars, and probably some extraordinary star, took place repeatedly 6-5 BC in the zodiac sign of the Pisces. It is worthy of note that Jewish astrologers (whom the Magi would have information from since Jews were exiled there) ascribe a special signification to the conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in the sign of the Pisces, and connect it with the advent of the Messiah. Kepler's discovery was almost forgotten till the nineteenth century, when it was independently confirmed by several eminent astronomers, Schubert of Petersburg, Ideler and Encke of Berlin, and Pritchard of London; the latter declared it to be “as certain as any celestial phenomenon of ancient date.” So God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, used natural phenomena to send a message to these foreign priests that something wonderful was afoot in Palestine. Specific enough that it landed the Magi on Herod's doorstep asking just the right question: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?"

One can just imagine the disturbance this caused in Jerusalem: the last thing anyone wanted was a rumour of a usurper, for when King Herod had suspicions, heads rolled. Anyway, Herod consulted with the teachers of the Law who said, "In Bethlehem in Judea...for this is what the prophet has written..." and proceeded to quote Micah from 7 centuries before. I bet the Magi were impressed. Here was this dusty prophecy, laying around for 700 years for just the right moment - and it's exactly the instruction missing from their CAA trip map. So besides the "general" revelation from God's creation in nature (the star), there is added the "special" revelation of God's prophetic word in Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit. This "Aha!" the Magi experienced is exactly what Christians today feel when we read the Bible and find God speaking very personally to us about today's problems. The Holy Spirit illumines us, like taking a highlighter and making the verse stand right out from the page. God guided the Magi through what they saw and what they heard from Scripture; his Word is still available to guide believers today.

One of the joys of being a pastor in a Reformed church is Luther's and Calvin's reliance on Scripture for guidance; their motto was "sola Scriptura". Church councils couldn't match or supercede the authority and truth of God's written Word in the Bible. So today we need to resist our denomination's tendency to backpedal on sexual standards, homosexual or heterosexual. Homosexual behaviour is not only contrary to nature, as any farmer can tell you; it's also contrary to the written and treasured guidance of the apostles for transformed Christian living (see Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20).

Back to the story. Once in Bethlehem, the Magi come to the house and see the child Jesus. Apparently Joseph had been able to find other accommodations than the stable. Now note the significance of the response of the Magi: "they bowed down and worshiped him." Foreigners, non-Jews, yield themselves and worship Israel's Messiah. The prophets had foretold that someday God's salvation would extend to all nations. Something very new was happening: non-Jews were being included in God's covenant with his chosen people Israel. And God brought them there very specifically. Paul writes in Ephesians 3:6, "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." This mystery, "for ages past...kept hidden in God" (9) was about to be "revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets" (5). God's "eternal purpose" was being "accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" (11).

Magic is based on secrets and oaths. Beware of any organization which requires you to take an oath to keep its rituals or practices secret, for a day will come "when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ" (Rom.2:16) who warned us that people "will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken...For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt.12:37) Jesus also warned us against taking oaths: "And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black...Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt.5:33) The Magi, keepers of secrets, found themselves bowing before the Greatest Secret of all time. They then "opened their treasures" - this might include acknowledging Christ's transcendence over all their guarded magic formulas. Jesus is the best Secret of all, a mystery God has revealed to those who love him. Magic and the occult propose to "let you in" on the power and knowledge of the Dark Side. But Jesus invites you, when you bow to Him and call out for his help as Lord and Saviour, to share the knowledge and power of God Himself through the gift of his Holy Spirit. What a treasure is Paul's summary in Ephesians 3:12: "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Wow! No magic in the world can top that! You don't need black magic and the related bondage in order to feel significant and secure. Turn from other forces, ask Jesus in to unveil the Great Secret, how you - yes you - can enjoy personal access to God through the cross. In verses 16-20, Paul mentions "power" 3 times and "love" 3 times - key gifts he's praying from God for the Ephesians. That's better than magic can offer.

The star - Scripture - personal encounter with Jesus - there's a fourth aspect of guidance in this account. Matthew records that the Magi returned to their country by another route "having been warned in a dream" (2:12). Significant: having bowed to the Saviour, they now receive direct communication of God's will by a dream, the same way Joseph does repeatedly. Later on, Peter had a vision of the sheet; Paul was caught up; John received the visions of Revelation in a trance. Joel's prophecy was being fulfilled as Peter quoted at Pentecost, "`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." The last time the early church sought guidance by rolling dice was in choosing Judas' successor before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Not every dream is from God, or spiritually significant; but when we're sincerely seeking God's guidance about something, besides using Scripture, he can bring images to our consciousness that throw light on his will for us. Don't dismiss a dream if you sense God is behind it! What are your divinely-informed dreams for our congregation? How might God be leading us so that they come about?

Meanwhile, back in the marketplace...What can our enlightened Magi teach us about how to approach Harry Potter books? Treat them like all media your child are exposed to -- poke in a loving parental nose and sample it prayerfully yourself. Talk about it with them. Are your children media-wise, or do they just lap it up unthinkingly? The Bob deMoss video "Learn to Discern" in the church library is a "must-see" for parents. You're not going to be able to shield your child from all influences of magic and the occult at school or elsewhere; nor is that necessarily desirable. Better to equip them with a godly capacity for critical thinking to sort through the Enemy's hard-sell tactics. Surround them with good quality, time-tested, wholesome children's fare so they won't want the questionable stuff. In addition, introduce them to Jesus Christ so they'll have the Holy Spirit as a Counselor within helping them to discern what's pleasing to God and what's not.

Linda Beam, Focus on the Family Youth Culture Analyst, says in the article in Plugged In: "...while our short-range goal is defensive (to protect our families from the negative influences of society), our long-range goal is offensive (to change society from the inside out). To be on the offensive, we need to raise up more Christian thinkers who can enter the realm of entertainment armed with a critical knowledge of both the Scripture and the false world views they’re combating. One father I’ve spoken with has decided to read and discuss Harry Potter with his daughter because, "She's a bit more mature than most 11-year-olds, powerfully grounded in the Christian perspective for her age, a careful and thoughtful child who loves both to read and write for the glory of God, and whose motivation, beyond being entertained, is to be ‘salt and light’ to the many friends, both Christian and non-Christian, who are reading the series." Indeed, it is these Christians who will have a redemptive effect on society, making positive changes for the long run."

YOU are entrusted with a secret. Not a secret to hide, but one God wants made known far and wide - to humans and to the supernatural world. Paul explained that God's intent now is that through the church - THE CHURCH, that's US, mind you - "the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (3:10). Through your own witness, and that of your kids, may others come to know the wonderful news the Magi discovered in Bethlehem: Jesus is the Greatest Secret of all. It's not magic, but a miracle; Christ's power and love can be ours when we approach God through faith in him. Let us pray.

"Divisions, Boasting, and the Cross" - Jan.14/01 1 Cor.1:10-18,26-31

A man reportedly came to the British pastor Charles Spurgeon looking for the perfect church. The famous preacher told him he had many saintly people in his congregation, but a Judas could also be among them. After all, even Jesus had a traitor in the company of His apostles. He went on to say that some might be walking disobediently, as had been the case among the believers at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, and Sardis. "My church is not the one you're looking for," said Spurgeon. "But if you should happen to find such a church, I beg you not to join it, for you would spoil the whole thing."

Ahh...the perfect church. How hard to find. Instead we discover churches that, frankly, are a very mixed bag. Too many churches suffer from conflict and division. I've heard of denominational splits over small details such as whether Jesus' return will occur before or after the millennium. Some might say that Protestant churches are bound to suffer division ever since we split off from Rome in the 1500's. But the problem of division goes way back into the church catholic. As we begin an introduction over the next few weeks to Paul's letter to the church at Corinth about 55 AD -- scarcely 20-odd years after Jesus' death and resurrection -- we find a church rife with division and sectarianism. Let's deal with this in three parts: (1) A church in Trouble; (2) Reality Check - "The Way We Were"; (3) From Division to Dynamite: the Power of the Cross.

(1) A Church in Trouble

We find that as soon as church members take their eyes off the Lord and start focusing on themselves, trouble begins. In verse 10 Paul acknowledges there are divisions in the church at Corinth, serious disagreements, they lack unity. And what a list of problems they have! The whole book is structured around the multitude of conflicts embroiling this young congregation. Chapters 1-4 deal with disputes about preachers; 5, immorality; 6, going to law before unbelievers; 7, marriage; 8-10, food previously offered to idols, and conduct of women in the church; 11, the Lord's Supper; 12 and 14, spiritual gifts; and 15, the Resurrection. Just about covers the gamut, doesn't it? Thanks to all those controversies, though, by the time Paul's finished his letter, we as Christians today have a good start on a practical handbook to Christian belief. If there hadn't been so many problems, we might not have gotten chapter 13, the "Love Chapter", or the great promises in chapter 15 that give such hope at funerals. So, good can come out of controversy.

It might help to remember this is not a well-established megachurch with a huge building and tons of parking on the corner of Main & Emperor in downtown Corinth. These people hadn't even heard about Jesus until a couple of years previous. Paul had come and started preaching in the synagogue; when opposition from the Jews got bad, he went next door to the house of one of the Gentile worshippers (Acts 18:7). In many cases, the early church met right in people's homes (1Cor.16:19; Rom.16:5; Col.4:15; Phm.2). Wealthier houses were built with an inner courtyard which would offer considerable space. In Ephesus, Paul made use of a school during the "siesta" time of the day when there were no classes (Acts 19:9). With all these small "cluster" fellowships rather than one big auditorium and leader, you were bound to run into differences of opinion. The Apostles' Creed was not standardized yet, and the Nicene Creed wouldn't be dreamt of for nearly 300 years. There was no New Testament to refer to. And they certainly didn't have anything as impressive as our United Church Manual!

So in the midst of this hodge-podge of small group meetings, with itinerant preachers and evangelists stopping through for short periods to share the news about Jesus as they understood it, diverse opinions and behaviours flourished. The word "divisions" in verse 10 is similar to our English "schism": it was used for a splinter of wood, or ploughing; picture how a single furrow stands out in the middle of an unploughed field, dividing it in sections. Or a tear in a stocking, just destroys the integrity. And there were quarrels (11), contentions, "unseemly wranglings". Paul clarifies in verse 12, "What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas' (that is, Peter); still another, 'I follow Christ.'" Everyone lining up behind their favourite apostle. In the Greek text, the word "I" is emphatic; can't you just hear them - "I'M Paul's!" "I'M Apollos'!" "Peter for me!" And then along come the purists, liking to think they're orthodox and so one-up on everybody else - "I follow Christ!" Duh! Seems to show an arrogant assumption of superiority.

Paul begins to counter this divisive party-mindedness by asking rhetorically, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?" Just remember how this all started, people! The reason they were so divided was their focus had shifted from Jesus to the messengers, and themselves. They were in it for "respectable religion" on a human level, not real transformation by God.

(2) Reality Check: "The Way We Were"

What Paul was hearing was not nearly as beautiful as the theme song by Barbra Streisand. In fact "the way" the Corinthian church "was" at that point was pretty ugly. So Paul, inspired by God in his writing, took his readers back to where they were apart from Christ. He writes in 26, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth." As if to say, "Just who do you think you are? Remember your humble beginnings." Culture, power, and nobility were the three qualifications for aristocracy in the Greek world, and most individuals in the church at Corinth qualified for "none of the above". Those putting on airs would acknowledge, if they stopped and thought about it, that Paul was right: they were just plain ordinary folk. Low-down sinners apart from Christ's grace. As Paul told the Ephesians, before our encounter with Christ we were "dead in our transgressions and sins", gratifying the cravings of our flesh and thus by nature objects of wrath, "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph.2:1,3,12). Gonners, powerless to change our situation or have anything positive to look forward to in eternity. That is "The Way We Were".

Look carefully at verses 27 & 28: you will see the real important division that is for good. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things— and the things that are not— to nullify the things that are..." Three times Paul says, "GOD CHOSE..." The verb (from which we get the word "elect" and the whole doctrine of "election") means "to pick out or choose for oneself, with the subsidiary ideas of kindness or favour or love." Strong's lexicon defines the word here: "of God the Father choosing Christians, as those whom he set apart from the irreligious multitude as dear unto himself, and whom he has rendered, through faith in Christ, citizens in the Messianic kingdom: so that the ground of the choice lies in Christ and his merits only."

Before we could ever do anything to get ourselves out of the mire, free from sin, God made a choice. He created a division. He opted to reveal His Son to us by grace through the gift of faith -- it's not by good deeds that we're saved. He creates a separation between believers in Jesus and the rest of fallen humanity. We were "chosen to be holy and blameless in His sight" by His grace freely given us in His Son (Eph.1:4,6). James puts it this way: "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" (James 2:5) By God's free decision, foreknowing us in eternity, "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" (Col.1:13). Yes, that creates a division: as Jesus acknowledged, sometimes even within a household; he did not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword (Matt.10:34-36). But the benefits for those plucked away from destruction are boundless. This is fundamentally God's doing, in some mysterious way; Paul says in verse 30, "It is because of HIM that YOU are in Christ Jesus." Not because we were born on the right side of the tracks, or we grew up in this church, or our grandfather built it, or we're big contributors, or we support the right preacher: it's solely by God's gracious choice that we can venture to take the name of Jesus on our lips. He picked us -- just so He could bless us with something wonderful.

(3) From Division to Dynamite: the Power of the Cross

What matters in Paul's way of thinking is not, "What big shots we are", but the power of God in the cross to totally re-make us. When I was growing up on the farm, every so often the tranquility of rural Hibbert Township was disrupted by a resounding "BOOM"! The house shook, the windows rattled. "Oh," we thought, "Uncle Nelson must be blowing tree stumps again." In his youth my bachelor uncle across the road had worked in the mines up north. We were forbidden to go upstairs in his barn because that's where he kept the dynamite for blowing tree stumps. We took it for granted back then, but as I look back on it, 'twas kind of wonderful to be the nephew of this older man who had the power to make huge stumps fly sky-high whenever he wanted.

"Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth..." but there is a power that excites Paul, a power available to change us for good as mighty as that dynamite that uprooted my uncle's stumps. A power that blows our boasting to bits. Look at verse 18: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power (dynamis) of God." The good news of the cross is, literally, "God's dynamite"! As Paul said to the Romans (1:16), "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..."

Here again you can see the division between those who believe and those who don't. To those who are perishing, the message of the cross seems like "foolishness", idiotic, stupid; the Greek is similar to our word "moron". But God chooses the foolish, moronic, of the world to shame the wise (27); because of Him, through the power of the cross, we are in Christ, and Jesus has become for us (see v.30) "wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption". By God's grace we who were lost and hopeless in our fallen state now "get it"! The light goes on. Jesus' light shines into our life, along with his goodness, sinlessness, and freedom from bondage. Now when God looks at us, he no longer sees our hideous selfishness and shameful garb of wrongs, but he sees us as if dressed in Jesus' purity and godliness. God's power has divided us from our former wickedness, sin, and addictions. Consequently we have not a thing to boast about over other fellow churchgoers. The treasure of being in Christ, free to choose now what is right and loving, is solely by God's gracious choice and power. "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." (31) A church that recognizes that will not dissolve into quarrels and petty divisions.

A good example of unity in Christ transcending divisions is Coffee Break. Each Wednesday women from at least six different denominations join together for singing, prayer, and Bible study. That includes even pastors' wives from those denominations! There is real fellowship, and a sense of joining together in God's work, such as in the prayer chain. Denominational backgrounds do not get in the way of recognizing another woman as a sister in Christ.

At a civil rights protest march in the sixties, several pastors from one area were jailed together for their involvement. One pastor said, "You know, I've been trying to get us together for a long time as a ministerial and never been able to arrange it. Now at last we can get down to some prayer and planning together." Their unity in being led by Christ's Spirit to stand up against discrimination overcame their particular denominational barriers.

In our own congregation, we have important decisions to make coming up. Rather than becoming quarreling and contentious like the Corinthians, let's back up from our immediate differences and first recognize the priority of belonging to Jesus. Are we "sold out" to Him, wherever we find ourselves? It is certainly not a matter of following "Ernest Dow", or other labels; we are CHRIST'S, first and foremost. God in love has elected us to be His, whatever votes we may face. We trust that, as in the case of the Corinthians, Christ's power and wisdom will help us work through our tensions to a healthy outcome.

God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong; the power of the cross is released into our lives through our weakness, not our self-sufficiency or taking pride in ourselves over others. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers discovered this when their third child, Robin, was born with Down's syndrome. The pediatrician urged them to consider institutionalizing her. He said, "Her muscle tone is poor, she has problems swallowing, and her heart is defective; in addition, she's mentally retarded. It would be the best thing for everyone." But Roy said, "No, we are going home."

Dale and Roy explained to their two older children that Robin was not like other babies -- that she was very special. They were good with her: one spent hours hiding under Robin's bed, playing peek-a-boo and making her laugh. Since Robin was fascinated with music, the other child would hold her up to the piano and let her pound the keys.

Dale recalls, "'Why did this happen to us?' I wondered. That question haunted me. I thought Robin's affliction might be punishment for my sins -- my pride, my ambition, my failures as a mother. Then I thought it might be God's way of speaking to Roy, who always cared so deeply about children. [Our pastor] told me that he believed Robin came to us with a purpose. He said, 'You will learn wonderful lessons from her; God will guide you.'"

Dale says, "He was right. That little baby gave us a perspective we had never had before and brought a wonderful peace into our lives. How well I remember the times Roy and I came home after a long, hard day and went straight in to see her. When we played with her and she would smile, our troubles would fall away. She taught us patience and humility; and in the end, she showed us how to be of use to God.

"The Lord has many ways of refining people; usually His crucible is fashioned from whatever we hold most dear. In this case, it was our child. Roy, who was once so plagued by the sight of handicapped children in the hospitals he visited that he had questioned God's plan, learned to overcome his skepticism. I learned more than ever to trust His will. What other choice did I have?"

Just before her second birthday, the Rogers' child came down with the mumps, which turned into encephalitis. Her temperature rose and she gradually weakened and slipped into unconsciousness. Finally her heart gave out.

Some time after, in her grief, Dale says, "Like sunlight breaking clouds after a storm of darkness, it all became clear to me. I knew what Robin's life meant and I saw what I had to do. She had come to us from God...with all her handicaps and frailties to make us aware that His strength is found in weakness. In the two years she had been with us we had grown close as a family, and we had learned how deeply we needed to depend on God. I knew my job was to deliver that message to others."

The following Christmas Eve during the service, Dale sat with eyes glistening, riveted on the statue of the Virgin Mary holding her infant son. She concludes, "It was because of her son that my precious little daughter was now safe and joyful and perfect for eternity. It was because Jesus gave His life on the cross that everyone who accepts Him will one day be made whole and all of our earthly sorrows will forever disappear. I can hear Robin say, 'I'm perfectly all right, now that I'm rid of that lump of hindering clay...And now, Father, please...could I just go out and try my wings?'"

Let us pray.

"Built to Last: the CBFG Church" - Jan.21/01 1Corinthians 3:1-17,21-23

The church - is it built to last, or bound for collapse? The latest Canadian statistics are not that cheery. StatsCan just released data from its 1998 General Social Survey of nearly 11,000 Canadians. It turns out that over the previous ten years, the number of Canadians age 15 and over who attend a religious service once a month dropped from 41% down to 34%. Times have changed. In 1946 2/3 of Canadians reported attending church in the past 7 days, but nowadays only 20% attend church weekly. Think about it: post-war there were 2 church attenders for every person who didn't go routinely; now, there are 4 non-attenders for every regular churchgoer. It's not "expected" the way it was when I grew up; in fact, it's viewed as a novelty, if not an oddity.

This trend is even more pronounced if you look at different age groups. For those 55 and older, over half, 52% attend at least once a month. But for those between the ages of 25 and 34, although ten years ago 34% of them attended at least once a month as teens, now only 24% go even that often.

A ChristianWeek editorial comments, "Especially among the young there is a strong feeling that the institutional church actually hinders the deeper search for purpose and meaning. But...while conventional religion has largely lost its status as the principal vehicle of spiritual authority, the search for spiritual satisfaction continues unabated. Books on religion and spirituality are the fastest growing segment of the market, and the Internet is home to an estimated 140-million pages devoted to religion and spirituality. That the Christian church is out of favour at a time when so many people are seeking spiritual substance to give meaning to life's material pursuits is unconscionable."

These trends are forcing denominations to re-examine how we "do church". Our own United Church has lost 23% of its membership and 21% of attendance in the last dozen years. What can be improved? Is somebody doing something "right"? The editorial adds that the church is to blame because: "All too frequently it has failed to provide authentic worship. Too often it has not been a place where souls are restored. And its members are always apt to serve their own needs and neglect the arduous work of reconciliation at all levels of society."

While most churches have been declining, Canada's largest evangelical denomination (Pentecostal) has seen significant growth. They've responded to the trends by placing a heavy emphasis on junior high, youth and young adult groups, with many of its churches dedicating two or more staff to the needs of these groups. This emphasis on youth, popularity among new Canadians, and the Pentecostal style of worship have helped that church overcome the trends.

How can we re-structure and re-vision to be Christ's ambassadors more effectively in a society in which going to church is no longer in fashion? What should be our priorities, our non-negotiables, the bare-bones best of what people are looking for in a lively church? Don Posterski of World Vision Canada and Irwin Barker authored a book titled, "Where's a Good Church?" They found the top priorities for Canadians in selecting a church were: preaching; local evangelism; being "in touch with the times"; offering opportunities for involvement; and cell groups. Christian Schwarz using a scientific approach to "Natural Church Development" came up with the eight quality characteristics for healthy churches that are at the top of the bulletin: Empowering leadership, Gift-oriented ministry, Passionate spirituality, Functional structures, Inspiring worship, Holistic small groups, Need-oriented evangelism, Loving relationships. Centuries ago, long before statistics, the Apostle Paul offered advice to the church at Corinth on how to "build to last". I'd summarize key ingredients of an effective church with just the 4 letters C-B-F-G: Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared.

(1) Christ-centred

At the heart of what church is all about is worshipping, praying, and praising a particular person: the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Church is not about "ritual" so much as "relationship". Paul sought to draw the Corinthians (who were splitting apart in allegiance to various leaders) back to Jesus' centrality in chapter 1 (13) when he asked, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?" The power and healing available through Jesus' cross is the main motivation in our gathering. He says in 3:11, "...No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." That's square one, basic to our being. Lose focus on Jesus and your church becomes indiscernible from an ordinary service club. Also, Jesus in giving His life for us gives Christianity its unique flavour: grace. When people are looking for a church, they're not attracted by orthodox doctrine or teaching of traditional truth so much as by grace. Pounding the Bible apart from emphasis on Christ would lead to legalistic judgmentalism. Jesus is the One who's going to really attract people who are looking for positive changes in their lives, and that's because he's full of grace as well as truth. Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Scout movement, used to say, "If it's not fun, it's not Scouting!" I'd parallel that: "If there's no grace, it's not church!"

Gary Hellard was recently appointed national director for Youth for Christ. He says we need to start doing evangelism in a different way to reach youth. He explains, "People have a distaste for the verbal gospel. People want to see the gospel. Evangelism needs to springboard off this post-modern culture and bring Jesus into the culture to impact the culture," rather than trying to force youth into old molds of what Christianity should look like.

What gospel do people see when they look at your life? Do they see Jesus through you? Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah and said so, whereupon Jesus replied he would build his church on the rock of such confession. So if we want to attract people to church, we need to be Christ-centred, showing forth Jesus in his love and wisdom and caring, in our individual lives and our worship life. Schwarz's quality characteristics "passionate spirituality" and "inspiring worship" probably fit in best in this category of being "Christ-centred".

(2) Bible-believing

If you're building something to last, you'd better have a good plan! Paul said, (3:10) "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds." The word for "expert builder" is the same as our "Architect": Paul was paying careful attention to the blueprints of God's Word. How often in his writing he breaks into a quote from the Old Testament! And in chapter 2 he has just remarked how God was revealing secret wisdom to the apostles through the Holy Spirit; from that revealed wisdom came the New Testament. Jesus is our centre; the Bible is our key reference book, the witness to Jesus' triumph at the cross and his long-term plan for us.

Despite society's moral relativism, there ARE absolutes; God tells them to us through His Word. Paul talks about "the Day" that will show each one's work for what it is and "test the quality of each man's work" (3:13). The measuring stick used will be what God has already made known to us through Scripture.

If we are Christ-centred, we will share Jesus' own attitude toward the Bible. He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35) As an aside once he said Scripture "can't be broken" (Jn.10:35), and when praying he uttered, "Your Word is truth." Peter quoted Isaiah to the effect that our human glory fades like the flowers, but "the word of the Lord stands forever" (1 Pet.1:24f)

Don Posterski found that preaching and local evangelism were THE TWO top priorities for people in choosing a new church. Schwarz talks about "empowering leadership" that can cast a vision that matters, and "need-oriented evangelism". Both these are aided by a high view of Scripture.

(3) Fellowship-friendly

What caught Paul's notice in the first place before writing this letter? Mention that friction had developed amongst the Corinthians. They were boasting about following various itinerant leaders. Paul reproaches them for being so immature (3:3,4): there is jealousy and quarreling, they're not spiritual but fleshly, "acting like mere men".

Paul points out they all belong together as one fellowship in Christ. (16) "Don't you know that you yourselves (plural) are God's temple and that God's Spirit is in you?" Later in 6:19 he talks about each individual believer's body being a temple, but here the emphasis is on when they're gathered all together. Something special happens when Christians come to meet together that isn't the same when we're by ourselves: Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20) He blesses our fellowship.

Few things catch a visitor's notice so quickly as being invited back to someone's place for coffee or a casserole after the worship service. Too many churches will hardly shake hands to welcome an "outsider". Or we're so busy talking amongst our own little group of friends that the new person slips by unnoticed.

Posterski and Barker discovered that both "opportunities for involvement" and "cell groups" were strong factors in persuading people to join a particular church. "Cell groups" include things like home Bible study groups, neighbourhood prayer groups, and small groups organized around common interests that meet together for prayer and fellowship. Schwarz lists both "holistic small groups" and "loving relationships" amongst his 8 key qualities for natural church development. I'm so thankful our TLC groups have been meeting and enjoying new friendships. What have YOU done recently to further our own church's degree of fellowship beyond just the "come sit in a pew and stare at the back of another person's head" experience?

(4) Growth-geared

In verses 6-9 Paul talks about ministry as if he and Apollos were farmers or gardeners planting then watering living seeds. The Corinthians are "God's field". Paul and Apollos are just workers doing their assigned task; "but God made it grow". Church is meant to be an experience that nurtures us so much we feel like we're on spiritual steroids! Can you feel those prayer muscles stretching and bulging? Is the encouragement from hanging out with other believers putting wings to your feet when it comes to acts of service and deeds of kindness?

Switching to the "building" metaphor, Paul observes that we can be building on the foundation with valuable and durable materials such as gold, silver, and precious stones, OR cheap perishables like wood, hay, or straw (3:12). Whatever it is, something's going up! The idea is letting God have control in our life to make us into something new and grand. Unfortunately our attitude might hinder God and make us wind up as mud huts when what He really intended was a palace! The Lord seeks to be developing us, making us more mature. Baptism (infant or adult) is not a sign that we've "arrived", but that we're just beginning!

Two "sub-sections" of growth also start with "G": gifts and giving. People are excited in churches that help them discover their spiritual gifts: prophecy, evangelism, teaching, encouragement, assisting, giving, leadership, compassion, and so on. But you may not find out what your gift is until you "take the plunge" and offer to help out with life in the Body. God supplies our needs when we're doing His will; he may have a gift waiting for us when we venture to sign up in faith. Christian Schwarz notes that "gift-oriented ministry" is a characteristic of healthy churches.

Besides gifts, there's giving. God longs for us to grow in our stewardship, sharing His abundant grace with others. With regard to money, it's not just a matter of tithing 10%: that's too much a "law" approach. The New Testament standard is giving that's sacrificial, "hilarious" (2 Cor.9:7). Bill Easum, church growth guru, advises: "Give until it feels good!"

Giving our time is just as important. The church can always use more volunteers, be it Sunday School teachers, elders, choir members, short term missionaries, whatever. The opportunities are endless. The national director of Youth for Christ notes, "We could use 100-150 missionaries tomorrow just to meet the windows of opportunity that are being placed upon us at a rapid pace. Young people are not as anti-God as we think they are. They've always been hungry for genuine spirituality, perhaps more so today than ever before."

So there's my recipe, my dream, of what a church can and ought to be like when we allow God to truly inhabit us, growing us as a crop in a field, building us like a beautiful temple. C-B-F-G: Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared.

Stu Weber is a pastor in Oregon who has written a book for men called "Tender Warrior". In his closing pages he counsels men what to look for in a good church -- in fact, what might make any church attractive to those masses who are today "turned off" by what little experience they've had with church. He advises guys to:

"Find a Church that...

1. Takes God and His Word Seriously. We might call it a teaching church. This kind of church believes the Bible is indeed God's Word. His inerrant Word. Scripture is not something to be trifled with. It is the only standard for this church's faith and practice. This church is not overly absorbed and enamored with some pastor or other individual who may be greatly gifted, impressive, or full of charisma (Like me!!). In fact, most churches that take God's Word seriously appreciate the breadth of gifts in the body, and enjoy a team approach to ministry. Men were created to walk together. To play team ball. This is a church that works hard at expounding Scripture and seeing it applied to daily living.

2. Takes You Seriously. This is a church that looks long and hard at all God has wrapped in you -- the unique blend of passions, interest, gifts, talents, and visions that you are -- and harnesses them for the kingdom. So that you and other Tender Warriors can be all God intended you to be. So that you and other Tender Warriors can pull together like true yokefellows, plowing a straight line toward the realization of God's rule "on earth as it is in heaven". This is a church that has some expectations of you -- biblical expectations -- and it will help you take a good look at yourself and your unique contribution to the Body of Christ and "God's plan of the ages".

3. Takes Itself Seriously. This church might be called an equipping church. It sees its mission as providing you with the tools you need to live the kind of life God called you to live. This church's pastoral staff sees itself as a coaching staff. Such a church will move you off the bench, onto the playing floor, and stretch you beyond simple 'spectatorship'. Most of us have had enough of "riding the pines". We need to get into the only game that matters. In the words of that ancient warrior, Paul, this church will equip you to 'do the work of the ministry'."

So, now you know the game plan the coach has told you; get out there this week into the game, introducing people to this Jesus who is busy building your life into something magnificent. Our generation is hungry for "the real thing" when it comes to spirituality. Don't just stand there and be a statistic: be a "synergist", the word Paul uses when he says, "We are God's fellow workers". Amazing! The Lord bless you as you allow him to build his own characteristics of grace, righteousness, and wholeness into your life, brick by brick. Amen.

"Disciplined or Diseased?" - Jan.28/01 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

God wants to bless us; but that requires us to turn away from what is sinful and would destroy us.

Walking down the hall in a nursing home this week, I spotted a sign posted conspicuously to help staff remember proper sanitary procedures. The sign had only four words: "Love yourself - Glove yourself". With the spread of AIDS and other infectious diseases, keeping one's own health protected in the health care field is a matter of life and death.

In our life we've probably had someone who reminded us to maintain ourselves in a sanitary way to avoid disease. "Don't forget to wash behind your ears." "No, you can't pick it up off the floor and eat it." "If you don't put those clothes in the laundry, pretty soon they're going to walk away with you in them." That's part of a parent's job description, to help children develop clean habits that will help fend off the multitude of invisible germs that surround us and seek entry to our person for no good. In our bathrooms and kitchen here at the church, we have signs courtesy of the County Health Unit reminding us that washing our hands prevents the spread of disease.

Disease agents range from tiny viruses, little bits of genetic material with a coating, to the larger bacteria, funguses, and even worm-like parasites. Effects of disease range from unpleasant to fatal. Fungal diseases like athlete's foot and yeast infections can be very uncomfortable. As a boy I remember treating cattle for ringworm, a very ugly fungus disease that was mostly a nuisance. More serious are common illnesses like the flu virus and pneumonia. Outbreaks of dysentery and typhus have influenced the outcome of military campaigns. Diseases like malaria and cholera have affected the distribution of society in certain regions of the earth. AIDS has become a major modern killer: although 60% of American cases resulted from transmission among homosexual men and 21% among intravenous drug users, Aids has become the leading cause of death for women between the ages of 20 and 40 in the major cities of North and South America, Western Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa.

We forget too easily what a horror epidemics were before the advent of modern medicine. It's estimated that in the 6th century, the bubonic plague (spread by fleas from infected rats) killed 100 million people across Europe and Asia. In the 14th century, the same disease killed 1/4 to 1/2 the population of Europe. The "Black Death" as it was known changed the entire social structure of medieval Europe. The decrease in number of the working class led to the final downfall of the feudal system.

Obviously, we're going to try to be vigilant in preventing disease. No one wants to get sick; no one wants their loved one to die from an infection. Yet God calls us to be even more vigilant about our moral hygiene. He wants us to enjoy wholeness, physically & spiritually, but that means we need to guard against infections on both levels. The Bible teaches there are great benefits to guarding against the "disease" of immorality -- both for us individually, and as a community.

Paul was shocked to hear about something that was going on in the church at Corinth. A man and his father's wife - his own stepmother - were living together. Incest is still a big problem today, even in churches. Yet the congregation was trying to ignore what was so obvious, what even pagans would have found shocking; the Corinthian churchgoers were trying to "look the other way". Paul says some went further, being "proud" and boasting - perhaps that they were so "liberated" or "enlightened". Much of early church history was troubled by Gnostic teaching, the heresy that matter is inherently evil and it's only your spirit that counts, so you can do whatever you like in the flesh.

Paul doesn't mince words in condemning the situation. (v.2) "Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?" It was entirely unacceptable as far as he was concerned. He directs them to carry through on expelling the man from church fellowship: a move described as handing the man "over to Satan" - putting him out in the realm of the fallen world, away from the Holy Spirit's influence through gathered believers.

Discipline is a very touchy topic in the church; especially in denominations that take a more liberal view of Scripture. Dark images of stoning and the "shunning bench" begin to haunt one's middle-class tolerance. We're quick to quote, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt.7:1; Lk.6:37). We're hesitant to take any kind of disciplinary action, afraid of causing a scene, alienating the person, shoving our standards "down someone else's throat" in a politically correct-minded society that celebrates individual freedom.

But let's take a closer look at these words of Jesus. They come from the Sermon on the Mount, which has a variety of warnings and cautions about wrong behaviour. In fact, the Lord comes out very critical of anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, piety or fasting for show, long prayers, and materialism. In Luke's version, he blasts, "WOE to you who are rich - well-fed - laugh - are well-spoken of" (Lk.6:24-26). And this is the same guy who a few verses later says, "Don't judge, and you will not be judged"?

Apparently he's not saying there aren't standards, or that everything's OK, ethics is all relative. Jesus recommends strong values to his followers. In his teaching role, it is very appropriate for him to speak out publicly against sin, and challenge hard hearts to repent. "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matt.23:33) In saying "judge not", he means be careful when passing judgment on a peer because we ourselves will be held accountable for the same standards. 7:2: "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

The remainder of the New Testament makes a distinction here when it comes to judging our peers on disputable matters. In Romans 2 (1), Paul points out that those who pass judgment on others condemn themselves if they too do the same things. And in Romans 14 (4), when he asks, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?", it is concerning a debatable matter - whether one should just eat vegetables rather than take a chance on the meat sold in the market not having been previously sacrificed to an idol. Some matters can wait until we meet Christ face-to-face: (14:10,12) For we will all stand before God's judgment seat...Each of us will give an account of himself to God."

Judgment is certain. We're only asked not to be too quick to pounce on a sister or brother in Christ for committing questionable practices that aren't, in the Lord's eyes, something to get all that excited about, for we ourselves slip up occasionally too. James writes, (4:12) "Who are YOU that you judge your neighbour? There is one lawgiver and judge - he who is able to save and to destroy."

One lawgiver and judge - "standing at the doors" (Jas.5:9). "He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Cor.4:5) And it is to help each other be prepared for this final encounter with Truth that the New Testament urges Christians to exercise discipline, helping each other be held accountable to Jesus' standard for our lives as powered by the Holy Spirit.

Repeatedly in Scripture, persons in various levels of authority and responsibility are charged to exercise discipline. Hebrews 12 (7-10) says that in enduring hardship, we are being treated by God as sons; we respected our earthly parents for disciplining us. Romans 13 (1-5) describes the civil authorities as bearing the sword to punish the wrongdoer as God's servant. Christ himself describes a process for problems to be handled in the church (Matt.18:17): first we approach the person who's wronged us individually, one on one. If they won't listen, take a couple others with you as witnesses. Then if they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; "And if he refuses to listen to the church," Jesus says, "treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Note that this authority to exercise discipline is carried out as a function of the faith community, not by one "party whip". We're not to go around as self-appointed religious vigilante squads! Study Paul's careful wording in verse 4 for the degrees of authority coming together: "When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present..." This is not an off-the-cuff or knee-jerk reaction, but carefully considered, appropriately forewarned group action - done with an attitude of grief and concern for the person's soul, not vindictiveness.

So we can't hide behind the phrase, "Judge not that you be not judged". Paul summarizes (v.12,13): "Are you not to judge those inside [the church]? 'Expel the wicked man from among you.'" That last is a quote from Deut.17(7), which has the literal sense, "Burn away the evil from your midst" - as if it were an infectious disease.

It's exactly this threat of spreading and infection that Paul is thinking about. Verse 6 says, "Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast..." Baker's yeast is really one of the more benevolent forms of fungal organisms, as we talked about before. Candidiasis, athlete's foot, and ringworm are growths of yeast/fungus that aren't so helpful. Paul's warning, Sin is just like that: stop it before it becomes an epidemic! Be holy, crack down on loose living! Verse 8 takes up the analogy of the Passover Festival, to be kept "not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth."

Paul serves notice in the next verse that the church must not "associate with sexually immoral people" - not meaning withdrawing from the world, but in the church - (v.11) "You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." He's very serious. If we want to experience God's best, we will be disciplined, and refrain from courting sin's sick entertainments.

This may seem severe, but consider an analogy from nature. Suppose you're walking along in the summer and come across a tree that has a branch covered with tent caterpillars. If you say, "Oh, I don't want to break the branch off the poor tree," later you'll find the caterpillars have spread to strip not only that tree but others as well. The kind thing to do to the tree is to snap off the branch and burn it, or otherwise eliminate the threat. There is pain in the short term, but in the long run you'll have preserved a healthy tree.

Let's not forget God's long-term goal for us in all this! It's not just that we practice discipline for its own sake, but for all the benefits that flow from living life God's way, as he designed. How afraid of STD's need a couple be who've been faithful to each other all their married life? Not at all! There is peace of mind. If we can help prevent one case of child molestation, there's one individual who won't have to carry those scars and that damaged self-image into his or her adult years! Avoid the disease; be disciplined. Hebrews 12 promises, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

In this particular instance, Paul notes the goal of the disciplinary action in verse 5: "that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." And, through the Holy Spirit's convicting, it does work. 2 Cor.2(5-8) describes a similar incident where an individual was "disfellowshipped" for a time. Now, though, Paul tells the church that person's had sufficient punishment; grief has wrought changes, it's now time to forgive and comfort him. "I urge you, therefore," he writes, "to reaffirm your love for him." That's the happier side of the process - welcoming back someone who's learned through grace to be free of former sins.

The United Church does have something to say about discipline in the Manual. (066) "Discipline is an exercise of that spiritual authority which the Lord Jesus has appointed in his holy church. Discipline is to be exercised for the purpose of maintenance of the wholeness of the church, the spiritual benefit of the members, and the honour of our Lord. The standards by which discipline is to be exercised within the United Church are those standards that are perceived in the Holy Scriptures as set forth in the Old and New Testaments and the faith and practice set forth in the Basis of Union which are in substance agreeable to the Word of God." Quite a good statement, really - but we could use it more often, and more lovingly. It is Session's duty to oversee "the conduct of members, with power to exercise discipline" (Basis 5.10.1.2). That's you. I can vouch that the Membership & Fellowship Committee takes very seriously its task - almost with fear and trepidation - of reviewing the Membership Roll annually and recommending to Session names of those to be removed who, in the words of the Manual, "have absented themselves for 3 years...from the public ordinances in the Congregation of which they are members." I suppose we can be thankful if that's the most grievous reason for discipline a congregation experiences.

As for me, it is the duty of Presbytery "to have the oversight of the conduct of members of the Order of Ministry on its roll". And we clergy do need it, just as much or more than do parishioners (surprise! we're not invincible). During my time as chair of Algoma Presbytery there were two cases that fell into this broad category. One involved a minister who, among other things, found it hard to keep information confidential. The other involved a married pastor who one night behaved indiscreetly with a teenage babysitter. Though some might find such lapses interesting grist for gossip, it's no fun for anyone to be dragged through hearings and subjected to public disgrace. It's very unpleasant, not just for the complainants and respondents, but also for the officials who have to investigate. So please keep upholding clergy and one another in your prayers so we don't fall prey to the subtle schemes of the Adversary.

A certain professor at a seminary, who taught a class in Greek at 8:00 in the morning, tells about one of his students. Now, at that early hour, some people just don't function well, especially in Greek! This particular student was struggling to translate 1 Corinthians 5:6, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough". He knew how the King James Version read, but also knew he couldn't quote that because the professor would know he wasn't translating the Greek. So he came out with the familiar line that use to be heard on Brylcreem commercials: "a little dab'll do ya". That was the best he could do.

Chuck Swindoll comments, "That's true! A little dab will affect the whole bunch. You put a little, rotten, insignificant apple in a bucket of good apples, and the good apples will never make that rotten apple good. What will happen? Just the opposite. First, those around that rotten apple will begin to become rotten and decayed. And leave them there long enough and you've got a bucket of waste, ruined by that little dab of rottenness."

From now on, don't "dabble" in evil. Steer clear! Get rid of the old yeast, those questionable habits you've picked up, the little toeholds by which you've allowed the Enemy to get his icy claws on some part of your life. Look to Jesus, our pure and sinless Passover lamb, sacrificed to free you from all that pollutes. And with those who in faith have persevered in the past, may you discover the "harvest of peace and righteousness" discipline produces in those who have been trained by it. The best kind of fruit - not rotten at all! Amen.

"Sold Out in Body and Mind" - Feb.4/01 1Cor.6:9-20

We get tempted by many desires. A prominent temptation in our culture is to do whatever you want, be your own boss, mastered by no one. Those who yield may find themselves enslaved by the desires they decided to give in to. The good news is that Jesus helps us overcome selfish passions and to discover life's full meaning in step with Him.

Recently the US Army came out with a new commercial intended to attract recruits. It shows a young soldier running alone across the

desert. He says, "Even though there are 1,045,690 soldiers just like me, I am my own force...And I'll be the first to tell you, the might of the U.S.Army doesn't lie in numbers. It lies in me. I am an Army of one."

Chuck Colson comments, "As anyone who's ever served in the military can tell you, solitary, independent-minded soldiers don't win wars. They more likely get killed. The type of radical individualism promoted in this ad undermines two essential military principles: a unit's cohesion, and its willingness to follow strong leaders into

combat."

Why did the Army go this route? It has been failing to meet its recruiting goals, so is trying to change the way it communicates with young people. The head of the agency that created the campaign explains that the ad is aimed at young adults "who don't like being told what to do." She says, "They really want to be in control.They really want to make the decisions themselves.And the whole idea of 'An Army of One' does just that."

So the Army has decided to embrace today's dominant secular worldview which exalts radical, personal autonomy as the ultimate goal of life; what Colson terms the "self-gratifying, narcissistic appeals of popular culture". But do we really want such a person patrolling the street carrying weapons of deadly force? I think I'd rather have someone who's prepared to follow lawful orders!

The apostle Paul in writing to the division-rent church at Corinth warns them to guard against a self-pleasing approach to life. We can summarize the emphasis of chapter 6 under 3 headings: The slippery slope of self-pleasing slogans; The marvelous make-over in the Saviour's salon (on the house); and, Sold out, we discover life's true purpose.

A. The Slippery Slope of Self-pleasing Slogans

In verses 12&13 of chapter 6, Paul refers to some popular slogans of the day that seemed to justify "doing your own thing" when it came to questions of behaviour and morality. "Everything is permissible for me" is one of them. Libertines have been a threat in the church from day one, people who went beyond the teaching of "freedom in Christ" from Jewish dietary regulations to a no-holds-barred approach to life in general. Paul responds to the thought that "Everything is permissible for me" by saying not everything is beneficial, and that he chooses not to be mastered by anything. When we just cave in to our desires, we yield control to our passions, and as a habit forms, may find ourselves trapped or mastered by addictions -- whether to substances, sex, or various entertainments.

The other slogan Paul mentions is, "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food": to which he replies, "but God will destroy them both." Our earthly passions and fulfillments are very transitory. Even before this life ends, we see our cravings lead to breakdowns in relationships and personal health.

Much advertising seems to say, "Enjoy yourself". But it tends to be short-term enjoyment that will leave you wanting to buy more of the manufacturer's product; long-term negative effects are ignored. For example, beer commercials showed a group of youngish, attractive people having a good time. They don't show the derelict "rummy" out on the street alone by himself; the empty cupboard in the low-income family due to too much spending on "liquid refreshments"; or the massive hangover and headache the day after over-indulging. The woman in the couple on the date giving in to the Nike slogan "Just do it" is left with serious "morning after" questions. Does she resort to a "morning after" pill which is not really a contraceptive but agent of abortion? Is there going to be long-term disease spread through the contact? What about the guy's loss of respect for her, or her own sense of regret or feeling manipulated? Yielding to late-night passions can derail any delicate emotional intimacy that may have been developing.

These self-pleasing slogans do form a slippery slope. Yet we immerse ourselves in advertising scarcely thinking about the subtle messages. Unless we're alert, we risk becoming like the frog in the kettle. You see, amphibians are cold-blooded and take on the temperature of their environment. Drop a frog in a pot of hot water and he'll jump back out. But put him in lukewarm water and slowly increase the heat...he'll fry, blissfully unaware of the changing temperature. Slogans do that, repeated over time they'll give permission to try what you never would've in the first place. With regrettable results.

B. The Marvelous Make-over in the Saviour's Salon (on the house)

Perhaps you've heard of women getting dramatic make-overs by a beauty firm, coming out looking like a whole new person. Paul promises that no matter what sins a person has committed in the past, no matter how much damage they've done or how far they've wandered from God's will, a new start is possible in Christ. At his expense.

Verses 9-11 say, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Wow! Quite a list, isn't it? Notice that Paul doesn't pause to rank them as "bigger" or "less serious" sins; they're all objectionable to God, incompatible with his holy kingdom. And Paul is quite blunt about stating these shoes had fit members of the Corinthian congregation themselves.

Robertson comments, "This was plain talk to a city like Corinth. It is needed today. It is a solemn roll call of the damned even if some of their names are on the church roll in Corinth, whether officers or ordinary members." But here's the exciting part: in Jesus' make-over studio, conversion and regeneration are his specialties. "That is what some of you WERE; BUT you were washed, sanctified, justified..." It does happen when people get low enough in life; if they repent, and ask God to help them make a fresh start, He does it. That's why we should never judge a person in a condemning way based on what they were like 20 years ago; it may take time for the changes God's making in a person's life on the inside to become visible and steady. Homosexuals can and do change, often with the help of therapy; they're not "born that way" genetically. Perhaps just as difficult, though less obvious, is the change required for a greedy person to come to feel secure enough in God's grace to gain a generous, compassionate heart. Struggles with adultery, alcohol, pornography, gambling - you name it - can all be overcome. Sometimes it takes much prayer, godly sorrow, and small-group accountability. But Paul implies, "It DOES happen; YOU'RE living proof!"

How is this possible? At a salon the changes are cosmetic, on the outside; but when you ask Jesus to heal you and set things right, it's an inside job. Verse 19: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price." The blessing of God's Holy Spirit coming into our lives is a free gift, "on the house". Who paid the price? Jesus did, at the cross. He said he came to "give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt.20:28). And just because it's free doesn't mean it was cheap. Peter writes (1Pet.1:18f), "It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." All the money in the world - even if it was those colourful new $10 bills - all the money in the world couldn't buy your entry to God's Kingdom. But Jesus made it possible because he gave up His spot for you.

C. Sold Out, We Discover Life's True Purpose

Let's back up a moment to verse 13. Paul says something very profound. There's the trite slogan, "Food for the stomach" and God's destruction of both. But then he adds, (and verse 13 in the original flows right into verse 14) "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body; (semi-colon) by his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also." Amazing! There's a thought to contemplate all week, all month: not only is our body geared toward God; the Lord Himself has the aim of helping us have strength in our physical being. In our earthly life and the resurrection. We are MEANT for MORE than just the daily grind, a hand-to-mouth existence. God has a marvelous plan for our lives (our eternity) and is prepared to devote His energy to help it come about. Robertson comments, "The human body has a higher mission than the mere gratification of sensual appetite." A HIGHER mission.

There's a hint of something similar in verse 17: "He who unites (glues) himself to the Lord is one with him in spirit." There's the idea of becoming intimately one with God in purpose and being, on board with God's joy and purpose in the earthly Kingdom being unveiled before our eyes.

The city of Corinth was notorious in the ancient world for its loose morals. The temple of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, beckoned worshippers to join with priestesses in religious prostitution; at one time there were 1,000 sacred prostitutes. Paul's saying there's a better way, a more "real" experience with God. The other way just leads to disease, disruption in one's marriage, and destruction. Believing in Christ, our body becomes an actual "temple" of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. As we honour God with our body, our being takes on eternal significance and meaning - not just a passing ritual act.

Norman Hillyer writes, "As the stomach requires food for its proper function, so the 'body' requires the Lord to fulfill its God-intended purpose of service and sacrifice...and can find its true satisfaction only in Him." Eric Liddell, Olympic runner in "Chariots of Fire" said, "God made me fast.When I run, I feel God's pleasure." Whatever speed we may be, God's Word says we come to know our true purpose and significance in life when we're 'SOLD OUT' to Him completely, lock stock & barrel. A living walking temple, honouring God by our actions in body and spirit.

Confidence in this purpose God has for us helps us say "No" to other temptations which would get us off track for short-term pleasures. Paul urges, "FLEE from sexual immorality" (18). Shun it, run away! Other sins don't involve you sinning against your own body as sexual sins do. One is reminded of Joseph, fleeing from Potiphar's wife's advances. He didn't stop to consider the ramifications with her or try to persuade her otherwise. He ran. If you stumble on an obscene website, and the windows just keep opening up as fast as you try to close them, pull the plug. Your mental purity is worth it. Make sure any internet-equipped computer in your home is located in a spot where there's people traffic. If you're tempted by co-workers, set "hedges" that will help guard you against inappropriate behaviour. In the video store, run, "flee" to ones that are decently-rated. You don't want to go down the path of images that will haunt for months to come.

In our Reformed tradition and even before that, our church belongs to a long line of "flee-ers". In the 3rd and 4th centuries, thousands of men and women left cities and villages and headed out into the deserts of the Middle East. In large part it was a protest movement. They were sickened by a lax spirit of accommodation that permeated the life of the church. This occurred around the time that Constantine officially recognized Christianity. Christians no longer lived with the fear of persecution. In fact, it became the fashion to give at least some sign of lukewarm allegiance to the new faith. These desert fathers and mothers knew that Jesus called his followers to a purer discipleship.

One of them, Abbot John, gave this advice: "A monk must be like a man who, sitting under a tree, looks up and perceives all kinds of snakes and wild beasts running at him. Since he cannot fight them all, he climbs the tree and gets away from them. The monk, at all times, should do the same. When evil thoughts are aroused by the enemy, he should fly, by prayer, to the Lord, and he will be saved."

Thomas Merton notes that "the practice of keeping the name of Jesus ever present in the ground of one's being was, for the ancient monks, the secret of the 'control of thoughts', and of victory over temptation."

Skip ahead to the year 1510, and a trip to Rome by one Martin Luther. Biographer Roland Bainton notes that stories came to Luther's ears of the immorality of the Roman clergy. He was horrified to hear that if there was a hell, Rome was built upon it. He learned that the district of ill fame was frequented by ecclesiastics. He heard there were those who considered themselves virtuous because they confined themselves to women! Catholic historians recognize candidly the scandal of the Renaissance popes. Luther and other Reformers sought to protect the church from such abuses, and from theological heresies such as the selling of "forgiveness" by means of indulgences to finance the construction of St.Peter's basilica. Luther wrote: "First of all we should rear LIVING TEMPLES, not local churches, and only last of all St.Peter's, which is not necessary for us [Germans]". Living temples - just as Paul proposed, honouring God by being sold out in body and spirit.

We began with reference to the "Army of one" recruiting ad which tries to attract potential soldiers from a population which "doesn't like being told what to do" and "likes to make their own decisions". In marked contrast, the Marine Corps still promotes what retired General Charles Krulak calls "the qualities America holds dear: honour, courage, commitment." In the late nineties, in the midst of great recruiting shortages, then-Commandant Krulak actually raised recruiting standards and toughened physical training requirements. He also refused to integrate men's and women's training programs or barracks. And in spite of -- or, perhaps, because of -- this tough approach, the Marine Corps achieved all its recruiting goals.

General Krulak said it best: The Marines "recognize what Generation X and Generation Next want and haven't been getting. They want standards. Instead of softening up, we tightened up."

When we turn to God and receive his forgiveness for our past sins by trusting Jesus to be our Saviour and Lord, God makes new standards possible for us. The Holy Spirit specializes in helping us avoid and overcome temptations of all kinds. Jesus' goal for us is to be one with him in body and spirit, sold out, dedicated to His Kingdom. Only then, as living temples that honour God, can we discover all He created us to be. Let us pray.

"Love Builds Up the Weak" - Feb.11/01 Pro-Life Sunday - 1 Cor.8:1-13

Sometimes we think we're pretty smart. But God's Word tells us it's not knowledge that matters most; God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1Cor.1:27). No one can boast before God, who is absolute wisdom and knowledge and intelligence. "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (1Cor.8:3). What matters is not how much we know but how well we love -- that is a better indicator of how well we know God. Love means we do not make it hard on others because of what we know, but instead through love we build up the weak, the lost, the hurting -- all those, like us, for whom Christ died.

Pro-life Sunday has much to do with building up and protecting the weak, the defenceless. Traditionally we've understood the term "pro-life" to mean "anti-abortion", but it's much broader than that. All human life is sacred, and we see the importance of that throughout the life cycle in several current events.

January 18, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a lower court's decision sentencing Robert Latimer to a minimum 10-year sentence for the second-degree murder of his daughter. Tracy Latimer had cerebral palsy, was a quadriplegic, suffered epileptic seizures daily, and could not walk or feed herself. Whether she was in constant pain is in doubt considering testimony from her teacher and the diary of her mother. Tracy enjoyed music, bonfires, being with her family and the circus. She could apparently recognize family members and would express joy at seeing them. She also enjoyed being gently rocked by them. Tracy attended school until the month before her murder and evidence indicated her condition was improving. In its unanimous decision the court said, "Killing a person in order to relieve the suffering produced by a medically manageable physical or mental condition is not a proportionate response to the harm represented by the non-life-threatening suffering resulting from that condition." The court added, "The harm inflicted in this case was ending a life; that harm was immeasurably more serious than the pain resulting from Tracy's operation which Mr.Latimer sought to avoid."

Another hot ethical issue is cloning. January 22 Britain's House of Lords voted by an overwhelming majority to legalize limited "therapeutic" cloning of human embryos for stem cell research. This research is hoped to aid in developing treatments for diseases such as leukemia, Parkinson's and cancer. Scientists believe stem cells from an embryo less than a week old and containing a patient's own genetic material could be used to grow new tissues that would match the patient's immune system and not be rejected. However, embryos used in the research are destroyed before they are 14 days old. Does the "end" justify the "means" - destruction of a conceived "life"?

On this side of the Atlantic, Chuck Colson reports that Hollywood actors such as Michael J.Fox, who has Parkinson's, have been campaigning for the American Congress to endorse government-sponsored research involving the use of human embryos. But to get enough stem cells for fetal tissue research, babies, even embryos 8 weeks old in the womb, must be aborted and must die. Although such research could potentially alleviate the suffering of millions, destroying life in order to save life is irrational and wrong. It's not ethical to kill one person to save another. This argument is like saying, "If harming you benefits me, it's wrong to prevent me from harming you."

Here in Canada, last month federal health minister Allan Rock issued warnings to New Brunswick, Manitoba, Quebec and Prince Edward Island stating they must cover the full cost for abortions at private clinics, or risk losing a portion of federal health funding. Yet constitutional jurisdiction over health care rests with the provinces. In a New Brunswick poll, 58% said abortions performed at private clinics such as Morgentaler's should not be funded by the province, while just 31% said they should. Will Johnston is a doctor with Canadian Physicians for Life; he states, "Abortion is not only NOT an essential medical service, but isn't a medical service at all. As an unmedical act and an untherapeutic act, it doesn't deserve any place at all in the roster of paid services." For generations, physicians have solemnly taken the Hippocratic Oath from the 4th century BC which says, "First, do no harm." Medical ethics prohibit the harming of human life.

At the other end of the life spectrum, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are important current topics. You may have heard of Dr.Kevorkian in the states. In the Netherlands, doctors have practised physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia for more than a decade. Two government reports found that on average 26% of euthanasia deaths in Holland were "without the explicit consent of the patient." In 1995, 21% of the patients who were killed without consent WERE competent. Dutch doctors have also extended the practice of euthanasia to include comatose patients, handicapped infants and healthy but depressed adults. (You'd better not be having a "down" day when the appointment for your check-up rolls around!) A 1996 survey of Dutch psychiatrists found 64% of those responding "thought physician-assisted suicide for psychiatric patients could be acceptable."

These practices need to be opposed because they send the message that some lives are not worth living, especially if you happen to be elderly, disabled, or dependent. The practice of physician-assisted suicide also creates a "duty to die" in view of ever-increasing costs for long-term medical care. And there are better medical alternatives: today's pain-management techniques can provide relief for up to 95% of patients. Dr.William Wood, clinical director of a cancer centre in Atlanta, says: "If we treat the depression and we treat their pain, I've never had a patient who wanted to die." Dr.Linda Emanuel, director of the American Medical Association's Institute on Ethics, stated: "I simply have never seen a case nor heard of a colleague's case where [physician-assisted suicide] was necessary.If there is such a request, it is always dropped when quality care is rendered."

Human life is sacred. We came from God, and we live to Him. Paul writes in verse 6 of 1 Corinthians 8, "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." Genesis 1 (26-27) recalls that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Scholars note that being created in the image of God (imago Dei) means more than having certain abilities and attributes. It means that humans are the images of God, regardless of what they can or cannot do. Bearing the image of the Creator is a privilege (and responsibility) extended uniquely to humans; this does not fit any other creation of God.

Psalm 139 (13-16) speaks of God's intimate involvement, fashioning us even before birth, and foreknowing our final days: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." In Luke 1, we understand that what leaped in Elizabeth's womb at the sound of Mary's greeting was NOT a "blob of fetal tissue" but John the Baptist as a preborn baby.

Even when the going gets tough, life is something to be guarded and held onto as a precious gift. You may recall that Job lost all his material goods, his children, then his health. He was afflicted "with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head." Job was so miserable that he took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" But he replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:7-10) Righteous Job acknowledged God's sovereignty, that our lives are in His hands, whether good or ill come our way. Indeed, it's persevering under suffering that brings God glory, and in Jesus' case, wins salvation for others.

Human life is sacred. Yet most often we don't actually kill another person; instead we slice them up with words, or grind them into the dust with judgment and contempt. Knowledge puffs us up so we think we're hot shots, others are "not shots"; but that's not love. Paul tells the quarreling Corinthians that to cause a brother to stumble, or to wound your sister's conscience, is to sin against Christ. Verse 12: "When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." Paul was referring to a disputable matter at that location, but the principle applies universally. At the pagan temples, worshippers would bring an offering to be sacrificed. Often great banquets followed the sacrifice, so other people would be invited. Then the leftover meat might end up being sold off at the market. Thus Christians out shopping were faced with the dilemma of whether to buy this perfectly good meat which had been previously offered at a heathen temple.

Paul's attitude was that food does not bring us nearer to God. The important question was what effect eating the meat had on any believing observer who might themselves have scruples about it. To flaunt one's freedom by going ahead and eating the meat might become a stumbling block to the onlooker; (11) "By your knowledge" one would destroy "this weak brother, for whom Christ died". (Is that what we do in abortion, euthanasia, and other life-damaging actions?) Paul equates sinning against a fellow believer with sinning against Christ. Of course he would. It was Paul Jesus was talking to on the road to Damascus when he said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?" Then identified Himself, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:4,5) It was believers Saul had been throwing in prison, not the Risen Lord; yet Christ was in such solidarity with his followers that it was as if Jesus Himself had been the brunt of Saul's "murderous threats". When we hurt another Christian, Jesus feels the pain. As he said in Matthew 25(40), "...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

LOVE BUILDS UP THE WEAK. THERE ARE LIMITS TO OUR FREEDOM SO WE DON'T CAUSE OUR BROTHER TO STUMBLE. The apostle says in verses 9 and 13, "Be careful...that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak...Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." No, it was not a sin to eat the meat. Yes, Paul had perfect freedom to eat it, knowing there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, and that idols are sham impostors, fronts for evil spirits. But No, Paul would never exercise his freedom in such a way that an onlooking believer might be led to compromise their faith as a result of being influenced by watching him.

So, when it comes to delicate matters of abortion, embryo research, euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide, let's not use our "knowledge", our technology, our "freedom" to injure the weak and defenceless. Human life is sacred, special to God. Love seeks to build up the weak, not destroy them.

Maddie Beck was born missing part of a chromosome, an extremely rare genetic fluke. Her parents, Brad and Lisa, tube-fed her for nearly a year following her birth. At age 8 she weighed 27 pounds and had a mental age of about 18 months, understanding some words. Her father Brad recalls, "Maddie filled our life, often with macaroni and cheese (her favourite), diapers and 'Barney'. Lisa and I barely survived at times. We understood why the divorce rate for couples with high-need kids was 70-80%. We had friends who loved and prayed for us, and Lisa's mom helped with Maddie a few weeks every year, enabling Lisa and me to carve out some time for ourselves."

Maddie developed lung and heart problems, and died just before her ninth birthday. Her last day, though, had been a great one; the entire family went Christmas shopping, and later she played in the empty bathtub with golf balls - a favourite activity. Looking back now, Brad reflects:

"Maddie, with all of her deficiencies, was unmistakably human. Yet if tests had been done prior to her birth, many might have suggested taking her life. She certainly had value in our eyes, but even more so in the eyes of an everlasting and powerful God. Genesis 1:26 states that she was made in the image of God. He gave her value, long before we did. Maddie was not the perfect child, but neither are any of us.

"Lisa and I miss Maddie, as do Chris and Brianne, her brother and sister. In one of his letters, CS Lewis said, 'We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.'

"We know she is in a better place, but we still hurt. She was a part of us, part of our family. How can you miss someone with whom you never had a deep conversation? We discovered words weren't always necessary. Maddie communicated very simply: taking you by the hand to the refrigerator when she was hungry, or climbing into your lap when she was scared or tired. Sometimes I would notice Maddie waving and looking very intently at something in a corner of the room or up the stairs; I wondered if she saw things that we couldn't. Were angels in the room? I'll ask her that in heaven.

"A month or two before Maddie died, Chris asked Lisa if Maddie would be able to talk in heaven. Lisa said that she probably would, and that she would not need diapers. Chris got teary-eyed, and he said, 'But I like her the way she is.'

"So did Jesus, Chris.So did Jesus."

Let us pray.

"Kingdom Contrition" - Lent 1, March 4/01 - Lk.13:1-9; 18:9-14

What's your life "about"? What's your focus, your consuming passion? For some people, it's hockey, or computers, or the latest fashion, or diet. Whenever they have some free time and a chance to talk, you can guess what the subject is going to be. Their conversation shows what's foremost on their heart.

What was Jesus' life "about"? What subject consumed him? More often than not, if you dropped in on one of his discussions, you'd find him talking about the Kingdom of God. The word occurs 121 times in the four gospels, usually on the lips of Jesus. At the very outset of his ministry, Jesus begins by proclaiming, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near." (Mt.4:17) In his final hours, on trial before Pilate he avows, "My kingdom is from another place." (Jn.18:36) It was his favourite subject; his plan for ministry is summed up in the words, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." (Lk.4:43) So we'll be looking at various "Kingdom" topics over the weeks leading up to Easter; today's is "Kingdom Contrition", next week "Kingdom Communication", and so on.

What do the words, "the Kingdom", mean? Is it a physical place, a geographic area, like "the Dominion of Canada" or the "United Kingdom"? God's "kingdom" could be summarized this way - "the Kingdom is wherever God's proxies are prevailing". (repeat) Jesus - and later, by his authorizing, the disciples and other believers - these were God's proxies or agents or ambassadors carrying out God's will in specific situations. Through them, God's power prevailed, changing the situation significantly. Jesus said one time, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you." (Lk.11:20)

Our Lord did not give people dictionary definitions of the Kingdom, but used word pictures and analogies to describe it. These are called parables, and Luke's gospel has quite a section of them not found in the other gospels, from chapters 9-18. Jesus hinted that parables offered additional meaning to those who heard them with faith in God; they contain "secrets" or hidden insights into God's Kingdom. (Lk.8:10) In fact, Matthew at one point adds as an aside that Christ didn't say anything to the crowds without using a parable; he was easy to listen to because he talked in pictures, in verbal "living colour".

To even approach the Kingdom of God requires a dramatic change in a person's life. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth" (emphasizing an important fact), "anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Lk.18:17) And speaking to Nicodemus, a member of the religious elite, Jesus got right to the point by saying, "I tell you the truth" (underlining for emphasis), "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3) It takes some kind of dramatic spiritual upheaval, a personal cataclysm, to enter this realm where actions are totally yielded to God.

A key word in Jesus' vocabulary is REPENT. He begins with it at the outset in Mark 1(15): "The Kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the good news!" When Jesus has left the scene, Peter is quick to pick up the refrain in Acts 2(38): "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Repent, re-think, change your attitude, develop a new outlook. Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines the term for "repent" this way: "to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins." Lent has long been viewed as a season to be penitent, confessing one's wrongs and being willing to make amends.

A similar word in English is "contrite", hence today's title "Kingdom Contrition". The dictionary defines contrite as "broken in spirit by sense of sin, completely penitent". Contrition is an essential key to the Kingdom, admitting one's faults in light of God's pure love and holiness. To be contrite is highly valued by God. In Isaiah 66(2) God declares, "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." The Psalms remind us of this, too; Psalm 57(15 - Call to Worship) says God lives in a high and holy place but ALSO with the contrite and lowly in spirit; God delights "to revive the heart of the contrite". We're also told God will not despise a broken and contrite heart; that's exactly what God wants us to offer Him rather than burnt offerings (Ps.51:17).

Contrition is an un-fake lowliness, a humble and realistic evaluation of ourselves that doesn't overlook or downplay our faults, yet is that much more appreciative of God's grace. Some people get a perverse sort of pleasure from bad things happening to others: perhaps we secretly think they DESERVE it more than we do. Or people are quick to judge others, especially if they serve in some authoritative public position. Either way it's a put-down, we revel in their misfortune. In Luke 13 some bystanders told Jesus Pilate had killed some Galileans right in the Temple, perhaps in connection with some protest or insurrection. (It's all too easy to be quick to pass on news or juicy gossip of something bad that happened to somebody else.) Were the informants looking for what impact this might have on Jesus because he was from Galilee? Were they looking for a denunciation of Pilate, the hated Roman governor? Or perhaps they viewed it as a judgment on the Galileans; in ancient times it was often assumed that calamity only befell those who'd been extremely sinful.

Jesus didn't buy any of those options. Instead he used it as an object lesson to warn those very people. "Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.'"

The Lord went a step further, referring to another accident in which a tower fell on some people and killed them. "Do you thing they 'owed' more than all the others?...I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." As the events of history unfolded, it was only a generation until Jesus' words were strikingly fulfilled: an impenitent, rebellious Jewish nation was destroyed by the Roman sword when Jerusalem was sacked in 70 A.D.

Jesus went on to tell a parable, a word-picture to help them understand some aspect of the Kingdom. It involved a landowner looking for figs on a fig tree but not finding any - even three years after it was supposed to start bearing. You and I may not get excited about fig trees, but think of it as any potential cash crop. Perhaps you plant corn and for 3 years straight it develops mycotoxins. Or white beans, and year after year you lose the crop due to mould. This is majorly exasperating! No yield - how are you going to meet your costs?

In the parable, the vinedresser suggests the owner give him a year to dig around the fig tree and fertilize it - then next year if it doesn't bear, it's toast. The meaning of the parable is obvious: "put up" fruit, or be prepared to get shut down. God's looking for fruit that comes from relationship with Him: if we don't repent, we'll perish.

In Luke 18 we're told Jesus aimed another story at people "who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else". He said: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men— robbers, evildoers, adulterers— or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

What a contrast in these two men! One would be, perhaps, like a clergyman today - somebody you'd expect to be upright and "religious" (in some cases, unfortunately, intolerably so). This Pharisee was so "full of himself" that his prayers revolved around what he thought was his own holiness -- never mind praising God, he was content to praise himself. Jesus said he prayed about himself, literally, "to" or "with" himself. One commentator describes this so-called prayer as "A soliloquy with his own soul, a complacent recital of his own virtues for his own self-satisfaction". Consequently his prayer didn't move heavenward past his lips. Some Pharisees in Jesus' day were noted for their pride and contempt. One Rabbi Simeon thought so much of himself as to say that if there were only thirty religious men in the world like Abraham, he and his son would be two of them; if only two, he and his son would be those; and if only one, that would be himself. How proud can you get!

By contrast, there's this guy on his knees over in the corner, beating his breast, face turned downward in sorrow and regret. "Tax collector" is too polite a term in our society. I've sometimes had a smidgen of ill-will towards property tax assessors when they come round; you know, you mentally tally up the improvements you've made lately and start to fear how much your tax bill is going to be hiked up next time. It's difficult to exactly welcome them. But that's minute compared to how the general population absolutely despised the tax collectors in Jesus' day. They were viewed as traitorous collaborators with the enemy Roman forces, who allowed them to skim off sometimes half as much as they collected in taxes for themselves. Perhaps today we would have somewhat similar feelings toward a Mafia middle-man, or a drug-dealer, or pimp: someone in league with evil forces that's making a fat profit from other people's hardship. Now are you starting to feel what Jesus' hearers felt toward this second character?

He doesn't do much; doesn't say nearly as many fine-sounding words as does the religious clergyman standing nearby spouting off. All the tax collector can squeeze out through sobs is: "God -- have mercy on me -- THE sinner." He doesn't compare himself to anyone, like the proud Pharisee does; he's so aware of his own shortcomings that he doesn't think of or look down on others at all. Like Paul in 1Timothy 1:15 when he said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I AM THE WORST."

But who is it Jesus says goes home put right with God, "justified" or righteous in the eyes of the Almighty Judge? The contrite tax collector, NOT the goody-two-shoes Pharisee. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Humble yourself this Lenten period; practice a contrite attitude. Get on your knees before God, dare to confess those dark secrets, that you may experience His mighty mercy available through the blood of Jesus. There's no excuse for your sin and you know it.

Bruce Wilkinson is President of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries and speaks at many conferences. He recalls the following episode.

"After one meeting where I spoke on personal holiness to men, I was approached by a younger man obviously under conviction. He shared that he was desirous of major changes in his life, but was having great difficulty. Soon he revealed that he was living with a woman and had lived with numerous women during the past 10 years. I asked him why he didn't stop his immoral and ungodly lifestyle, and he said he wished he could but was powerless in the face of his sexual temptations. I looked at him and said, "You know, your sex drive must be really strong!"

Immediately he responded, "Well...I'm glad you understand. My sex drive is so powerful that my temptations are just huge." I nodded in affirmation. "Probably many times larger than the normal man's." He blushed sheepishly at being discovered and nodded in agreement. Finally, it appeared, he had found someone who understood - his sin wasn't really HIS fault - it was those giant temptations that attacked him. I asked him if it would make any difference to him if those giant temptations were brought down to normal size. "Wow!" he exclaimed, "I'd give anything to have normal temptations. Why, I'd finally be able to say no and stop."

Then I turned around and scanned the room that was quickly emptying as the men left for work and continued, "so, if your temptations were just like Chuck's, Bob's, Forest's, and the others, what would you do?" He answered quickly, "What do you mean, what would I do? About what?"

"About living in your immoral and sinful lifestyle. Would you then obey the Lord and depart from your immoral lifestyle? Only, of course, if your sexual temptations were brought way down to the 'normal' size, like everyone else's."

That sounded good to him so he nodded his head with nearly carefree abandonment. It was obvious he knew the answer; no one could fix his problem, so why worry. Then I turned and asked him to read this verse out loud: "No temptation has overtaken you EXCEPT such as is common to man..." (1 Corinthians 10:13) What a shock to discover that his temptations were completely normal and were nothing more than the garden-variety of temptation growing in every man's life. He had believed the lie: "I'm helpless against the type of temptations I face that no one else faces. If my temptations were 'common' I certainly could stop." I started pointing to the men still lingering around the room and said, "He has the exact same temptation as you do -- only he said no and you said yes."

In the next few moments, I watched this young man wrestle against the tragic lie he had believed. That lie had buried him under the heavy load of massive and crippling self-deception. And when that lie was brought directly into the light of the Bible, it fell powerless at his feet. With tears in his eyes, he kept saying, "My temptations are no different. I've been deceived. I'm going to break free today. I'm saying no to my sexual temptations. I'm leaving here...and walking in holiness."

What about you? Are you excusing yourself like the Pharisee, or humbling yourself and acknowledging your true condition like the tax collector and this young man? Bruce Wilkinson lists some of the "lies we tell ourselves" to excuse our sinful behaviour:

"It was just too strong, I couldn't help myself. I'm different; no one faces my temptations! It's in my family line - the 'genes' made me do it! I've always done it - it's too late to stop now. The devil made me do it. It's not my fault; I was tempted beyond my ability. I prayed about the temptation, but couldn't stop. It's God's fault; He knew I was too weak. Lay off - no one's perfect."

Don't listen to these lies! Hear instead the Holy Spirit's gentle whisper and tug, convicting you that you've blown it - you didn't want the "way out" God offers to escape each temptation. It's a promise: God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are personally able to handle. So be humble and contrite, repent, confess you've blown it. That's when the Lord will bring you home "justified" and make a fresh start possible.

Let's close today by reading together, for practice, the prayer by Ruth Harms Calkin at the bottom of page 2 in the bulletin. It's titled, "Penitent":

O God

You have driven me into a corner

Where I cannot escape.

I come to You penitently

For today I've sinned grievously.

I have betrayed my highest ideals.

I have been false to my inner convictions.

I know I have broken Your heart.

Thank You for dealing with me

In the privacy of Your personal Presence

For my sin has been against You alone.

Cleanse me, Lord.

Change me.

Sin is so hideous, so outrageous!

Renew me until I am spiritually contagious.

Amen!

"KINGDOM COMMUNICATION: the Most Revolutionary Thing You can Do" - Lk.11:5-13; 18:1-8 – March 11, 2001

What is the most revolutionary thing a Christian can do? What do you think would be the very most radical, startling, earth-shaking action a follower of Jesus could carry out? Islamic revolutionaries in Hamas are prepared to carry out suicide bombings. Wiccans might kill live animals as sacrifices while pronouncing mysterious curses. But what is the most radical act for a Christian?

Pray. That's right - simply pray, talk to God one-on-one. Why is this so revolutionary? Prayer runs totally counter to other prevailing "isms" or ideologies or worldviews. It's radical. Individualism and humanism say, "I can get along on my own, without anybody's help; I'm a power sufficient unto myself." Materialism and capitalism say, "Money, pleasure, amassing goods are what really count; the spiritual world is make-believe." Socialism and communism say, "Religion is the opiate of the people; power grows out of the barrel of a gun; real strength comes from workers uniting." Yet a single solitary person praying is silent testimony that each of these views is false, a lie; true power and meaning come from tapping into the strength and purpose of our Almighty heavenly Father.

What makes prayer so revolutionary? It's amazing, inconceivable (on a natural level) that a small finite creature - like me - can have direct access, priority connection to the Lord of the Universe, Infinite Almighty God. But that's what Scripture teaches. Though we are dust, miniscule by comparison with God's great plans in the cosmos, we can both be heard by Him AND be given personalized resources, strength, and guidance for our own needs. In fact, our prayers can play a vital role in participating in God's ongoing saving work in our community and our world; somehow in divine grace we are swept up together in helping to bring about God's purposes when we make time to pause OUR agenda and focus on His.

So prayer - Kingdom Communication - is the most revolutionary thing you can do. It's also a very fundamental aspect of Christian identity, it's a very key component of who we are as Christ's followers. We see this in the writings about the early church that have the phrase "call on the name of the Lord". On the day of Pentecost, Peter quotes the Old Testament prophet Joel who promised, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." In Acts 9, Ananias reminds the Lord that Saul had come to arrest "all who call on your name" (14). Having mustered courage to go meet the repentant enemy, Ananias exhorts Paul to "be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." (Ac 22:16) When the converted Paul begins preaching in Damascus, astonished people ask, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?" (Ac 9:21) A few years later, Paul addresses his first letter to the church at Corinth "with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ".(1Cor.1:2) So the expectation of Christians is that they are those who "call on" God; to be associated with the church, it's a "given" that you pray.

Our Lord Jesus didn't leave detailed instructions with the disciples on exactly what to preach, but he DID leave instructions on how to pray. It was the disciples' curiosity about Jesus' own prayer life that led them to ask him for guidance on how to pray; thus we have, transmitted through the centuries, "the Lord's Prayer". Jesus hinted broadly to his followers that God's tremendous power is available through prayer. For example, at the critical moment of his arrest, just when his disciples are ready to resist by human means Jesus' enemies and start hacking away with their swords, the Master tells them, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Mt.26:53) Think of it. You're about to be arrested and accused falsely and possibly put to death. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have a few squad cars come roaring around the corner? Twelve legions of angels is a lot - that's 72,000 angels! There is awesome power available and all Jesus has to do is pray. So why doesn't he? Because it would go against the Father's whole plan of salvation, the very reason Jesus came among us. He knew this from Scripture and also prayerful seeking of God's guidance and timing. He said, "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" Through prayer he'd made the Father's will His own, even when he could easily have escaped certain death.

Another occasion in Jesus' ministry provided him with an opportunity to point out to the disciples that prayer is the key to real power. The disciples had been unable on their own to help a boy with a deaf-mute spirit, and asked Jesus after he healed him why HE could and THEY couldn't. He answered, "This kind can come out only by prayer." (Mk.9:29) We are awed by Jesus' continual outflow of healing power throughout his ministry; but let's not forget that at times he would get up very early in the morning, go off to a solitary place, and pray.(Mk.1:35) If the early church was known for "calling on the name of the Lord", they picked it up by noticing from Jesus what power he obtained from a habit of prayer.

In a couple of parables from Luke, Jesus recommends prayer to us strongly. He gives us PERMISSION TO BE PESKILY PERSISTENT. In effect, the Lord is saying, "Go ahead - bug me! Call me anytime, day or night - the call's on me!" Our first Scripture lesson told of the friend in need of food for a traveller who's dropped in late at night. He bangs on the door of his buddy, whose initial response is that he and the whole household are tucked away in bed. In those times, parents and kids often slept all in the same room on a raised ledge around the outer wall. Sometimes the household animals slept in the centre, on the floor. So if one person gets up - EVERYBODY'S UP! Yet despite all the inconvenience, all the hassle of rousing half the neighbourhood, because of the buddy's need and shameless persistence in seeking help, our beleaguered householder gets up and gives him what he needs. Even more so, Jesus implies, will our loving heavenly Father answer our prayers, however spontaneous or part of an emergency. Go ahead - be "a pain"!

Another parable giving us "permission to be peskily persistent" is found in Luke 18:1-8. "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Picture for a moment this unjust judge. He's described twice as someone who neither fears God nor cares about people - he even says so himself! Kind of like an award he's got hanging on the wall over in the corner - "Red ribbon award for meanest man around to Judge Grump, voted person least likely to help someone in need - even if it's his own mother!" Of course he doesn't have the time of day for a poor widow with no family to back her up, no money to make the case against her adversary at least a little "interesting". But that doesn't stop the old gal: she's intent on banging on his door day after day if need be until it's worn clear through! So she finally gets through to Judge Grump, he can't stand her calling out another minute. She gets a response just to avoid the hassle! So, Jesus concludes, our righteous God is much more keen to grant his "chosen ones" justice when they "cry out to him day and night". He was trying to show us we "should always pray and not give up."(18:1)

In Luke 11:9-13, five times in as many verses Jesus urges, "Ask!" Go ahead - ask! If our children ask us for food, we don't give them snakes and scorpions. How much more will our Father in heaven give "good gifts" - in particular, the Holy Spirit - to those who ask Him.

Gerald Sittser writes about the need for persistence in an article titled, "Unanswered Prayer, the Thorn in Your Side". He comments: "However distant God seems to be, Jesus urges us to pray with boldness and persistence. He commands us to pray like the woman who approaches an unjust judge to settle her case, refusing to take no for an answer, or like a desperate friend who nags a neighbour for a loaf of bread to feed a hungry guest. Somehow persistence itself builds faith in God, increases longing for God, focuses attention on God, and purifies motives before God. It affects US more than it affects God. God does not have to be persuaded to answer our prayers; we have to be disciplined to keep asking. We can see the importance of persistence by observing how children function with their parents. Most of their requests fade as suddenly as they appear, except in those few cases when they want something really important to them. Then they cannot take no for an answer, no matter how long it takes to get their way.

"...Jesus reassures us that God wants to answer our prayers more than we want to ask... God is our Father. He delights in giving gifts. He is not abusive, turning our requests into occasions to torture us. He overflows with bounty and generosity. If anything, God is so gracious that He wants to give us the best gift of all. That gift is not some cheap toy that wears out after a week of hard play. God gives us the very best; He gives us what we really need, thought not always what we think we need. He sends us the Holy Spirit, which is the answer to all our prayers, even the prayers we do not think to utter. The Holy Spirit is God's greatest gift because it enables us to live life well, though our outward circumstances would tempt us to think otherwise. The Holy Spirit transforms us from within."

Did you catch an important truth about prayer Sittser said back there a little ways? "It affects US more than it affects God." THE SIDE EFFECT IS REALLY THE MAIN OBJECT. In our "beginner" prayers we may be mostly concerned with a particular need; the fellowship of talking with God may seem to be a by-product. But as we mature in Christ, we come to see that the "side effect" of relationship becomes the "main object" compared to the particular answer to prayer. Although Jesus urges us to "go ahead and ASK", although he says we need never be afraid of bugging God too much - there's much more to Kingdom Communication than just praying to get what we want. Often what we think we want isn't what's best - either for us or for someone else in the situation. Coming to know God more intimately through ingrained habitual prayer prepares us to accept His wisdom in every circumstance. It's been said, "God doesn't have favourites, but He DOES have 'intimates'."

Some of us have college students living away from home. It's wonderful to pick up the phone and hear your daughter's voice from thousands of kilometres away. But it would be disappointing if all they did was proceed to ask you for something then hang up. Sharon Jehlen writes: "We can exercise the privilege of prayer by repeating the same words daily and by simply asking God to supply our needs, but that's a bit like the college student who writes home only to ask his parents for money. The letter is nice, and it lets the parents he's at least well enough to hold a pen, but it doesn't let them into his life. In the same way, God does honour those prayers, but He yearns for much more than that. When we open our hearts to God and lay bare our souls to Him, our relationship with Him deepens."

What is the real purpose of prayer - the true goal of Kingdom Communication? Here are some conclusions of other Christians. Clarence Bauman states, "The purpose of prayer is not to inform God of our needs, but to invite Him to rule our lives." Oswald Chambers: "If God sees that my spiritual life will be furthered by giving the things for which I ask, then He will give them, but that is not the end of prayer. The end of prayer is that I come to know God Himself." Or think of it as Charles Brent puts it: "Prayer is not so much the means whereby God's will is bent to man's desires. The real end of prayer is not so much to get this or that single desire granted, as to put human life into full and joyful conformity with the will of God."

Kingdom Communication fundamentally is not about a transaction of goods, like picking up the phone to order a pizza. It's about sharing yourself with the Eternal One, and God sharing with you in turn. It's not a business deal full of bargaining, but a romance full of appreciating. Peter Taylor Forsyth says, "We pray because we are made for prayer, and God DRAWS US OUT by BREATHING HIMSELF IN." Richard Foster describes what he calls a "trysting prayer" (t-r-y-s-t): "We usually think of a tryst as a prearranged meeting of lovers. How appropriate! The trysting prayer is our special date with God. We can be free and at ease because we are entering into the heart's true home. Our Eternal Lover lures us back regularly into His presence with anticipation and delight. It is not hard to honour this regular time of meeting, for the language of lovers is the language of waste. We are glad to waste time with God, for we are pleased with the company." Wow! Takes prayer to a whole new level, doesn't it?

Prayer is the most revolutionary thing a Christian can do. Demonstrating that a solitary believer can enjoy one-on-one sharing and effect with the Infinite God of the Universe blows away other ideologies' pretensions of what's "really real". Since the days of the first Christians, we have been known as those who "call on the name of the Lord" and are saved. Jesus displayed the tremendous power available through prayer. He permits us to be peskily persistent. So we discover that prayer is not so much about "getting answers" as it is about "being a listener", "wasting time" to enjoy God's presence, wisdom, and attention.

So spare yourself and bystanders some grief - don't blow yourself up with a bomb like some fanatics in other religions. Instead take the plunge into prayer, discovering the joy of fellowship with One who gave His life for you. His Spirit working in and through us will bring the best revolution imaginable. Amen!

"Kingdom Attitude: Beware the Servant Switcheroo" - March 25, 2001 Lk.14:7-14;17:1-10

A switcheroo took place a week ago Saturday: a servant and boss changed places, but with negative consequences. Edmonton MP Rahim Jaffer's executive assistant, Matthew Johnston, had double-booked his boss. So instead of cancelling an interview on a call-in radio program, Johnston impersonated Jaffer. But when the station discovered what happened, Johnston apologized and resigned his position, and MP Jaffer was suspended from responsibilities in his party's caucus. The switcheroo backfired: listeners didn't want the servant to be impersonating the boss.

An essential aspect of the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed is the proper attitude. Repeatedly our Lord emphasized that his followers need to have an attitude of a humble servant. The incident of Jaffer and Johnston highlights that the privilege of believers is to be merely servants who follow Jesus, not seeking honour or acclamation that belong to our Master.

First of all, Jesus calls us to demonstrate Servanthood in sin-avoidance and forgiveness. In Luke 17:2-4, the Lord states it would be better for a person to be cast into the sea with a millstone around their neck than to cause "one of these little ones" to sin. Woe to us if we become a cause to sin for someone else, if they get tempted by our action! Sometimes one person's lie will draw another person who trusts them into a web of deception with negative outcomes. Seeing another believer hanging around the X-rated section of a video store might lead another weak Christian to experiment with mind-poisoning materials. Or if we pass someone and vanish into the horizon as if we're burning up the highway, it will probably tempt them to exceed the speed limit too - perhaps dangerously.

Jesus adds that if our brother sins against us 7 times in one day and each time comes back to us saying he repents, we're to forgive him. Forgiveness is another aspect of servanthood. One definition of "submission" is "marshalling my resources for another person's benefit". To forgive, then, involves submission and servanthood: we agree to absorb the debt, the pain, we accept paying the price ourselves, knowing we can take it to the cross and ask for Jesus' healing; this releases the person who's wronged us from their obligation. It also frees us from ongoing clingy bitterness and resentment that eat away at our soul. So then, a servant attitude results in not leading others to sin, and extending grace to forgive them, as God has forgiven us.

Second, Jesus invites us to take on a servant attitude IN DOING WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO. In Luke 17:7-10 he supplies an imaginary role reversal, kind of like an executive assistant impersonating an MP for a radio interview. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?" Who serves whom? Who calls the shots? It's the boss, not the servant. The servant doesn't expect a "thank you" just because he or she carries out the boss's orders. Christ concludes, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’" NRSV puts it, "We are worthless slaves; we have only done what we ought to have done."

Modern man is very self-sufficient; we can do amazing things with technology. But it only takes a lightning strike, or infection, or patch of black ice, or excess of E coli in the water, to remind us we're mere mortals, highly vulnerable to attack by other forces. Some people even come to church thinking they're in control, as if God "owes them one" just for showing up. They treat God as a vending machine: you put in an hour, you get out a week's worth of blessing. But the apostles and early church knew what they were doing when they called Jesus "Lord" instead of Caesar. Moses, David, and John Calvin all acknowledge God's supreme sovereignty. He's boss, not us; trouble began in the garden when the serpent tempted our forebears to doubt God's word, to suppose "we know better than God". The faithful servant does what they ought to do, without expectation of reward, regardless of whether someone's watching or not. It is enough just to be carrying out the Master's will.

In John 12:26 Jesus underlined the need for a servant mind-set by saying, "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." Not "the strongest one" or "the smartest one" or "the richest one" or "the most beautiful one", but God's honour goes to "the one who serves me."

Third, Jesus draws our attention to THE BLESSING AND HONOUR OF A HUMBLE ATTITUDE. Listen to Luke 14:7-14:

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Picking the best seat ends in humiliation when someone more important comes along, and you have to find another spot: because all the intermediate places have been filled, you wind up at the bottom rung. Johnston and Jaffer both wound up humiliated, disgraced, and shamed by the aide's presumption of taking the place the MP was supposed to have at the microphone. Repeatedly in this passage, our Lord Jesus emphasizes that blessing and honour result from a humble attitude: v.10 when we take the lowest place, we will be honoured; v.11 when we humble ourself, we'll be exalted; v.13 when we invite to share at our table those who can't repay us, we will be blessed. In this life at least spiritually, plus at the resurrection.

John and Liane Niles must have a humble, servant attitude to do what they do. You may be familiar with Rev.Dr.Niles from his articles on the Basis of Union in Fellowship Magazine. For 6 years now he's been writing these; not knowing him, I guess I suspected he might be kind of "nerdy" for being so committed to expounding what some would perceive to be dry dusty doctrine. But the most recent issue shows another side to this dedicated servant. A few months ago, John and Liane were given the first ever Award of Recognition for Exemplary Community Service by the Empire Club of Canada, for their care of babies that are hungry, thirsty, and sometimes abused. Over the past 10 years they have taken in over 500 babies at their primary Emergency Night Duty Home for the Toronto Children's Aid Society. At any hour of the night, there can be a knock on the Niles family's door signalling the arrival of a baby from a raid on a crack house, from a junkie mother or a victim of physical abuse. John, Liane and their 5 children take these babies into their home and stabilize them for however long it takes. Some stay only a day or two, others weeks or months. What a great witness to God's unfailing love and compassion as our Heavenly Father! This is no nerd, but one focused on meeting another's need, as Jesus would. Reminds me of Paul's urging Titus (2:3) to set an example such that "those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

Finally, A SERVANT ATTITUDE MAKES US 'JUST LIKE JESUS'. Our Lord referred to Himself not in a high-faluting way but as "Son of man". He drilled it into his followers that they were NOT to behave like the "big shots" in the world who use their position to exploit others. Instead, He said, "...the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." (Lk.22:26b-27)

Jesus viewed himself more as a servant than as a Master. In fact, the early church seems to have written a hymn or poem about it which we find in Philippians 2. Paul is writing to the church about the attitude they should have - outlook, perspective, just what we're talking about: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant ... he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name..." (Philippians 2:5-9) Just like Jesus said, those who humble themselves will be exalted. Get in there and get your hands dirty, doing what God's itching to see come about. So doing, you'll find yourself imitating our Lord, who adopted the attitude of a servant himself.

Ralph Garbe tells the story of entertainer Jimmy Durante, who when asked if he would take part in a show for veterans of World War II, told the organizers that he had a very busy schedule. He finally conceded to come as long as all he'd do would be just one short monologue.

Well, when he got up there on stage, something must have changed his mind. His short monologue grew from 15 to 20 then 30 minutes long. Only then did he take his last bow and leave. When asked why he had interrupted his busy schedule to stay the extra time, he referred to two particular veterans in the front row. Each had lost an arm in the war, and as Durante performed, they shared in the applause by putting their two individual hands together. That's what motivate the comedian to keep going.

And that's how it is with us as Christians. Serving can get hard at times. It's inconvenient. We're busy and have other things we'd rather be doing. But as we serve, we catch a glimpse in the stands of our "audience of One" applauding us; One who laid down his life in the war against evil to save us for eternal life. His condition isn't lack of an arm, but nail-prints in his hands and feet and a lethal cut in his side. Our Chief Servant applauds our continuing service for the Kingdom, and knowing He's appreciating us keeps us going. He served us first, and best of all.

How do we avoid the perils of a servant switcheroo, so we can have a true Kingdom attitude? By servanthood in sin-avoidance and forgiveness; doing our duty, without expecting special treatment for just doing what we ought; by discovering the blessing of humility, and by becoming "just like Jesus" in his own servant attitude.

This all leaves us with a choice: who are we going to please? Our self - others who reinforce us - or God our Maker? Paul, who in his letters introduces himself repeatedly as a "slave" of Jesus Christ, encountered much opposition because he refused to cater to what made others feel comfortable. To the Galatians (1:10) he described the choice servanthood involves this way: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." May the Lord Jesus, who came among us as one that serves, guide us into having Kingdom attitudes as faithful servant ambassadors - not shoddy impersonators! Let us pray.

"Kingdom Values -- Don't Be Fooled!" - Apr.1/01 (April Fool's Day) - Lk.12:13-21; 16:1-13

To many people, what's valuable is how much you have; but to Jesus, what's valuable is how much you've given away.

Continuing our series on aspects of the Kingdom Jesus preached as recorded by Luke, we come "Kingdom values". And since it's April Fool's Day, we can put it this way: how can we keep from being "fooled" by the values of this passing world?

In many ways, this is an opportune time to consider how fleeting is this world's wealth. Costs seem to be ever rising, especially energy costs such as natural gas; per energy unit, its purchase price has more than doubled in the past 15 months. In the year 2000, only 6 out of 38 of the world's major trading indices posted gains. The NASDAQ dropped 33% just in the last quarter. The MSCI World index was down 9.5% over the year. I heard recently that Nortel stock was worth about a fifth of what it used to be. Mutual funds that had performed well previously were disappointing, if not negative, at year end.

But don't be discouraged. There are other ways to use your money. Actually, for the Christian, it's all God's money anyway. We're just stewards, managers: He makes possible concrete returns in other ways than stock or fund price increases. JL Kraft of Kraft cheese fame declared, "The only investments I ever made which have paid constantly increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord." He'd know: for many years Kraft gave 25% of his income to Christian causes.

John Bunyan was the Independent preacher who authored the great classic, Pilgrim's Progress. However he also wrote a much shorter work that goes like this:

There was a man, Some called him mad;

The more he gave, The more he had.

That's what Jesus is getting at in these two parables: It's what you give away that makes you "rich", not what you accumulate.

Bring on the first fool. In Luke 12:13-21 Jesus hints that life is richer for sharing, not just having. He warns against greed by the teaser statement in verse 15, "A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." What then?? What is life about if not getting more and more as our consumer society celebrates? We'll get to the answer in verse 21.

The rich man in the story experiences increased abundance innocently enough: he has a bumper crop year. His barns are overflowing. But his folly shows through in his approach to this pleasant problem. He's short-sighted, totally focussed on himself. He can't see beyond the end of his nose! The pronouns "I" or "my" occur 11 times in just 3 verses. He decides to wreck the existing bins and build bigger ones, wrongly assuming that GOODS guarantee SECURITY. No, God reserves the right to recall our soul at any time; the fool thought he'd have it easy for "many years" (19), but instead he'll die "this very night" (20).

One commentator summarizes three aspects of the man's foolishness this way. He hoarded the surplus instead of using it for the good of people (18). He forgot that life is uncertain, and made no provision for its close (19). And he supposed he could feed that which demands heavenly food (the soul) on husks - eating, drinking, merriment. Strike 3 - you're out! One of the original April Fools!

The guy's problem was that he was so self-focussed, he couldn't perceive anyone else's need so didn't share the abundance God had entrusted to him. Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Giving is true having: as the old gravestone said of the dead man, 'What I spent I had, what I saved I lost, what I gave I have." Think about it. Giving IS true having -- in the long run.

In the Nazi death camps, one of the things that distinguished the survivors from those who perished was an attitude of determined giving. Even though a prisoner might be on the verge of starvation, as long as they had a crust of bread or a scrap of a potato that they could share with their comrade in suffering, they were psychologically and spiritually capable of surviving. A survivor of the Treblinka concentration camp put it this way: "In our group we shared everything, and the moment one of the group ate something without sharing it, we knew it was the beginning of the end for him." So giving made the difference between life and death -- for the giv-er, let alone the recipient.

Jim Taylor points to the potlatch celebrated by British Columbia coastal natives as a striking alternative to our consumer society's "gimme gimme" attitude. Chiefs and tribes organized a potlatch for important occasions - the birth of a child, a young person's coming of age, a move to a new village site. A potlatch was an ostentatious display of wealth. Several hundred visitors might arrive and stay for several weeks, so the host needed a superabundance of food. To gather all that was needed for hospitality and gift distribution might take months, even years. And then all that wealth was given away!

The potlatch is a challenge to our economic model handed down from Adam Smith in that it's not based on what one can acquire, but on what one can give away; not on greed, but on generosity. The potlatch society could be highly competitive, but instead of competing to accumulate, the winners were those who managed to give the most away.

Think about how a family's "economy" works. Taylor notes, "Any family that spends its time calculating who owes what to the other family members is in deep trouble...A happy family is one in which those who HAVE give unstintingly to those who do not have, without counting the cost; and they give according to need, not according to a formula for fairness. The sick child gets more love and attention that a well one." Because of a sense of oneness and relationship, you share what you have, often without even thinking about it.

Jesus told another story that teaches you're smart to barter what you can't KEEP for what you can never LOSE. Let's hear it afresh from Luke 16:1-13...

Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ "The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ "So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ "‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. "The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’ "Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ "‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. "He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Remember that parables were illustrations used to highlight one main point. It's not an allegory where there's a one-to-one correspondence between what happens in the story and what we're called to do. Our Lord was NOT suggesting we conduct affairs dishonestly like the unjust steward!

Here the main character is not a fool, but "shrewd", (as the dictionary defines it) astute, "marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen". This is a real wise guy, a crafty cagey type who pulls a fast one on his boss. The rich man is the one "fooled" because the manager not only wastes the owner's possessions (the basis of the original charge) but short-changes the boss by writing down debts owed by several hundreds of dollars. His objective: to use passing wealth not his own in order to make friends beholden to him who'll welcome him when he loses his job. That's the main point Jesus wants us to get out of this little tale: (v.9) "Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." Or, in a parallel saying in verse 11, Jesus declares that we must be trustworthy in handling worldly wealth if we want to be entrusted in God's kingdom with TRUE riches.

It comes with power from Jesus' lips because he did what he urged others to do. As Paul put it in Galatians 2:20, Christ "loved me and GAVE HIMSELF for me." Because he loves us, he expended himself for us on the cross to wipe away our sins, and keeps on giving to us by the Holy Spirit. Only yielding ourselves to Him as Lord and Saviour can work the miracle in our hearts that transforms us from self-focussed "fools" into stewards who know the real worth of things and shrewdly make preparation for the life to come.

We've got some catching up to do. In its most recent issue, ChristianWeek newspaper reports a study on the decline in giving amongst mainline and evangelical denominations over the past 30 years. In 1968, churchgoers gave about 3.1% of after-tax income to churches; in 1998, only 2.5%, a decrease of about one-fifth over the 3 decades. The total figure in 1998 was $17 billion given: sounds like a lot, but that's $4 billion less than if the donors' percentage giving had remained constant. A part of a percent is a lot of money when multiplied by millions of churchgoers! And 2.5% is nowhere near the Biblical standard of the tithe (10%0 - let alone cheesemakers Kraft's 25%. It seems we're not concerned about making friends who might welcome us into the eternal dwellings. In the contest of allegiance between God and money, the latter seems to be gaining. Which is foremost in YOUR value system - God or money? How do you show it? Are you learning the knack of being "rich toward God", what's most valuable in life?

Preacher WA Criswell tells this story of a man who perhaps appeared a fool to others but really wasn't.

John Rascus put $300 in the collection plate when it passed, and said softly, "I'll see you in heaven." Those around him said, "Old John is getting senile. He says he's going to see that $300 in heaven. He may meet his Maker over there, but he certainly won't meet his money."

Now, the church treasurer used some of that $300 to pay the electric bill. He gave some of it to the preacher to buy gasoline. Some went to ministerial students, and some to the mission field.

Early one morning John Rascus died in his sleep. On that first Lord's Day in glory, he walked down the golden streets and a young fellow came up and said, "Thank you, brother John. I was cold and lonely and it was a dark night. I saw the lights of the church. Just to get out of the dark, I went in. While there, the darkness left my soul and I found Jesus."

Another came to him saying, "The preacher came to the gas station. As I filled his tank, he told me about Jesus and I gave my heart to the Lord." Next John met a throng of people who said, "I want to thank you for those students you helped. They preached the gospel to my family, and we found the Lord."

He next met those of strange tongues who said, "Thank you, brother, for sending us the gospel across the seas." Finally old John came to Hallelujah Square and, turning to an angel, he said, "I feel sorry for you angels. You have never known what it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus, my Lord." He mused a moment then added, "And you don't know what it is to transform the possessions of earth into the treasures of heaven."

"Sir," the angel replied, "all we do is just watch it from the streets of glory." / Let us pray.

"Kingdom Cost: Counting the Price of Discipleship" - Palm/Passion Sunday, April 8/01 - Lk.9:51-62; 14:25-35

There's a saying, "Everything has its price"; or, another expression you might hear is, "You get what you pay for". In order to get something, we're used to giving something in turn to pay its cost. In our everyday life, we're very conscious of the price of things, from fuel to food and on to fertilizer. Yet there are intangibles that also have their price. We honour those who gave their lives in the World Wars as paying "the price of freedom". Unionists will go to great lengths to defend the right to have collective bargaining; women campaigned hard early last century to win the right to vote. These non-material intangibles are seen as having great worth, enough to pay a considerable price for.

Jesus Christ campaigned for something else - something that cost Him His life. We've been looking at it during Lent through several parables Jesus told: the Kingdom of God. On Palm/Passion Sunday, we not only celebrate Jesus as the King or Messiah who ushers in God's reign, we also recall the price Jesus paid to win it for us - his death on the cross a few days after the triumphal entry, when the cheers had turned to curses on Good Friday. There is a related price Jesus calls his followers to pay in order to follow Him as leader in the Kingdom: the cost of discipleship. Our texts from Luke 9 and 14 highlight six costs we must be prepared to accept if we are to live a life obedient to the Kingdom's purposes, six things we must be ready to "give up" if we would come after the Crucified One: 1.common consensus of society; 2.condemnation; 3.comfort and conveniences; 4.community roles and respectability; 5.kin, our immediate family ties; and 6."kicks" - those personal desires and goals that are most dear to our soul.

1.COMMON CONSENSUS OF SOCIETY: We read in Luke 9 that Jesus "resolutely set out for" Jerusalem, literally "set his face" toward...he was eager to reach the culmination of his life's work redeeming humankind by going to the cross. But the Samaritan village he was going through did not welcome him "because he was heading for Jerusalem" (53). Samaritans were rivals of Jews and this prejudice must have gotten pretty nasty in some villages; they didn't even want someone heading to the despised rival religious centre to so much as stay overnight in their town.

When we become a Christian, we will find ourselves starting to encounter opposition from secular thought, the common consensus of society. We are "born over again from above", we've been given a new mind or outlook, the beginnings of "the mind of Christ". Things that used to be so important to us AREN'T any more; with the Holy Spirit's help we begin to see people and their needs through the eyes of Jesus, our heart beats with our Heavenly Father's compassion and longing for them to experience the blessing that comes through knowing Him. We used to lash out in jealousy and self-protectiveness, guarding our own "turf" or competing to be top dog in the pack, but now Christ's love poured into our hearts helps us begin to see beyond our own boundaries into the hurts and hang-ups others suffer from that Christ could heal if they turned to Him. So we begin to change - and people don't like change. Change means they're not in control of us or the situation as they used to be; they can't figure us out, we're "going against the flow". So one part of the price of discipleship is facing opposition to our direction, we're challenging the common consensus of society.

2.CONDEMNATION: In reaction to the Samaritan village's distinct lack of hospitality, James and John want to "call fire down from heaven to destroy them" (54). But Jesus turns and rebukes them. That's not His "way".

When we receive Christ as Saviour, we are forgiven by God. All our sins are sunk in the depths of the sea, God remembers them no more; "as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Ps.103:12). With this marvelous gift of forgiveness, made possible by Christ's atoning sacrifice taking our place at the cross, comes freedom from fear of condemnation. Jesus promised, "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24) In turn, as we have been forgiven, we need to forgive others, refusing to call down judgment on them like brimstone. This is anchored in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." (Mt.6:12) This doesn't mean we don't have a responsibility to rebuke and reprove in various positions of authority: as church leaders, parents, in government, or as a brother or sister in Christ. Paul told the Galatians who were spiritual to restore gently someone caught in a sin (Gal.6:1). But the goal is restoration, not condemnation. Let go of those old simmering resentments and grudges, that canker of bitterness, those times when you've been tempted to say, "Lord, let 'em have it!" It's the Holy Spirit's role to convict people of sin (Jn.16:8); God is the only Just Judge who will finally mete out whatever consequences are due. "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord (Rom.12:19). Jesus rebuked James and John for their judgmental response and instead showed grace in walking on to another village. He likewise urges us to give up condemnation.

3.COMFORT AND CONVENIENCES: This is a difficult one in our affluent society, where we see people around who "have it all" materially, from taken-for-granted basics such as water, septic, and hydro on up through to jacuzzis, cottages, Playstations, boats, and on and on. But Jesus deterred one potential volunteer by informing him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." "You'd better be prepared to rough it, fella -- there are nights we bunk out under the open sky, with no fancy Roman spas to be found!"

God wants to bless His children, those who believe in Christ (Gal.3:14); but God's definition of "blessing" may or may not be accompanied by material comforts. Having lived in Africa for a time, I'm acutely aware how sincere, dedicated Christians over there may exist their whole life in what we would view as poverty conditions. You can't say, "That's Africa, this is here": it's become very easy to transfer wealth and concrete help through Christian aid agencies. It's one planet, under the eyes of one God who sees all, and with TV and internet we can see them too - if we choose to. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (1 John 3:17) Christian discipleship calls for a keen sense of stewardship, that my possessions are not my own, but entirely at God's disposal. So we may choose to get by with a less ostentatious house or fewer "toys" just for the joy of being part of God's mission in relieving suffering elsewhere - sponsoring a child, sending a ton of wheat through Canadian Foodgrains Bank, helping a neighbour get on their feet, etc.

4.COMMUNITY ROLES AND RESPECTABILITY: People have long scratched their heads over Jesus' reply to the man who said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Christ answered, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (Lk.9:59f) Commentators surmise that the man's father wasn't actually dead or even near death, for then the man wouldn't be spending his time hanging around Jesus but would already be preoccupied with the funeral arrangements. What's really meant might be, "Give me some months (or years) to look after things around home - my family business, his spot on the local synagogue board - until the old man kicks off and things can get squared away, replacements found for those important positions." Jesus must have suspected these activities would suck up the man's free time and render him ineffective for the Kingdom.

Some people get a sense of significance from money or material possessions; others take pride in status, they're important in the community, they seem to be on every board or committee from soccer to Session. Inwardly we may be trying to "do the old man proud" by carrying on the roles and sense of civic responsibility our parents imbued in us. There's nothing wrong with being involved in those ways; Jesus wants us to be salt and light in our community. He's just warning us to watch our motives: are we doing it for our own benefit, or for the Kingdom? Would we be able to hand over the reins graciously for a while if a family or mentoring need came up requiring our time in a capacity that was largely invisible to the community? Do we get our jollies from being in the position of power, rather than serving in secret? Could you stand being invisible on the social scene?

There is pressure from other people to do our part in "keeping the institutions running", however vital or near death that community organism may be. Why, humanly speaking, was Jesus crucified? Because he challenged the religious and political "status quo". He called the religious leaders to stop compromising God's vision for worship and the Temple as a house of prayer for all nations. Jesus emphasized that real religion was about relationship, not maintaining a particular building or carrying on just the way previous generations had. He had a vision of spirituality as portable, referring to his body as a "temple" (Jn.2:19). It was his radical action of clearing the temple that made enemies for him who immediately began looking for a way to kill him (Mk.11:18).

Besides religious institutions, Jesus was seen as a threat to political agencies. On trial before the Roman governor, He dared to admit he was a king, with a kingdom from another place (Jn.18:36f). What finally "did Him in" was the crowd's threat to Pilate that the governor would not be seen as a friend to Caesar if he released someone who claimed to be a king and thus was a challenge to Caesar's authority (Jn.19:12). Jesus loved people, but was ready to rattle cages all the way up to the top, in the religious and the political worlds of His day, if God's Kingdom agenda required it. He risked deadly rejection by at times questioning the existing community roles and those who occupied seats of "respectability".

5.KIN: Another would-be follower said to the Lord, "First let me go back and say good-bye to my family." (Lk.9:61) Jesus responded by implying that would be like looking back when you're ploughing: you'd end up with a very crooked furrow that would be an embarrassment and not appropriate for the quality of work God undertakes. Kin can interfere with the Kingdom. For example, it's not unusual for the parents of those who feel called to become a missionary in a risky environment to try to dissuade their offspring from such a venture. Delivering newsletters to their districts probably required some of the elders to forego time in the evening they might otherwise have spent with their children. Many times when a person puts their faith in Christ, an unbelieving family will oppose them, ridicule them, try to get them to conform, or poke fun at them for trying to be "holier than thou" or self-righteous. Family is important, but not paramount. Jesus wants us to have proper priorities in life: God first; then spouse and family; then work. Jesus elected to remain a batchelor all his life so he'd be freer for ministry purposes. His own family didn't understand Him, and thought at one point he'd gone crazy (Mk.3:21) - though after the Resurrection we find Jesus' natural brother James became the principal leader (Acts 15:13; 21:17). Nevertheless, during much of his earthly ministry Christ found himself alienated from his own kin, and asks us to be prepared to yield our own family ties at times if needed for the Kingdom.

6.KICKS: In our second Scripture lesson, Jesus warns those who'd follow him they must be prepared to give up even their own life, their chiefest pleasures, dreams, and ambitions, if they would truly follow Him. He follows this warning with a couple of illustrations of the need to "count the cost". (as found in bulletin) "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 14:25-35)

Notice verses 26-27. We cannot be Jesus' disciple unless we "hate" our family members (not literally, but by comparison with our devotion to Jesus); and Christ commands that we also "hate" even our own life, our "soul". What's this mean? Well, what do you do "for kicks"? What brings you greatest joy, pleasure, satisfaction in this world? What are your dreams, your hidden aspirations, what do you hold most valuable? If you had one of those bumper stickers that said, "I'd rather be fishing" or "I'd rather be sailing", what would be YOUR 'druther? Whatever it is, true discipleship means we willing to relinquish it, set it on the altar and "let it go" if need be so God's will can have room to take effect in our lives. "Anyone who does not carry his cross" - that's no ornament, y'know! - "Anyone who does not carry his cross - give up everything he has - and come after me cannot be my disciple." Wow! Now there's a tall order!

What are you putting on the altar for Jesus and the Kingdom? In what area are you holding back: common consensus, condemnation, comforts, community, kin, or kicks? Abraham offered up his own dear son Isaac, the boy who was supposed to be the link to God's promise of a posterity for the old man. Abraham did receive him back, but he had to be prepared NOT to (Gen.22:1-18). Solomon passed up riches and honour if only he might have a discerning heart in ruling the people entrusted to him (1Kings 3:9). God just threw riches and honour in as a bonus because Solomon had God's priorities on his heart. The apostle Paul had much to boast about - good education, ecclesiastical achievement, the right breeding, upbringing, and behaviour - but counted it all "rubbish" for the sake of knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:8). He urges us along with the church at Rome: "...to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship." Not leaving it at just our bodies, he goes on, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is..." (Romans 12:1-2) The apostle calls us to throw our whole being on the altar, body and mind, a living sacrifice; not CONformed to the pattern of the world, but TRANSformed by knowing God's will. It's in taking up your cross, giving up EVERYTHING, that Jesus can start to show you how much of the Kingdom he wants to bring into reality through your obedient discipleship.

Giving your life can mean the difference between life or death for others. Some prisoners of war worked on the Burma Railway in World War II. At the end of each day the tools were collected from the work party. Once, a Japanese guard shouted that a shovel was missing and demanded to know which man had taken it. He began to rant and rave, working himself up into a fury; he ordered whoever was guilty to step forward. No one moved. "All die! All die!" he shrieked, cocking and aiming his rifle at the prisoners. At that moment one man stepped forward and the guard clubbed him to death while he stood silently at attention. When they returned to the camp, the tools were counted again and no shovel was missing. That one man had offered himself as a substitute to save the others.

Have you died to self that much, that you'd be ready to do that? That's like what Jesus did, as our substitute going to the cross he didn't deserve to take the punishment that was due us sinners. In Christ, our self-giving for His Kingdom can likewise be used by God to bring saving grace to others' lives. The cost is worth it! Whatever else we might "rather have".

(Hymn: "I'd Rather have Jesus")

"The One Person Jesus Wouldn't Save" - Good Friday Apr.13/01 - Is.53:4-12; Lk.23:26-49

Riddles can be fun, but they can also be challenging to figure out. The cross stands before us on Good Friday as the most astounding riddle of all time, God's riddle which confounds all human wisdom. For the cross poses the question of a God who dies, Christ crucified, the Messiah murdered. Why? How can this be?

This is unthinkable, unimaginable - how can the One through whom the universe came into being, the Wisdom who was at the Father's side when the stars and planets were born - how can this only-begotten Son of God wind up dying on a crude instrument of human torture, designed for the worst criminals? It doesn't make sense.

Somehow this unthinkable act draws to itself all the other evils that happen to us in life that "ought not" to be: cancer tumours, suicides and fatal accidents of loved ones, child molestations, war crimes and mass graves of ethnic cleansing. Deeper we look and discover that like a magnet all the mystery of sin is mysteriously drawn toward this Scorned Preacher nailed to a tree: our own inward complaints about injustices done to us, and our struggle with the Dark Forces inside ourselves - the darkness of our own heart, our predisposition to gossip, to think the worst of others, to never be satisfied with what we have but covet afresh with every flyer, our secret wishes to take revenge on others and "get back" at them for ways they've treated us. This inner struggle with sin is also part of this "Why?", this riddle; we want to cry out for deliverance and freedom but find it impossible to rescue ourselves from evil inclinations, no matter how hard we try.

Thankfully, God has provided us with the answer to the riddle; a riddle that spans from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis through to the Tree of Life in the book of Revelation. There are clues scattered through the pages of Scripture. The ram provided in Isaac's stead when Abraham is asked to sacrifice what is most precious to him. The Passover lamb which safeguards the Hebrew slaves in Egypt from the Destroying Angel. The scapegoat sent off into the wilderness symbolically bearing the Israelites' sins. The many sacrifices Solomon offered to dedicate the temple before it was filled with the cloud of the Lord's glory - "so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted" (1 Kings 8:5).

The clues become outright answer in the visions and songs of the Old Testament prophets. As we read in Isaiah, God's servant is suffering on the cross for a purpose: this death may be a mystery, but it is not meaningless. Jesus is being "pierced for OUR transgressions", "punished to bring US peace", "made a guilt offering" for us, "by HIS wounds WE are healed" (Is.53:3,5,9,6). A marvelous substitution is going on: Jesus has taken our place on the cross, bearing the shame and pain we deserved at God's judgement seat. This is the solving of the riddle: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..." (1 Cor.15:3) And in the grace that flows from this sacrifice by God for our benefit, we discover grace to live with the "ought-not-to-be's" in our own life. Grace that enables us to forgive those who've wronged us, to love our enemies, to believe God's great and mysterious plan is wonderful enough to bring hope even to our shattered dreams and shameful failures.

The riddle Luke seems to be getting at in his description of the events that Friday is, "Who is the one person Jesus wouldn't save?" (repeat) Who would be the persons Christ might have most reason not to forgive? What about Peter, who vowed to be loyal to him to death and then turned and denied him? Is it Judas, who betrayed him for money? The chief priests and leaders of the Jews, who accused him falsely and staged a mock trial? Is it Pilate, the vacillating Roman governor who declared Jesus innocent but wouldn't stand up to the mob? What about the soldiers who humiliated Jesus in their pre-crucifixion routine of "having some fun with" the victim? Is it those who jeered Jesus as he hung there, calling him names and taunting him? The criminal on one side who insulted him during his final moments? Jesus had every right to be angry and vengeful with all of them. But it is none of these that he wouldn't save.

Who is it for us that we find most difficult to forgive? Which person is it hardest to pray for Christ's mercy and forgiveness to be extended to after they've wronged us? Someone we counted on who let us down, like Peter? The person we thought would be loyal to us but turned on us and hurt us cruelly, like Judas? Do we find it hard to pray for those in authority over us - our own government leaders, with their imperfections? What about our religious leaders, local and national? Do we sincerely long for God's saving love and guidance for all? Do we have a neighbour on one side who just doesn't seem to want to get along? Passersby who mock our yard's cleanliness by strewing litter thoughtlessly? Has someone insulted us, or made us out to be a failure? Jesus died for all these; in Luke 19:10 he stated his mission, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

We are to be praying for all those who treat us poorly. Jesus leads the way here as he prays from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (23:34) So who is the one person Jesus wouldn't save? Three times Luke points to the answer to the riddle in his account of what others were saying while Jesus bled. Listen closely. "The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked him.They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." ...One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (Luke 23:35-39)

Could Jesus have saved himself? Most certainly. At the time of his arrest he told the disciples to put away their swords, saying, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54) It was a deliberate choice on Jesus' part NOT to save himself. That's the one person he wouldn't save. Why? He was consciously bent on fulfilling the Scripture, carrying out God's plan so sinners could be saved. It was either US - or HIM. And he chose to save us, rather than himself. It wasn't nails that held him to the cross, but his love for you and me.

Could Jesus save the worst possible sinner that ever lived? The apostle Paul wrote: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom I am the worst.But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16) No sin is too big for the cross to handle. No shameful deed you've ever committed is so great as to withhold God's redeeming love from you - if you will only turn to Him. It's never too late as long as you're alive, but don't wait: our lives are mere vapours.

Even the thief on the cross at Jesus' side - a condemned criminal - found mercy and eternal life by repenting and calling on Jesus in his last moments. Max Lucado writes about him this way in his book, "Six Hours One Friday". (Chapter 13, The Eleventh Hour Gift)

"From Losers to Winners in the Game of Eternity" - Easter Sunday April 15/01 - Lk.24:1-12; 1 Cor.15:17-26

Ah, spring. The days are getting longer and warmer. The grass is greening up. Broomball and hockey are fading fast; before too long the soccer fields and ball parks will be back in full swing. The sounds of sports will once again echo around our playing fields.

Sports is a major part of modern life. Sports coverage in news reports may exceed that of actual world events. Communities pay out big bucks to improve sports complexes, and the amount of time parents pour into taking youngsters to practices and games puts pressure on other traditional commitments such as church or volunteer work. Our largest modern gathering places, seating thousands of people, are no longer cathedrals but stadiums. Why is sports so engaging? Perhaps it has to do with the competitive aspect of survival, the challenges with which life faces us. In the winning and losing, watching the teams pour their sweat into the contest for the cup out on the ice or on the turf, we spectators get involved in the cheering, identifying with one of the sides, and work out vicariously our own experiences of winning and losing in everyday life.

There is another type of sport, a big invisible game that's going on around us all the time. This game does not involve just physical athletes, but average individuals, you and me; along with spiritual players invisible to our human eyes. This sport is the age-old contest between good and evil. We do not believe in dualism as if God and Satan were equal opponents - clearly in the Bible Satan is just one of the fallen host of heaven - yet in our human experience we find it a definite struggle to live for God, rather than give in to temptation. The account of Christ's resurrection (and Paul's analysis of it) give us hope that with God's help we can be changed FROM LOSERS TO WINNERS IN THE GAME OF ETERNITY.

We start out with a group of seeming losers - the women gathered in shock and dismay at the empty tomb. They had "struck out" on 3 counts -- the "Messiah" in whom they had placed their hopes had just been murdered; they hadn't been able to properly prepare the body for burial because it happened too close to the Sabbath; and now, to top it all off, the body was gone from the tomb. What a bunch of "losers"! Can you imagine? How do you "lose" a dead body?! So as Luke describes them standing there wondering about all this, we can imagine looks of despair on their faces; scuffling their toes in the dirt like a bunch of little leaguers who've just lost their seventh game in a row.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians brings this closer to home. We start to recognize ourselves amongst the "losers" too. He writes, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:17-19) This describes our condition as fallen people apart from grace, compared to God's pure holiness: existence is futile - we can't seem to break free of sin - we are "lost" with regard to heaven and God's plan for our lives - without Easter, we're to be pitied more than anyone else, trusting in a fairy tale. We are consigned to an existence that is hopeless, loveless, dog-eat-dog, vengeful, and without apparent eternal significance. What a bunch of losers!

But wait - Christ's resurrection changes all that. There are at least five factors brought into play that can transform us from losers to winners: the coach's game plan; a sacrifice play; the big break; a star player combined with teamwork; and continual practice.

First, THE COACH'S GAME PLAN. The heavenly messengers told the women, "Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Where does this "must" come from? Jesus was referring to the predictions of the prophets from centuries before: that God's Messiah would suffer and die in order to bring salvation for the sins of people. This was the script he followed, the divine Coach's game plan. The events of Easter only make sense in the light of God's revealed word through the prophets and apostles. It was the special play God sketched out on the blackboard of the eternal locker room ever since Adam and Eve rebelled and decided to do their own thing.

Second, there was a SACRIFICE PLAY. Sometimes in baseball, with a runner on third, the coach may signal a player to make a sacrifice and bunt or otherwise get put out at first in order to allow the runner on third to score a run. Jesus made the sacrifice which allows us to get "home" to heaven. Paul wrote at the beginning of chapter 15, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..." (15:3) Conversely he says in verse 17 that if Christ hasn't been raised, we're still in our sins. It's his death on our behalf that frees us, his sacrifice allows us a new opportunity: forgiveness of sin and eternal life with God through the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

Third comes the BIG BREAK. Perhaps you'll be watching a football game, and things are looking bleak for one team when suddenly a pass is intercepted and they unexpectedly score a touchdown. That gives them the break they need to build momentum and overcome. Or in baseball, in the World Series years back, Joe Carter stepped up to the plate for the blue Jays and hit a home run that made all the difference. As Christians understand it, the "big turnaround" for humankind came when Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning. A supernatural miracle! As the messengers told the women, "He is not here; he has risen!" (Lk.24:6) Or as Paul puts it, "BUT Christ HAS INDEED been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1Cor.15:20)

This is the central historical fact in our religion, the whole teaching about Jesus stands or falls based on this central event. What other religious leader has ever stepped forth from his own grave? Henry Morris wrote, "The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth." It is presented in the accounts as a verifiable event, something that could be checked out. The stone was rolled away and the burial cloths left there for our benefit, through the eyewitness accounts of the first disciples. They recognized it was the "big break" with world-changing importance.

Fourth, changing from losers to winners requires both A STAR PLAYER AND TEAM EFFORT. Wayne Gretzky was "The Great One" in hockey, but much of his value consisted in feeding the puck to other players so they could score the goal; he just got an assist. The team didn't rely on him exclusively to put it in the net. It's possible the Leafs might be helped by acquiring Eric Lindross, but how much would they have to give up in order to get one player? The best hockey is played by a team that not only has star players, but has practised together and performs plays expertly due to teamwork.

The exciting promise of Christianity is that what happened to Jesus is what God has in store for all who trust in Christ; we will get to enjoy a resurrected body, too! Paul declares (15:22), "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him" (literally, those who "are Christ's"). Jesus is alive - yet the hands and feet he has to use on planet earth are yours and mine. It is his pleasure now to channel the Holy Spirit's power through everyday common believers; he's passing the puck to us, we're "forwards" on Jesus' team! We see the team approach being put into effect when the women run to tell others, and Peter in turn ran to the tomb to check it out. The first witnesses in a long string that extends down to us today, when we share with others the difference Christ has made in our own lives.

Fifth, championship-quality performance requires that competitors in sports practise continually if they want to win in the real match. You've got to get out there and "Play ball!" in practise regularly and consistently if you want to be able to win against your opponent in the occasional game. This involves daily "grunt work" off camera, never giving up or slacking off. Paul prophesies that the end will come and the kingdom be handed over to God the Father only after Jesus "has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1Cor.15:24-26) Just because Jesus rose at Easter does not mean the battle with evil is a "done deal" - there is still much opposition around. The Accuser has been dealt a decisive defeat at the cross; the Lord said, "Now is the time for judgement on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out." Yet Jesus would enlist us in the "mopping up" operation. Many foes and temptations are still around. Our obedience will make a real difference in the advance of the Kingdom of love and light.

But to be ready to handle the Lord's power out there in the contest, we need to get in shape spiritually. Get into the Word daily: memorize Scripture, be vigilant in prayer, share your faith in word and action with those around. Make church attendance a habit, not just something for special holidays. Find a small group for fellowship and applied Bible study. Weed out from your home any "loser" influences: if you went to Tiger Woods' house, would you expect to see football memorabilia all over the place? No, of course, golf's the game for him! Teach the "sport" of Christian living to your kids, much as you might help them practise their batting if they were on a ball team, or their kicking in soccer. You will be helping yourself and those you love definitely change from "losers" to "winners" in the game that matters most - the game of eternity.

William Willimon charges us, "If you can sing today, 'Alleluia! Christ is risen,' then you are saying that Jesus Christ really is Lord and all other would-be lordlets of this world are not. When we sing, 'The strife is o'er, the battle won,' it means that we must join in the mopping up actions wherever evil still dares to challenge the reign of a good and loving God. If you believe, 'Jesus Christ is risen!' then get ready to witness to that the next time someone by their hate, or cruelty, or lust witnesses that they believe death is in charge...In the raising of Jesus, a great battle has been fought and won.And the kingdoms of this world shall be the kingdoms of our Christ and he shall rule for ever and ever."

Today's news - the wonder of Easter - is so special, so breath-taking, yet perhaps it seems like "old news" because we've heard it often. But the resurrection really is remarkable if you stop and think about it. The French mathematician August Comte was talking about religion one day with the Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle. Comte suggested starting a new religion to replace Christianity, based on positive thinking and mathematical principles. Carlyle thought about it a moment and replied, "Very good, Mr.Comte, very good. All you will need to do will be to speak as never a man spoke, and live as never a man lived, and be crucified, and rise again the third day, and get the world to believe that you are still alive. Then your religion will have a chance to get on."

Let's thank God for the wonderful miracle of the Resurrection - a miracle that can change us from losers to winners with Christ. Let us pray.

"A New and Living Way" - April 29/01 3rd of Easter - Hebrews 10:11-25

a. The Problem: sins not taken away, 10:11.

b. The Promise: God's plan for changed hearts, 10:16f,23.

c. The Perfect(ing) Priest: Christ's sacrifice makes believers holy/complete, 10:12,21.

d. The Privilege of Approach: 10:20,22; 4:16, Eph.2:18.

e. The Prod to Practise: 10:24f.

Routine and ritual can be helpful. They can bring order, predictability, and sanity to what might otherwise be chaotic and stressful lives. But our fallen world draws us into bad habits which end up being destructive in the long run - habits which God's Word describes as "sin". The good news is that we are not locked into these sinful patterns, cut off forever from a pure and holy God. Jesus' sacrifice at Easter makes real change possible: as our priest, he has opened up "a new and living way" by which believers can be made holy, find access to God, and spiritual help to live lives which are characterized by love and good deeds.

We can summarize the message of this section of the letter written to the Hebrews under five headings: The Problem; The Promise; The Perfect(ing) Priest; The Privilege of Approach; and, The Prod to Practise. (Think of this as a "PR" sermon - Public Relations for Jesus!) First, THE PROBLEM. You don't have to be a Christian to realize we live in a fallen world; evil is out there, bad things happen for no apparent reason, people do mean things to each other. Generations come and go, but the woeful history of humanity's "inhumanity" continues.

In the Jewish religion described in the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered regularly in the tabernacle or temple by priests, who presented the offerings on behalf of worshippers. In a symbolic way the life of the animal taken on the altar represented the debt owed by the worshipper to an absolutely holy God. Blood was sprinkled on the atonement cover and the altar, and other burnt offerings made, to symbolize cleansing of the sinner (Leviticus 4; 16). The word "atonement" can be thought of as "at-one-ment" - being reconciled, brought back into fellowship with God; sin was "covered". Yet the sacrifices continued day after day, year after year, because people were not changed on the inside, but only ritually. This system spoke to a person's conviction of guilt but didn't provide much help to not repeat the sin. Heb.10:11 notes, "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."

An email I received purporting to originate with a piece by comedian George Carlin hints at this same feeling of being trapped with a problem; the world isn't getting "gooder and gooder". Carlin is reported to have said:

"The paradox of our time is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom..."

Quite a list, isn't it? Did you find yourself somewhere in there? I know I've "been there". The problem is, even our most showy religiosity winds up futile when done on our own steam; we realize that inside, we're stuck in sin. We need help from beyond ourselves.

Thankfully, at this point God comes into the picture, with THE PROMISE. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the writer of the epistle reaches back into the Old Testament to the Book of Jeremiah and recalls the "new plan" or "new deal" God promised to bring about to help us miserable sinners. Verses 16 & 17 quote from Jeremiah chapter 31: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds...Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." "I will...I will...I will...I will...": those are promise terms. God's long-term plan - stated from over 600 years before Jesus would be born - was to not just have his divine guidance inscribed in clay tablets or animal skins and found in the Ark of the Covenant or sacred scrolls, but to renovate people by putting His Holy Spirit within us so we would KNOW God's will in our hearts and minds. In order to do that, He would first have to provide a sacrifice that would take away our sins with finality, once-and-for-all. The original sacrificial system revealed to Moses just wasn't cutting through the hardness of the human heart. A very special and unique kind of sacrifice was needed: one that would correspond to our human condition.

"He who promised is faithful" (10:23): so God the Son came on the scene; Jesus of Nazareth was born by the Holy Spirit according to prophecy, fulfilled the conditions of the long-awaited Messiah, lived a sinless life, and died in our place on a rough Roman cross. He is our PERFECTING PRIEST: not just perfect and free from sin Himself, His obedient sacrifice was exactly what was needed to make us holy when we put our trust in Him. Verse 21 says we have a "great priest over the house of God"; verse 12, "when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God." Verse 14 adds that "by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy". Isn't that exciting? In Jesus we are made (in God's eyes) perfect, complete, finished, God's goal has been accomplished. When God looks at us, he no longer sees all our yucky sins but the pure spotless righteousness of His own Son. "We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (10:10) When Jesus on the cross moments before he died said, "It is finished," (Jn.19:30) he wasn't referring to the execution but to the substitution: satisfying divine justice, he swapped his sinlessness for our depravity. He cleaned the slates - yours, mine, ours. By this perfect priest's offering and intercession, we who believe are reconciled to Awesome God!

With the barrier of sin taken away, that leaves us now free to enjoy THE PRIVILEGE OF APPROACH. Prayer, guidance, the Holy Spirit's presence and power - it's all ours now for the asking. Verses 19-22 declare that we now "have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us," so we can "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith". Wonderful! Think of the confidence and freedom with which a dear 4-year-old can climb into a parent's lap! Earlier in this letter the author wrote, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (4:16) Paul put it very simply in Ephesians 2(18), "Through Him we...have access to the Father by one Spirit." Wouldn't those protesters have loved to gain access to the summit in Quebec City? You won't find any tear gas keeping us away from the command centre of the universe -- God welcomes us because we're "suited" in His Son. We're no longer locked up in sin, alienated from the Most Holy One: we enjoy the privilege of approach to know God intimately and get the help we need. A "new and living way" has truly opened, the "New Covenant" (or testament) Jeremiah foretold is now historical, documented in the second part of our Bible, our "Magna Carta" of faith.

There the camera lens might zoom out on a heart-warming and homey scene of the believer happily ensconced in the Father's eternal embrace at the throne room of heaven, EXCEPT God has planned more wonders and growth to await us. Church is not a comfortable pew, but an emergency ward for sinners, a lighthouse sending out rescue teams to the shipwrecked. So our passage concludes with THE PROD TO PRACTISE. Verses 24-25 urge, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..." The word "spur" means literally to provoke, stimulate, as with something sharp and pointy. (Maybe you feel like the most "provoked" congregation in the Presbytery over the past year, but it's right here in my contract!) Does a horse like the spurs? No, but it gets them moving. Cattle have fairly tough hides; sometimes in the barnyard growing up when we were spreading straw and really had to get one of those 1500-pound beasts to move, a little tap with a pitchfork did the job. When dealing with really ornery ones, we even had a little battery-powered electronic prod that sent a small jolt to jump-start them. Scripture here is giving believers permission to "prod" one another on, to stimulate each other to put feet to our faith in a variety of ways: love, first of all, the right attitude and affection toward each other; good deeds, not the destructive patterns we once were caught in; to keep on meeting together for fellowship, support, joint worship, and accountability; and to generally encourage one another - how much that is needed, when so much goes wrong around us and our natural tendency is to expect Murphy's Laws to apply.

Jesus is our great priest, our perfect substitute, whose offering alone could put us right with God and bring us peace and access to the Holy of Holies. He is also our model, our example, whose life and presence by the Holy Spirit inspires us daily to practise what we preach. In turn, we become examples by our lives to those who are watching us, hopefully prompting them in turn to do what's pleasing to God. We're always on display, whether we realize it or not. Jay Kesler describes an otherwise insignificant act that profoundly affected the life of a teenage girl who came forward to the altar and was having a difficult time at a Youth for Christ camp in Ohio. Kesler recalls,

"We sat down in the front row of the chapel, and through many tears her heartbreaking story began to unfold. She'd been molested by her own father about 3 times a week since she was 4 years old. She'd never told anyone about this and carried a great sense of guilt, as though she were to blame for her father's actions. As she told me the story, I noticed that both of her wrists were scarred. I said, 'Tell me about your wrists.' 'Well, I tried to kill myself.' 'Why didn't you do it?' I asked... She said, 'Well, I got to thinking...we have a youth pastor at our church...He'd just gotten married before he came to our church, and I've been watching him. When he's standing in line in church behind his wife, he squeezes her right in church. They look at each other, and they hug each other right in our church. One day I was standing in the pastor's study, looking out the window, and the youth pastor walked his wife out into the parking lot. Now there was only one car in the parking lot; nobody was around; nobody was looking. And that guy walked all the way around the car and opened the door and let her in. Then he walked all the way around and got in himself. And there was nobody even looking.'

[Kesler notes] That was a nice story, but I couldn't make a connection between that and her problem of incest or attempted suicide. So I asked why this seemed so significant to her. She said, 'Well, I just got to thinking that all men must not be like my dad, huh?' I said, 'You're right.All men are not like your father.' 'Jay, do you suppose our youth pastor's a Christian?' 'Yes,' I said, 'I think he probably is.' 'Well, that's why I came tonight.I want to be a Christian, too.'

[Jay Kesler concludes] Why did she want to be a Christian? Because she saw a man being affectionate and respectful to his wife -- even when he thought nobody was looking. That's the power of a consistent life."

Praise God for the new and living way Jesus has opened for us! We're not locked into sin, but can be washed and draw near to God with confidence, no matter what our past involves. Trusting his promise releases in us the Spirit's power to live a life of love and simple good deeds, a life that has its own impact on others. Let us pray.

"Why I am Leaving as Pastor of this Church" © 2001 Ernest Dow. Reproduction or transmission prohibited unless authorized.

As of August 1, it will be two years since I began pastoral duties here at Blyth United Church. Last spring you may be aware that my wife and I put in some flower beds and made some additions to the yard and the manse which would tend to indicate we planned to stay for some time. Just last August though, General Council made some decisions regarding sexuality I have critiqued on the Pastoral Charge and at Presbytery. I indicated that these decisions would make it increasingly difficult for me to continue in my present capacity in good conscience. In October Huron-Perth Presbytery, meeting at Goderich, defeated a motion on my part to request that those decisions be submitted for approval of lower church courts by means of a "remit". Earlier this month, the publishing of the Record of Proceedings of last August's meeting of General Council signals that its decisions are now actual policy. If a homosexual couple came and asked me to provide a service of blessing, I would have to either do that or refer them to someone who would, both of which actions make me an accomplice to something which is against my conscience, my religious beliefs. It also places me on precarious legal ground, if as a result of my refusal such a couple initiated action by the Human Rights Commission concerning discrimination. Also a few weeks ago, churches in our presbytery received a letter from the Chairperson, in response to guidance from the national Pastoral Relations group, that in effect tells us any previous motions a congregation may have on the books opposing call or settlement of homosexual ministers are no longer valid. This calls into question my accountability to a hierarchy that according to our United Church policy is supposed to apply Scriptural doctrine as standards for discipline. This sequence of events leads me to today submit to Presbytery a request for change in pastoral relations effective July 31, 2001. In other words, I would no longer be pastor of Blyth United Church after that time.

In light of my ongoing responsibilities for pastoral care to all members of the congregation, it would be inappropriate for me over the remaining three months to use the pulpit or other privileges of this office to be repeatedly negative or critical of The United Church of Canada. However on this occasion of my request for change in pastoral relations, I would ask you to bear with a few words by way of explanation.

This is NOT just about "the homosexual issue". I would not single out homosexual behaviour as any worse than other sins mentioned alongside it in Scripture, such as greed, drunkenness, adultery, slander, or idolatry. The matter is far deeper. At issue is the understanding of sin itself: do we have the authority to define sin, or does God? If sin as described in Scripture is no longer sin, we do not need a Saviour; Jesus did not need to die in order for the consequences of my behaviour to be forgiven. Neither is the power to change and overcome sinful behaviour, the power of the Holy Spirit offered in the gospel, required or even available. In short, a church that redefines sin according to the wishes of culture has lost the gospel, the Good News of transformed life Jesus would offer it. In the "protestant" or Reformed tradition, Scripture rather than popes or church councils has been understood to offer the only infallible rule of faith and life.

One image that may be used to illustrate is that of a suspense movie in which villains have hijacked a train. The enemy has thrown a "switch" diverting the train from the main line down a spur. Not far along the spur, a bridge is out. Not only that, the villains have disabled the brakes of the train. Thus the unsuspecting passengers are hurtling along at full speed towards certain destruction.

By analogy: the train tracks of the "main line" are Scriptural teaching. A locomotive does not think of train tracks as needlessly constraining or restrictive; the tracks are there to support and guide the locomotive to its destination -- for the Christian, God's Kingdom in our lives, the accomplishment of God's good will for us. The apostles' attitude as summed up in 2 Timothy 3:16 was, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." To introduce non-scriptural definitions of sin is to throw a switch diverting us from the tracks in the main line which would conduct us to God's goal. Those who persist in sin and scorn God's judgment risk being lost in eternal suffering and destruction - the "bridge out".

At the same time, the brakes are gone. When the United Church came into being in 1925, our forebears enshrined in the constitution a provision which required changes in doctrine, worship, membership, or government to be submitted for approval by Presbyteries or Pastoral Charges before becoming "permanent law" -- the so-called "remit" process. This provision would allow the wider church to "put the brakes on" changes proposed at General Council which the grassroots (presumably also guided by the Holy Spirit) did not agree with. However recent rulings at the General Council level have narrowed matters requiring remit to only actual changes to the Basis of Union. General Council has declined to issue a remit on the sexuality decisions, though this area has been a major concern for many over the last 13 years. Neither did our own Presbytery allow a request for these new policies to be approved or rejected by the grassroots. Thus the "brakes" the wider church might apply to stop the train heading off in this direction have been disabled, through not offering a remit.

What would you advise passengers on such a runaway train bound for destruction to do?

To use a different image: on the cover of your bulletin this Sunday you will see a Bible, communion cup and bread, and flowers. As a vocation I have trained for and been ordained to what our church calls the Ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care. The Bible represents Ministry of the Word. Any power for good I have in preaching and teaching comes from the Holy Spirit taking the words of Scripture and convicting or encouraging a believer's heart. The Bible is the book of God's Promises to us, the "covenant" or "new deal" offered by Jesus Christ to make sinners' lives whole and transform them in God's eyes into saints, those "sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ" as the words on the bulletin cover put it. If we start selectively editing the Bible, snipping out passages that conflict with our current tastes, what basis am I left with as a pastor to counsel or correct? What happens to "obedience"? We could no longer sing, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

The role of Scripture in helping us understand the Word of God is so important in the Reformed tradition. Would we replace the Bible found in the place of honour on our communion table with General Council's Record of Proceedings? Is Scripture just a symbol, an ornament, or is it to be believed and acted upon as Jesus did?

Besides Ministry of the Word, there is Ministry of Sacrament, represented on the cover by the communion cup and wafers of bread. The sacraments of communion and baptism picture a profound oneness of believers with one another, united in Jesus Christ. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 urges churchgoers to examine and judge themselves before they partake, lest they be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Biblical truth is our standard for such self-examination. Paul also reminds the church of the need to recognize the body of the Lord; in context, this may be related to his criticism of the Corinthians for not waiting for each other but going ahead on their own, leaving some hungry while others became full.

General Council seems to have been "going ahead" without waiting for the rest of the body. If its policies were guided by the Holy Spirit, and lower church courts are also guided by God's Spirit, there would be no reason not to submit decisions for approval by remit. Instead General Council seems to be barging ahead with an agenda which is not perceived to be of God by other members of the body. By neglecting to offer a remit, a church which has always prided itself on "justice" is not abiding by its own social contract, and thus breaks trust.

In terms of the wider "body" of Christ as in other denominations, the United Church also is alienating itself. Our Protestant sister churches have considered sexuality issues but not arrived at the same conclusions as our leadership. Are we prepared to keep in step with the Spirit and fellow Christians in other churches, thus discerning the body, or are we bent on forging ahead and doing our own thing?

Perhaps the flowers in the picture could represent Ministry of Pastoral Care. I visit, counsel, and pray with people as an under-shepherd of Jesus to the end of building them up in Christ; as Paul puts it in Colossians 1:28-29, "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." It is confidence in God's written word that through the Holy Spirit puts any power in my presentation while doing pastoral care. And thousands of individuals struggling with deviant sexual tendencies have found help to reform their lives thanks to Christian counsellors and therapists who take a Scriptural approach. To redefine God's standards is also to say we have nothing to offer, no help to give for those who acknowledge their misery and want change.

Well, I hope those images help you understand where I'm coming from in this decision. It has indeed been a privilege to serve you as a congregation these past years, and I look forward to continuing to do so until the end of July if the Lord wills. This decision is not a result of anything personal against any of you here in Blyth. I urge each of you in these matters to pray, search Scripture, and follow the Lord's leading in your conscience. Whatever your convictions, be gracious and respectful toward those who may disagree with you. Just make sure the track you're on is headed for God's Kingdom, with Jesus as your governor!

In closing: I got to wondering what page the Bible on the bulletin cover was open to. If you look closely, you can see it's at Proverbs chapters 2-4. A few verses from the bottom right corner of the left page, Provewrbs 3:5-8, sum the whole matter up well: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

"Jesus Meets Our Needs and Stretches Us" - Camping Sunday, May 6/01 - John 21:1-19

On Camping Sunday, we thank God for the ministry of Christian camps. The intent is that children from all types of backgrounds are brought to a setting which just oozes the beauty of God's craftsmanship in nature. In addition, there is round-the-clock contact with caring Christian counsellors and godly dedicated staff who are eager to help campers discover the next step the Lord has for them regarding a personal journey with Him.

Camping is an experience which can bring us "to the end of ourselves": weaned away from our usual creature comforts and distractions, we are brought to an encounter with our own human limits, and need for God's help. Christian counsellor and author Gary Smalley recommends camping as a family activity to build closeness. Out in the woods and the wild, often we experience a crisis of some sort: violent thunderstorms, leaky canoes, coons noisily raiding the campsite at midnight... The crisis bonds a family together, and forges a memory which will be treasured throughout the years -- even if it didn't seem funny at the time!

There's a similar dynamic in our gospel lesson. In John 21, Jesus structured an outdoor experience to draw the disciples back to Himself, to stretch them and equip them for greater service and enthusiasm in the future as a result of the experience.

(Pop quiz: Who's the world's greatest camper? Why, Jesus! John 1:14 says "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us," literally, "pitched his tent" among us. So Jesus is right at home with us when we're camping!)

I see two main messages in the John 21 passage. First, Jesus meets our needs in a way that no other human devices can even come close to matching.

It all begins some time after the resurrection when Peter had an urge to go fishing. Half a dozen other disciples tagged along. They spent all night fishing, but caught nothing. This is underlined when at daybreak a stranger on the beach calls out, almost rubbing it in, "Friends, haven’t you any fish?" They're completely empty, not even a nibble. Yet when they take a tip from this stranger and cast their net in a certain spot, they catch so many fish they're unable to get the net back on board! They have to tow it back to shore in the water; verse 11 notes the net was full of "large" fish, 153 to be exact. (Mike Pilavachi surmised the reason some of the disciples remain nameless is because one was the bean-counter who stopped to actually count the number of fish after the miracle, and this person would be embarrassed ever after to have gotten preoccupied with that. But isn't that so human? God works a tremendous miracle - there's such an abundance of fish the net's almost breaking - and a voice calls out from the back of the room, "Say, just how many fish were there anyway?" "One fish - two fish - three fish --" while the Risen Messiah is standing right there in person...I think they missed the point.)

The point being, only in the Resurrected Lord Jesus can our "urges" be truly satisfied. There has been placed inside us a "God-shaped vacuum" which only the Eternal can completely fulfill. We may try to quench this spiritual thirst with our own means, our creaturely substitutes, but we keep winding up empty and weary, like the disciples after that long unsuccessful night. It's Christ's presence that brings true blessing; we only need to respond in obedience (as in casting the net at His command). Then we will be overwhelmed at the scale of what God would like to be doing in our life.

But not only does Jesus meet our needs. He STRETCHES US FOR SERVICE: God's purpose in this is not to cater to us, but to prepare us for service that will stretch us far beyond our natural desire and ability.

Our record of the event notes that the net was chock full of large fish, "but even with so many the net was not torn". No mending required. However Jesus did want to arrange some patching up or mending of Peter's relationship with Him. In verse 15 Jesus asks Peter, "Do you truly love me more than these?" The verb "truly love" refers to agape, a high and devoted form of love. "God so [agaped] the world" - even though it was unlovely in terms of ugly sin. "More than these" may refer to the fishing gear - boat and equipment - but more likely Jesus is asking, "Do you really love me more than these other disciples do?" In Mark 14:29 Peter had boasted of his surpassing loyalty declaring, "Even if all [the others] fall away, I will not."

Twice more Jesus asks the same question. The significance of the threefold repetition is painfully obvious to Peter. Jesus had structured the setting to be an outdoor one, with "a fire of burning coals" only a few feet away - a fire reminiscent of the one around which Peter warmed his hands and swore three times he didn't know Jesus the very night the Master was condemned. But none of the coals burned as deeply as did the guilt and shame inside Peter's soul whenever he remembered what he'd done. The threefold questioning of the reconciliation or reinstatement process corresponded to Peter's original breach of faith.

In this outdoor camp setting under the morning sky, Jesus is doing spiritual "heart surgery". Verse 17 notes Peter was hurt, literally "cut to the heart" or "grieved" because of Jesus' testing. But Christ's whole intent was to develop in Peter the humility necessary for service. There is a subtle interplay of the verbs to "love" (phileo, the word for love as a friend, found on Peter's lips) as compared to "truly love" (agapao, which Jesus uses two out of three times). It's as if Jesus is asking the third time, "Peter, are you even sure you have a liking for me, let alone a high and devoted love?" Peter admits he didn't show agape; yet Christ gives him opportunity through this questioning to affirm that Peter does love his Lord with genuine affection.

The net got stretched a few minutes before; now Jesus is stretching Peter (nicknamed "The Rock") out of his stony-heartedness. God is showing Peter his impulsiveness, that he tends to seize initiative without always thinking of the consequences for others. In Mark 8(29), Peter's the first disciple to confess Jesus is the Christ; but he also takes the lead moments later in rebuking Jesus for his "un-messianic" plan to suffer, die, and rise again. In Mark 14(29), as we already saw, Peter boasted he would stick with Jesus through thick and thin even if nobody else did. In John 13(8), Peter is the only disciple that refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet; then the next minute wants to go "whole hog" and have his hands and head washed as well. In John 18(10), Peter it is who draws a sword and cuts off the high priest's servant's ear when Jesus is being arrested. And this bull-headed impulsiveness shows up again in this passage when in verse 7 Peter throws his clothes on, jumps into the water, and swims to shore to get to Jesus ahead of all the others -- thus leaving them behind in the boat to tow in this heavy full net by themselves.

Jesus' question, "Do you truly love me?", is followed by a command. Not too many days earlier, the night he was betrayed, Jesus had emphasized: "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15,23) Christ's command for Peter is: "Feed my lambs...Take care of my sheep...Feed my sheep." (21:15-17) In other words, "If you really love me, Peter, look at what's on my heart; learn to care on my behalf for these others I'm also concerned about, and equipping you to serve in leadership." Peter must have recalled Christ's teaching, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44) Before Jesus was crucified, he had predicted Peter would be severely tested; but He assured Peter that He had prayed for him that his faith wouldn't fail, and asked Peter when he turned back to strengthen his brothers (Lk.22:32). Not get them sidetracked pursuing the "good ol' days" of carefree fishing expeditions. Through the outreach of the apostles, Jesus had bigger fish to fry!

Providing such leadership would signal a change from Peter's youthful impulsiveness to the ultimate stretching at maturity of martyrdom. In verse 18 Jesus solemnly says, "I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Tradition says Peter too was eventually crucified. Readiness to lay down our lives can glorify God, whether it be saying "no" to fishing, or fudging our income tax, or evading any responsibility God has laid on our hearts. Jesus says to us as to Peter, "Follow me!" - to the cross if necessary, if we would accompany Him to eternity.

In the context of camping, counsellors have to be prepared to be stretched by "taking care of the sheep" (ie campers) day and night. It can be a draining living sacrifice. Especially for "open camp", which is for individuals with special needs. Even with a high staff/camper ratio, it can be very demanding. But last year our family had 4 offspring assisting through the summer at Camp Menesetung, and I would have to say it was open camp that was best remembered and most talked about. Some situations were quite humorous because campers were just "being themselves", they sometimes lacked the self-consciousness and reserve that we normally use to shield ourselves from others.

I would have found it exasperating to work with many of those campers. Together we can thank God for, and salute the dedication of counsellors who make themselves available to special-needs campers round the clock. Whether it be in camping or other caring ministries, by the grace of our Risen Lord, we are both stretched and filled. Praise Him for His abundant goodness! Amen.

"Abigail: a Mother's Discernment" - Mother's Day, May 13/01 - 1 Samuel 25:2-3,21-31

Today we thank God for remarkable women - our mothers. Though you may be convinced your own mother is the best one in the whole world, truth is that she and other God-fearing moms come from a long and distinguished line of wise, loving, and caring women who have fostered their young and so changed society from the time of Creation.

Mother's Day itself is a recent invention. In England in the Middle Ages, before there were Child Labour laws, children often left home early to learn a trade or become apprentices. Servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday such employees would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers, often taking a fruit cake or small gift. This occurred on the fourth Sunday of Lent, so Mother's Day in the UK is still celebrated then.

Would you believe the origins of Mother's Day as it's practised on this side of the Atlantic were found in a Sunday School lesson? Mrs.Anna Reese Jarvis, daughter of a Methodist pastor, taught Sunday School 20 years in Grafton, West Virginia. Throughout the Civil War Mrs.Jarvis organized women's brigades, asking her workers to do all they could without regard for which side their men had chosen. After the war, she took the initiative to heal the bitter rifts between her Confederate and Union neighbours. In 1878, her daughter was 12 years old when she listened to her mother teach a Sunday School lesson on mothers in the Bible. Mrs.Jarvis closed the lesson with a prayer to this effect: "I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother's day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers."

Mrs.Jarvis died in Philadelphia May 12, 1905. Her daughter (also named Anna) was left unmarried and with her blind sister, so missed her mother greatly. She began a letter-writing campaign to gain the support of influential ministers, businessmen, and congressmen in declaring a national Mother's Day holiday. She felt children often neglected to appreciate their mother enough while the mother was still alive. She hoped Mother's Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds.

Miss Jarvis led a small tribute to her mother at a church on the second anniversary of her mother's death in 1907. She donated 500 white carnations, her mother's favourite flower, to be worn by those attending. It was thought white carnations represented the sweetness, purity and endurance of mother love. The pastor used the text in John 19:26 where Jesus on the cross shows concern for his own mother Mary by saying to John, "Son, behold thy mother."

Mother's Day started to take off in other states, beginning with Philadelphia. By 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. In 1914 Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Congress declared that stay-at-home moms are "doing so much for the home...and [for] religion", which leads to "good government and humanity". They recognized that full-time mothers were performing a vitally important task, being a great source of strength and inspiration for the nation. And to think our modern version of the holiday began with a comment in a Sunday School lesson!

Mrs.and Miss Jarvis were remarkable women, but there are many others from centuries before found in the pages of the Bible. Perhaps our heroine today, Abigail, was one that inspired Mrs.Jarvis as she prepared that historic lesson.

We meet Abigail in 1 Samuel 25, sandwiched between accounts of a fugitive named David trying to avoid being killed by jealous King Saul. David, an outlaw, had gathered around him a fighting force of about 600 similarly alienated men who were in distress, or in debt, or discontented (1 Sam.22:2). They made ends meet by offering a mobile security service to farmers and herders. Abigail's husband, Nabal, had a name meaning "fool" but he was very rich: a thousand goats, 3,000 sheep...Nabal ran a big operation, no doubt with help from his beautiful intelligent wife. You can imagine it must have kept David's men busy watching out for such big herds and defending the animals and keepers from poachers and predators. Shearing time came, the usual occasion when a farmer would give some compensation to the "security service". David's men came and politely asked for their due, but Nabal essentially told them to go jump in the lake. He pretended not to know David, and insulted him as just another runaway renegade (25:10). When David finds out, he responds by strapping on his sword and vowing to wipe out every male in Nabal's household.

This is where Abigail enters the picture. We will see that she models a mother's discernment: she springs to the defence of her family; she's gracious in making allowances for difficult family members; she instills high moral principles; becomes a source of blessing to those who meet her; and she even reflects Jesus' substitutionary priesthood in offering to bear the cost of another's offence.

First, she springs to the defence of her family. Verse 18 says, "Abigail lost no time.She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys." What a lot of provisions! She sprang into action because, as the servants reported to her, "Disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household." She knew she had to do something, and fast, or her husband's callous remarks would cause all her sons to be wiped out. When the young 'uns are threatened, Mother Bear thunders to the rescue.

We also see that Abigail is gracious in making allowances for difficult family members. Her husband, Nabal, must have been one of those guys who are described as "impossible to live with" - yet she somehow managed to stick it out. Verse 3 calls him "surly and mean in his dealings." He reneges on his obligations to David in verse 11. He hurls insults and treats his protector with contempt (14,39). His own staff describe him as "such a wicked man that no one can talk to him" (17). During sheep shearing, Abigail finds him having thrown "a banquet like that of a king", he's "very drunk" (36). One Bible dictionary terms him "a wealthy boor"; he makes Archie Bunker (dare we say Don Cherry??) look like Cary Grant by comparison!

Abigail shows graciousness and tact in that she has learned how to deal with her outrageous husband. In verse 36, upon finding him so drunk, she doesn't try to explain anything to him but waits until the next morning when he's sober. She knew him, and how to approach him, difficult as he was. Abigail had learned to make allowances for difficult family members.

Third, she instilled high moral principles. "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation and its destiny," as the South African proverb says. It is such a vital role of mothers to teach moral values. Scottish essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle said, in his last letter to his mother: "If there has been good in the things I have uttered in the world's hearing, it was your voice essentially that was speaking through me; essentially what you and my brave father meant and taught me to mean, this was the purport of all I spoke and wrote." Our children soak up by osmosis our own values, to be incarnated in their own lives with good or ill effect. Lord Shaftesbury said, "Give me a generation of Christian mothers, and I will undertake to change the whole face of society in 12 months." Abigail stood up for what was right in her family and toward strangers. She upheld her vision of what another person could become, drawing them upward into higher ethics of behaviour rather than letting them drop into the easy way out through non-involvement.

Note verse 26. She tells David, "The Lord has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands..." But that's just what David had sworn himself to do! He'd taken a solemn oath to wipe out Nabal's offspring and servants. Abigail is teaching this hardened warrior and his troop, bristling with blades, that there is a higher law than "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". In verse 31 she suggests David can avoid having "on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself". A couple of verses later David blesses her for helping him avoid this. She shows him that military power needs to be kept within limits, informed by pure moral values. One commentator puts it this way: "Abigail's prudent action prevents David from using his power as leader for personal vengeance (which Saul was doing)...the Lord keeps David's sword clean, teaching him a lesson he doesn't forget" (e.g.1Sam.26:10).

Abigail anticipated the teaching of the New Testament, that we should let God avenge. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Luke 6:27). Paul wrote to the Romans (12:19f), "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'"

Abigail thus reminds David to leave room for God to work, rather than being a god to himself and taking matters into his own hands. When we do that, it's akin to idolatry, we thumb our noses at God and cheat Him out of being God for us. Abigail appeals to David in verse 28 as being one who "fights the Lord's battles" (as David claimed he was doing when facing Goliath - 1 Sam.17:47); the implication is, concentrate on being about God's business and He'll look after any settling-up or loose ends on your behalf. And God does deal with Nabal soon enough (38). Through all this, we can admire Abigail's insight, and the way she instills high moral principles - in one who will come to be renowned as Israel's greatest king.

Fourth, Abigail becomes a source of blessing to those who meet her. Verses 28-30 contain a marvelous string of prophecies or blessings, a "wish list" for David many of which eventually do come true: a lasting dynasty; no wrongdoing found in him as long as he lives (unlike so many other leaders); a life that is secure, "wrapped up safe"; enemies defeated as if hurled from a sling (metaphor especially appropriate for David); appointed leader and brought success. What spiritual insight this woman has! We could call her a prophetess, because her words about "lasting dynasty" anticipate those of Nathan in 2 Samuel (7:16). Through this blessing, Abigail is revealed as part encourager, part visionary or prophetess; she sees a person's God-implanted potential and uniqueness before it has fully flowered. An ability also useful in mothering, to see your child as they may become rather than just as the sum of their current behaviour.

Fifth, Abigail shows a mother's discernment in that she reflects Jesus' substitutionary priesthood in offering to bear the cost of another's offence. Did you catch this in the text? Verses 23-24, she falls at David's feet, bowing with her face to the ground and asks (first words out of her mouth): "My lord, let the blame be on me alone." Just a short phrase, but think about it. She's offering herself to take the punishment instead of her fool husband. She's doing what he should have done, accepting the brunt of the blame; she becomes a substitute for the sinner's sake. Just like Jesus on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing" (Lk.23:34). Our name is Nabal / "fool" for having turned our backs on God and treated Him with contempt. Jesus made atonement for us, just as Abigail did for Nabal. She became a human shield or buffer, willing to accept the consequences on his behalf. So mothers often find themselves with opportunity to likewise lay down their lives on behalf of their children or husbands. That is Jesus' call to all who would follow Him, to take up our cross daily and lay down our life in service to our neighbour for His sake, through whom we ourselves have received complete forgiveness for our wrongs. So doing, we become a means of Christ's blessing to others in turn.

The world has been graced with many remarkable women: Abigail; Anna Jarvis; and many of us would add to the list, our own mothers. I close with this tribute by Erma Bombeck to her mom:

- - - - -

When the good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of overtime when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; have 180 moveable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that disappears when she stands up; a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair; and six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way!" "It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "It's the 3 pairs of eyes that mothers have to have." "That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows; another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know; and, of course, the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word... I can't quit now: already I have one who heals herself when she is sick, can feed a family of six on 1 pound of hamburger, and can get a 9-year-old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of the mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. "But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure." "Can it think?" "Not only can it think, but it can reason and communicate and dream," said the Creator.

Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you you were trying to put too much into this model." "It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear." "What's it for?" "It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride." "You're a genius," said the angel. The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

- - - - -

Let us pray.

"How to Escape the Sheep Snatcher" - Rural Life Sunday, May 20/01 - John 10:22-39

A couple of basics in livestock farming are the need to provide and to protect. Suppose I went to a vet and said, "This calf just isn't thriving. I don't know what's wrong. I give it plenty of clean straw and lots of water to drink, but it's just not putting on weight." The vet would shake his or her head, look at me kind of strangely and say, "Of course it's not putting on weight -- you've got to feed the thing!" That's providing. On the other hand, we see outside barns these cute little white calf hutches for young cattle to grow up in, isolated from disease organisms that might be around the main cattle pen. A farmer usually tries to keep fences mended, and builds barns to shelter stock from severe weather and other forms of danger. That's protection. Now there's a whole lot more to raising cattle or other livestock, but you've got to have those two elements. In the same way, God's plan for growing Christians is to both provide for us and protect us.

(A) The Sheep's Provision: In John 10:27-28, Jesus outlines his relationship to the sheep of his "flock" in faith in these two broad ways. Verse 27 refers to the aspect of providing. He says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." Let's look at this in 3 parts.

(A.1) "My sheep listen to my voice." Barbara Brown Taylor writes, "In Palestine today, it is still possible to witness a scene that Jesus almost certainly witnessed 2000 years ago, that of Bedouin shepherds bringing their flocks home from the various pastures they have grazed during the day. Often those flocks will end up at the same watering hole around dusk, so that they get all mixed up together - 8 or 9 small flocks turning into a convention of thirsty sheep. Their shepherds do not worry about the mix-up, however. When it is time to go home, each one issues his or her own distinctive call - a special trill or whistle, or a particular tune on a particular reed pipe, and that shepherd's sheep withdraw from the crowd to follow their shepherd home. They know whom they belong to; they know their shepherd's voice, and it is the only one they will follow."

In Christian religion, God's "voice" has been perceived primarily through the Bible. The prophets in the Old Testament prefaced their messages with, "This is what the Lord says" (Amos 1:3) or "Hear the word of the Lord" (Jer.2:4). As Peter put it in retrospect, "...prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21) Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey his teaching; "These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:23-26) So the Holy Spirit would become the means of transmitting Jesus' message to the apostles for passing on to the church. Paul described it this way to the church at Corinth, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) Thus Scripture in both Old and New Testaments becomes a means of hearing the Shepherd's voice.

When we had newborn calves on the farm, it was quite important to get them their mother's milk soon and regularly after birth. That's because this was special milk called "colostrum", chock full of nutrients along with antibodies that would help the baby calf's immune system to develop. We often kept some in the freezer for emergencies, because it was so important for fortifying the young'un and getting it off to a strong start.

Reading the Bible each day, even just 15 or 20 minutes, provides us with much-needed spiritual "colostrum". Peter urged, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." (1 Peter 2:2) In Hebrews 5(12) "milk" refers to the elementary truths of God's word. So dive into the Word daily in order to hear the Shepherd's voice.

(A.2) Second, Jesus says of His sheep, "I know them." This kind of "knowing" comes by shared experience. It was kind of a bonding time when you helped a cow deliver a calf out in the middle of the field, then hoisted the baby calf on your shoulders, still wet and oozy, to carry it in up to the barn while the mother anxiously followed. There were the times of feeding from a bottle before you switched over to a pail. Dehorning time came, with its sharp smell of burning skin and hair. Sometimes I got the job of sketching the markings of our young Holsteins for their registration papers. Eventually each of our herd received a name, and we knew each of the 35 milkers by their own name, not a number. We knew who were the slow milkers, the kickers, even which quarters of which udders took longer to milk out, or were susceptible to mastitis and could use some massaging.

Sheep and shepherd know each other. Barbara Brown Taylor had a friend who said sheep tend to grow fond of their shepherds. "It never ceased to amaze him, growing up, that he could walk right through a sleeping flock without disturbing a single one of them, while a stranger could not set foot in the fold without causing pandemonium. Sheep seem to consider their shepherds part of the family, and the relationship that grows up between the two is quite exclusive. They develop a language of their own that outsiders are not privy to. A good shepherd learns to distinguish a bleat of pain from one of pleasure, while the sheep learn that a cluck of the tongue means food, or a two note song means that it is time to go home."

Jesus seeks to know us intimately. There is more to Christianity than just going through the motions once a week. Christ seeks entrance to your life, wanting to develop a personal relationship. We read in Rev.3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20; we have a big portrait of this down in the parlour). Note that Jesus is not addressing unbelievers, but the church. The verse just before that one emphasizes the change of heart required to have fellowship. There he says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.So be earnest, and repent." (Revelation 3:19)

Knowing our Shepherd comes partly through prayer. As we pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; even more intimately, as Paul puts it, "He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will." (Romans 8:27) How awesome to think how completely and thoroughly God knows us, inside out! David exclaimed in Psalm 139, "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD." (Psalms 139:1-4) Jesus knows us.

(A.3) He adds of his sheep, "They follow me." There is a major difference between sheep and cattle. You herd cows from behind, prodding and shouting; that won't work with sheep. They prefer to be led. Sheep won't go anywhere that someone else does not go first - namely their shepherd - who goes ahead of them to show them that everything is all right.

Jesus is the shepherd going ahead, the pioneer of our faith, calling us to follow. He first commanded the disciples: "Come, follow me...and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:17) He wrapped up his time on earth saying to Peter, "Follow me!" even if that meant to a similar death that would glorify God (John 21:19). In Luke 9, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection, then immediately calls His disciples to be ready to lay down their lives if they would be His. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) Saying "no" to self is required in order to say "yes" to Jesus. When we lose our life for Him, we will save it. So the Sheep's Provision entails -- listening to the Shepherd's voice; knowing Jesus personally; and following him.

(B) In verse 28 of John 10, Jesus gets into the good stuff: the Sheep's Protection. He says, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

(B.1) It was a sad time on the farm when the livestock truck came to take some "cull" cows to market, especially those who had been long-time milkers. Such an animal was much more than a "unit of production", she was a big part of the farmer's life. If such a heavy heart grieves over loss of an animal, how much more must the Creator long for people created in His image who may end up missing out on eternity with Him!

Jesus promised, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish." The term "eternal life" can refer to both quantity and quality. In terms of quantity, such life lasts beyond the grave; we're not automatically immortal, that's why the resurrection is such a wonderful possibility. Revelation 21(3,4) has a beautiful picture of heaven that is often used at funerals: "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away...To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Yet this is followed by quite a different picture for those who don't make the cut (6-8): "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars— their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.This is the second death."

Or would you prefer the vision of life forever without God as Jesus Himself described it? In Matthew 8(12), just after the Sermon on the Mount, we hear Jesus mention those "thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." In Mark 9(47-49) Jesus recommends drastic measures if our hand, foot, or eye lead us to sin, concluding: "It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire." So if you want quantity of life with God, make sure you wind up in the right place by putting your trust in the Saviour.

But there's also a "quality of life" dimension to eternal life. Eternal life doesn't just begin when our heart stops, it can start right now. Jesus defined eternal life in John 17(3) when he said, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Eternal life begins when we come to know God. There's an element of a better, fuller life right now. Jesus declared in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." He really does satisfy our deepest longings. He gives eternal or "super" life.

(B.2) There's also protection for the sheep in terms of un-snatchability. "No one can snatch them out of my hand...No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand" (vv.28,29). When I grew up, protecting the cattle out in the field took largely two forms: the barbed-wire fence and electric fence. Barbed-wire fences meant post holes, brace posts, pounding in iron posts with the post driver, tightening up the wire, hammering steeples, and sometimes patching fence. Electric fences were easier to erect but you had to treat them with respect if you went to step over them! (When we walked or biked to school we were especially in awe of one neighbour's electric fence, which was reported to be on such high voltage it kept the weeds burned off!) Fences were a necessary part of farm life because there was less chance the cattle would get lost or be hit by traffic if they stayed inside the fence.

Protection took another form for a sheep farmer on a pastoral charge I used to be at in Northern Ontario. In that case, wolves were big problem, so the farmer kept a gun handy. Eventually though the predators caused such losses he had to get out of sheep altogether.

Jesus wants to protect us, and to this end God has provided a "fence" to encourage us to keep safe. The "fence" is His commands. Like the young heifer or ram running around the edge of the field looking for ways to get through the fence, when we push the limits of God's revealed guidance for our lives we risk getting into trouble. Jesus kept Himself safe from the "wolf" or devil in Matthew 4 by saying repeatedly, "It is written..." then quoting a verse from Scripture. He did not come to abolish the Law but fulfill it; he emphasized in the Sermon on the Mount, "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:18-19) So if you'd appreciate God's protection, respect the fence of His teaching -- don't push it!

Jesus offers us assurance of eternal security. We can't be "snatched" out of His hand, or the Father's. This depends on God's strength, not ours. "The greatness of the Father, not of the flock, is the ground of the safety of the flock." Calvinists extend this idea to make "falling away from the faith" or apostasy seem impossible; Romans 8(38-39) says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." But many theologians sound a note of caution. Some passages, such as Hebrews 6:4-6, seem to warn against the possibility of backsliding to the point of being lost. "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." But this is a subject for a whole 'nother sermon, with a debatable outcome since Biblically-supported views can be held on both sides. Jesus' main emphasis though is that we are safe, He is a real and capable "Saviour", we don't need to be afraid. As long as we're concerned about apostasy, we probably don't need to worry; it becomes more of a danger if we become presuming, taking it for granted, and showing excessive licence in our behaviour. Perhaps we could sum up the paradox of the "eternal security" issue this way: those who OUGHT to be most concerned about losing their salvation AREN'T, while those who ARE concerned about it likely NEEDN'T be!

We as sheep are PROVIDED FOR through knowing and following our Master's voice in Scripture; and we are PROTECTED by God's mighty power, no matter what happens. Our passage goes on to give illustrations of both these aspects. When Jesus says He is one with the Father, his opponents pick up stones to stone Him for blasphemy (10:31,33). Now think about this. Your life is on the line. What possible authority or argument can you appeal to in order to convince your enemies? Jesus doesn't yell for help to the temple police. He doesn't arrange his disciples in battle formation. Instead he reaches for his Bible. Way way back into Psalm 82 Jesus reaches over a thousand years and pulls out a single phrase to serve as a shield against lethal stones. He argues with the experts that because the Lord referred to the judges of Israel as "gods" in their heavy responsibilities, He's not out of line Himself in referring to Himself as God's Son. To underline this point of the mighty authority of God's Word, note what Jesus' own attitude to Scripture is in verse 35: "the Scripture cannot be broken". The Lord PROVIDES Jesus' need of the moment through God's voice recorded in the Psalm. And God PROTECTS Jesus in that the Jews don't stone him, and he escapes their grasp when they try to seize Him in verse 39. His time hadn't come.

So whatever your needs, whatever your circumstances, be encouraged that your divine Shepherd has you safe in His omnipotent hand. He knows your secret longings, your untapped potential. Savour His gift of eternal life, a better, higher kind of life that begins with His Holy Spirit right now when you turn away from counterfeits and trust in Jesus. As you listen to His voice and follow Him, the Lord will provide your needs as a loving Shepherd cares for even the smallest sheep. And that's good news, not BAA-AA-AD at all!

"Just Who Is this Holy Spirit?" - "The Way" Service, Pentecost Sunday, June 3/01

(Cast: Alf, Bob, Charlie, casually dressed, middle-aged. Setting: Alf & Bob are seated at small table with coffee cups. Charlie enters, starts to walk past with coffee cup in hand.)

Alf (A): Hey, Charlie! How ya doing? It's Alf, remember?

Charlie (C): Yeah, we met at the Promise Keepers golf tournament last year. How are ya?

A: Just great thanks. Have a seat. This here's my friend Bob. Bob, this is Charlie. He lives over by Brussels.

Bob (B): (shaking hands as Charlie sits) Glad to meet you. So what brings you to the Grandview?

C: I was just on my way through to Goderich for some personal business when I decided I had time for my caffeine dosage for the day. Nice to see you again Alf, it's been a little while.

A: That's right, I'd almost forgotten you hit my ball by mistake into the river! (grins, C look sheepish) So what's been happening with you?

C: Well, I've just got to tell you about something pretty special that happened a month and a half ago. You know how there's been all this buzz in recent years about Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship? Well, our pastor went to a teaching seminar there a while back and came back pretty enthused about it. So my wife and I and another couple decided we'd slip down one Sunday night and check it out.

B: Come to mention it, I've heard some strange things about the Airport group. They used to be a Vineyard church but are now on their own. Used to be quite a controversy about people making strange noises under spiritual influence -- and Bible profs weren't too sure whether it was the Holy Spirit or the wrong spirit! Talk of barking and braying sounds and "holy laughter" - that type of goings-on doesn't sound too reverent to me!

A: Did you see anything like that when you were there? How was it?

C: Well, the first part of the service was fairly usual contemporary style worship. Took me a while to find a seat, had to watch out for the handicapped people in motorized wheelchairs - those things can really scoot around! The usual songs on projection screens, lots of instruments and drums, but I didn't know too many of the songs. Guess you have to go more often to keep up. They had a visiting speaker that night from Australia: I'd say his message was all right, talking about God's love for us and how it can bring reconciliation especially if we've had friction in our families. But it wasn't anything our own pastor couldn't have come up with.

B: So overall you weren't too impressed? Think I'd want something a little more sensational for me to drive two hours to worship!

C: I haven't told you about the best part. After the worship time they had a big section open over at the side for people wanting prayers. I got to thinking about what the speaker'd been saying about how revival sometimes starts with what Malachi (4:6) predicted - "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers..." I got to thinking about all the grudges and bitterness I had stored up against my own dad, how he treated me rotten so it was hard to forgive him; and how lately I'd been so gruff with my own kids, it was hard not to repeat the family pattern. So I figured, hey, nothing to lose, drive all this way you might as well give it a try; and went over for prayer. It took a while for them to get to me, but this tall guy came and put his hand on my shoulder and just started praying. Kind of slow, as if he was waiting for instructions on what to pray for. He was praying for the blood of Jesus to cleanse me from all kinds of junk when suddenly my knees seemed to turn to jelly and I guess I went down on the floor. My wife was kind of surprised but said later she wasn't worried 'cuz I had this big smile on my face.

A: What was it like? Do you remember anything?

C: All I can say is, it was the most wonderful thing I've ever experienced. Seemed like I was bathed in warm light, as if God was loving me like I was the only person who'd ever been born. I did feel a heat up and down my spine, but was more conscious of all my hatred and fear just melting away. I've never felt anything like it. It seemed like just minutes but my wife and the others had to wait for half an hour. Kind of enviously, they said!

B: And did it "take"? Have you noticed any difference since then?

C: In my prayer life, for sure. Now I find myself talking to God inside whenever a problem or situation comes up. Sometimes I run out of words in English and yet there's still communication going on - when I'm praying out loud by myself it probably sounds like gibberish, but I know HE knows what it means. In the "gifts" chapter Paul calls it "speaking in different kinds of tongues" (1Cor.12:10). I even found out he admitted he spoke in that special prayer language more than anyone else in the church (1Cor.14:18). But the surprising thing is what's happening in our family. Even my kids and wife have commented on it. Whenever we got into a conflict before, or the kids wanted something I would have blown up about before, I don't "lose it" like I used to. I can actually stay calm and hear their side of the story. I've even said "yes" a few times when before I'd have dug in my heels. I get the sense they're starting to trust me more than they used to, they share things that before they'd only have talked about with their friends. It's cool!

A: (brief pause) Well, praise God, I hope it lasts. My cousin goes to a Pentecostal church and had something similar happen.

B: I like the way Charlie talks about it without bragging. It turns me off when people go on and on about their spiritual gift as if it's the best - whether it's tongues, or healing, or discernment, or whatever.

A: But don't you think there's a danger in emphasizing personal sensations? Surely Jesus didn't leave planet earth just so his followers could spend half their time lying on the floor twitterpated with God!

C: I think you've been watching Bambi a little too often with those preschoolers of yours!

A: I mean, look at what he says he's going to send the Holy Spirit for in Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." "YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES" - that's what the Holy Spirit's for!

B: Are you just pointing out one passage?

A: It ties in with the whole aspect of prophecy - speaking to another person for their "strengthening, encouragement and comfort" (1Cor.14:3). God gives us the Spirit so we can speak for Him, just like the prophets and apostles. Jesus got "out of the way" and ascended to heaven so the Spirit could be given and his followers get on with the job of making him known! (John 16:7; 17:26) He told the disciples, "When the Counselor comes...He will TESTIFY ABOUT ME; and you also MUST TESTIFY."

C: You're saying the Holy Spirit is God's way of getting the message out; showing us what to say to others about Jesus and salvation.

A: Exactly! Look at Acts 2: the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, and what do the believers do? Yes, speak in different languages, but understandable ones so that people from other countries could hear them "declaring the wonders of God" in their own language! (Acts 2:11) Or a little later after the release of Peter and John, they ask God, "Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness" (4:29). That's when the place they were meeting was shaken, and it says, "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

B: I have noticed you seem to be a born evangelist, Alf. At work or at the ball park, whenever you meet somebody new you're forever inviting them over to your house for a coffee or helping them fix their lawn mower. And just naturally you start sharing what God's done in your life while you're doing it. Several people have told me you've fixed a lot more for them than their lawn mower - with Jesus' help.

A: I just have this heart for people, the Holy Spirit puts a love inside me so I want to do anything to help them and also get the message across. It breaks my heart to see people miss out on meeting the Lord when they could find answers for their hang-ups so easily.

C: What about you, Bob? What do YOU make of the Holy Spirit - are you relating more to me or to Alf? You seem more the quiet type; here we've been gabbing away and you've hardly said boo!

B: (pause) With both you guys, God's Spirit seems to register quite a bit in an outward way - physical feelings, unusual speech, or bursting out with good news. I guess for me there's another side to it. More to do with the inner working, less visible. Charlie said the speaker's message got him thinking about his own relationship with his father and his kids. That's the Spirit in action, too: inspiring the Bible passage the speaker was reading. Giving the speaker the idea that was what his audience needed to hear. Then Charlie hearing it and feeling the nudge about his own need to turn to God for help. Jesus said the Counselor "will teach you all things", "will guide you into all things", and would "convict the world of guilt" - things to do with sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 14:26; 16:8,13).

That's something the world today doesn't want to hear, that there are moral absolutes; we all just want to be left free to "do our own thing". You can't see any of that going on; you can't see the spirit-power packed into Scripture, you may not notice anything on a person's face when they've suddenly received a divine arrow in their heart about something they need to confess -- but that's still a very vital role of the Holy Spirit.

A: I see what you're saying. That lays the groundwork for whatever follows.

B: And don't forget the everyday things the Spirit does. Paul said the Spirit "helps us in our weakness" when we're praying, even when we don't know what we ought to pray for; the Spirit "intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Rom.8:26) And who'd want to live in a world without "the fruit of the Spirit" - love, joy, peace... C'mon now, you know them as well as I do...

A: patience, kindness, goodness...

C: faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Nothing "showy" enough to sell tickets for in the whole bunch, is there? Love doesn't get puffed-up, no matter how much God's been doing in your life. I think Paul added there, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit; let's not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

B: I once heard a preacher compare the "gifts of the Spirit" and the "fruit of the Spirit" to the bells and the pomegranates fancying up the hem of the High Priest's robe: they alternated all the way around, little golden bells and tiny woven blue, purple, and scarlet fruits. The bells made the noise, but the pomegranates were beautiful in a quiet way.

C: Speaking of quiet, I'd better clam up and get on my way off to Goderich.

A: You mentioned you had some personal business to attend to -- anything I could be praying about?

C: Yes, definitely. My nephew got busted for drugs again and I'm going over to post bond for him until the trial. Sure wish people would quit looking for thrills and fulfillment in all the wrong places.

B: So you'll be on the hook for bailing him out. You leave a sizeable sum on deposit, guaranteeing he'll be back when judgment time comes.

A: Say, doesn't the Bible say something like that about the Holy Spirit?

C: I remember that passage - in 2 Corinthians. Paul said God "anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Cor.1:22; 5:5; Eph.1:14)

B: God's "posted bond" for us - the Spirit is a down payment, a guarantee of better things when Jesus comes back!

C: A little slice of heaven, here and now!

A: That calls for a little slice of pie, to wash down my coffee with. Good to see you Charlie, we'll be praying for you and your nephew. (all wave as Charlie exits) Waitress? (Alf & Bob take coffee cups and exit)

"One in Christ, not the World" - June 10, 2001 - 76th Anniversary UCC - John 17:20-26

Three Lutheran pastors were invited by a Catholic priest to attend Mass one Sunday at his church. They arrived a bit late. All the pews were filled, and they had to stand in the back of the church. The priest noticed them as he began the Mass, and he whispered to one of the altar boys, "Get three chairs for our Lutheran friends." The altar boy didn't hear, so the priest spoke a bit louder, motioning to the rear of the congregation: "Three chairs for the Lutherans." Dutifully the boy arose, stepped to the altar rail, and loudly proclaimed to the congregation: "Three cheers for the Lutherans!"

There must have been a similar spirit of enthusiasm behind the process which resulted in the founding of the United Church of Canada, 76 years ago. Unions were nothing new at the turn of the century. Churches trying to reach out in small communities across the pioneer country hoped their impact would be greater if they got together rather than competing. The Presbyterians united in 1875; Methodists, in 1884; Congregationalists, in 1906. The negotiations leading up to the United Church of Canada began in 1899 when the Presbyterian General Assembly, on the request of its Board of Home Missions, appointed a committee "to confer with representatives from other evangelical Churches, having power to enter into any arrangement with them that will tend to bring about a more satisfactory state of things in our Home Mission fields, so that the overlapping now complained of may be prevented." In 1902 the Methodist General Conference declared the time was opportune to aim at the organic union of the 3 denominations; that it would facilitate the formulation of a Basis of Union, and "would educate the people interested into that deeper spirit of unity and mutual concession on which the successful consummation of such movements ultimately depends." In 1904 the first meeting of the Joint Union Committee reached the unanimous conclusion "that organic union is both desirable and practicable". It agreed upon a Basis of Union in 1908, revised in 1914. Finally in 1925 the Methodist, Congregational, and 62% of the Presbyterian churches joined together formally at an arena in Toronto. There were 600,000 members, about 10% less than we have now; there were 8,000 congregations, more than double our current number. Our United Church crest symbolizes the Methodists by a dove, Presbyterians by the burning bush, and Congregationalists by the open Bible. We had talks with the Anglicans starting in 1944, resulting in a joint Red Hymn Book in 1971, but by 1975 talks ended when the Anglicans turned down the new Plan of Union. In 1968 we got a "shot in the arm" when 10,000 members of the Evangelical United Brethren joined; although its Western Canadian Conference and some congregations in Ontario stayed out (these formed the denomination now called Evangelical Missionary Church). Our motto found in Latin across the bottom of the church crest comes from our text in John 17: "that all may be one".

But what kind of "oneness" did Jesus have in mind when he prayed God would grant this to his followers and those who would believe their message? These verses, if we study them closely, reveal much about real unity's ENTRANCE, ESSENCE, and EFFECT. Its entrance: Unity springs from Christ giving us His glory, namely being born of God. Its essence: Unity involves Jesus being IN US, and us being in God. Its effect: As a result of unity among Christians, the world will know 2 things: that the Father sent Jesus; and that God loves believers with the same love with which He loves Christ.

(A) ENTRANCE TO UNITY: Let's begin with some terminology about oneness. Chuck Swindoll describes it this way: "UNION has an affiliation with others but no common bond that makes them one in heart. UNIFORMITY has everyone looking and thinking alike. UNANIMITY is complete agreement across the board. UNITY, however, refers to a oneness of heart, a similarity of purpose, and an agreement on major points of doctrine." Leslie Flynn adds, "Two chickens tied at the legs and thrown over a clothesline may be united, but they do not have unity."

How can we enter into true unity? One commentator (Robertson) notes, "The only possible way to have unity among believers is for all of them to find unity first with God in Christ." Let's take a closer look at John 17:21,22, where we find our beloved United Church motto. Jesus prays "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.May they also be in us..." (How? 22 continues) "I have given them the glory that you gave me, THAT" (note the cause-and-effect nature of the grammar here, 'in order that') "they may be one as we are one."

So the GLORY Jesus says He gives here is instrumental to His followers' oneness. What is "glory" and how's it bring oneness? God's "glory" in both Old and New testaments refers to His saving presence. God's glory was seen in the pillar of cloud that accompanied the Israelites, or filled the Temple at its dedication; not just some special effect, these represented God's presence on-site to save, bless, and protect. When Isaiah prophesies, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you...Thick darkness is over the peoples, but Yahweh rises upon you and his glory appears over you," he's heralding the coming and very presence of the Messiah to save and deliver.

How do we receive this glory? Earlier in the chapter, Jesus has a parallel saying, "I have given them the WORDS you gave me and they accepted them...they believed that you have sent me." (17:8,14) Go back to the beginning of John's gospel. 1:12 says that to those who received Him, who believed in His name, Jesus gave the right or power or authority to become children of God, children "born of God" (1:13). And this birth is key to the glory. 1:14 adds, "We have seen His glory: the glory of the 'Only Begotten' who came from the Father..."

In short, through accepting His teaching and believing in Him, Jesus gives us the glory of being born of God, starting over afresh with God's very nature inside us. Believing in Him, God births in us His Spirit so we can share in eternal life. The glory of Christ is His Sonship, and He wants to share that glory with us, as the Captain of the winning Stanley Cup team enjoying the glory of their "victory lap" passes the trophy to the other players. In our Captain we become winners, too! So then, unity springs from Christ giving us His glory, that is, the privilege of being born of God. Supernaturally, we come to experience Christ through faith, becoming God's sons and daughters.

Merrill Tenney writes, "Within the church of historic Christianity there have been wide divergences of opinion and ritual. Unity, however, prevails wherever there is a deep and genuine experience of Christ; for the fellowship of the new birth transcends all historical and denominational boundaries. Paul of Tarsus, Luther of Germany, Wesley of England, and Moody of America would find deep unity with each other, though they were widely separated by time, by space, by nationality, by educational background, and by ecclesiastical connections."

Turning to Christ is the entrance to oneness with God and other Christians. Unless you receive Jesus Christ by accepting his word and obeying it, believing He is the Saviour and Lord He claims to be, you won't understand this "oneness" he talks about. Oneness that is wonderful, having new birth from God.

(B) ESSENCE OF UNITY: Oneness involves Jesus being IN US, and us being in God. Verses 23,26: "I in them and you in me...that I myself may be IN THEM." In John 14:20 Jesus forecast, "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." This is THE BIG SECRET of Christianity, the key distinctive, Christ in us. We find it often in the New Testament: Rom.8:10, "Christ is in you"; Col.1:27, Paul talks about the mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory"; Gal.2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it's no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Eph.3:17 Christ dwells in our hearts through faith. Rev.3:20: If we open the door to Jesus' knocking, He says he will come in to us. 2Cor.13:5 Paul challenges us, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail the test?" The first letter of John assures us, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." Can he make it any plainer? In fact John says if we don't believe God's testimony about Jesus we make God out to be a liar!

An old VBS song goes: "One door and only one, and yet its sides are two; outside and inside, on which side are you?"

Christian unity does not have to do with getting our denominations to merge, but with getting our lives merged with Christ, receiving Him in us in the driver's seat. Billy Graham was too ill to attend the Amsterdam 2000 missions conference, but told the delegates by satellite hookup: "The gospel is not centred in our programs or styles of worship or our denominational distinctiveness. The gospel is centred in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again for our salvation."

Ian Hunter is Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario. He wrote a provocative article in the May 29 issue of the newspaper ChristianWeek in which he states, "I suggest that this is a propitious moment for Christian ecumenism. I do not mean, I hasten to add, the kind of ecumenism that the World Council of Churches represents: namely, a watering-down of Christian doctrine until the soggy mush left over is largely indistinguishable from secular humanism. Nor do I mean denominations formally joining - Anglicans and Lutherans, United Church and Unitarians. This kind of union is largely by institutions drained of their vitality who hope by joining together to become a little stronger. They are likely to become a little weaker, because the true believers split off at both ends. No, the kind of ecumenism I mean is largely happening outside the institutional church. Brian Inkster, the Canadian director of Prison Fellowship said recently to me: 'God is continuing to build his church, but he is doing it outside the denominations.'"

The essence of unity, then, is not organizational, having to do with outer structures, but inside and amongst individuals, as they resonate with others who have also decided to host Jesus in their personal lives, yielding their dreams and decisions to Him.

(C) EFFECT OF UNITY: Jesus says the world will come to know 2 things as a result of true Christian unity. Note he quite bluntly declares in verse 25 that "the world" does NOT know the Father! Universalism is a lie, we can't know God without Jesus' help -- that's why He was sent, to show the world what the Father is truly like.

(1) The first thing our unity will lead the world to realize is that God sent Jesus. Verse 21: "May they also be in us SO THAT the world may believe that you have sent me." Again in verse 23: "May they be brought to complete unity [why?] to let the world know that you sent me." If we can ever "get it together" as Christians, the world will take notice and be convinced there is something really there among us greater than us, and that "something" is Jesus. What bad can anyone say about the work accomplished by 13 denominations joining together in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank? What is the force I feel when women from various denominations join their voices together in song at Coffee Break?

Ian Hunter notes that when the Pope visited Cuba, a young Baptist seminarian said: "The Pope has done everything right.He has challenged Castro to the very limit.Fidel no doubt has his plans.But this much I know: God has his plans, and the Pope is his instrument for opening Cuba to the gospel of Jesus Christ." Hunter adds, "Imagine these words coming, even a decade ago, from a Baptist" (a denomination that once considered Catholicism apostate). Pope John Paul II has written that this kind of ecumenism "stands at the very heart of Christ's mission".

Also, the world will come to know that God loves US with the same love with which He loves Jesus. Verse 23: "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you...have loved them even as you have loved me." And 26: "I will continue to make you known IN ORDER THAT the love you have for me may be in them (and that I myself may be in them)." That's the secret everybody in the whole world is wanting to hear, isn't it? "God loves me." Dates may leave us high & dry, marriages grow cold without attention, the aged and very young both know loneliness: but if we know at least God loves us, we can stand a lot. "Jesus loves me, this I know" - a song close to many hearts. Discovering Jesus, we discover that love he shares with the Father.

Bruce Vawter, a Catholic commentator notes, "The unity of the Church is, as it were, the incarnation of the shared life and love of the Father and the Son." When Christians love one another, the whole community feels it. Philip Melanchthon, Luther's cohort in reforming the church, urged: "In essentials, unity.In nonessentials, liberty.In all things, charity [that is, love]". People of different denomination can co-exist in kindness.

Steven Chambers, author of the UCC handbook This is Your Church says, "Many people sense that 'unity', 'solidarity' and 'co-operation' are now words that describe a union perspective among Christians of varying denominations. The urge to create a new 'united' church has, for many people, subsided. In recent years, there has been a trend toward shared ministries in areas unable to support more than one minister or building. In 1981 there were more than 40 communities where the United Church was involved in shared ministries." In our own Presbytery, there is a shared ministry at the church 4 miles from our home farm where I spent my internship: Hibbert United at Staffa shares a clergyperson with Cromarty Presbyterian. We CAN get along.

Hunter concludes his ChristianWeek article stating, "Their enemies said of the first generation of Christians that 'they turned the world upside down.' The same might yet be said of this generation if we were to achieve a true Christian unity. We must remember that none of us were baptized as Presbyterians, Anglicans or Methodists. We were all baptized into one, holy, catholic [universal] and apostolic church, and it is to that, not to any denomination, that our fealty should be pledged."

When evangelist George Whitefield preached from the balcony of the Philadelphia Courthouse to thousands who had gathered he cried out: "Father Abraham, whom have you in Heaven? Any Episcopalians?" "No." "Have you any Independents or Seceders?" "No." "Have you any Methodists?" "No, no, no!" "Whom have you there?"

"We don't know those names here! All who are here are Christians - believers in Christ - men [and women] who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of His Testimony."

"Oh, is this the case?" Whitefield cried, "Then God help me, God help us all, to forget party names and to become Christians in deed and in truth." Let us pray.

"The World's Smallest Man tells How to Be a Giant of a Dad" - Father's Day June 17/01 - Acts 16:16-40

Today we're going to take some lessons from the "world's smallest man" on "how to be a giant of a dad". Now, you won't find this "smallest man" in any Guiness Book of World Records. You will find him, however, in the pages of the Bible. So who was the smallest man in the Bible? No, it was not Ne-hi-miah. And if you suppose it was Bildad the Shu-hite, you're wrong again. So just who was the smallest man ever? Why, the Philippian jailer, who slept on his watch!

Actually, we'll gain some wisdom from apostles Paul and Silas too as they encounter the jailer in Philippi. This exceedingly memorable story in Acts 16 has at least 7 things dads can learn from on this Father's Day.

(1) PREPARE TO BE UNPOPULAR: Things really began to happen when Paul and Silas encountered opposition to the freedom of life in Jesus they were offering. Let's look at verses 16-23.

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future.She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days.Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

Things were going just fine until Paul had had enough of the slave girl's unasked-for public announcements. Perhaps it irked him that her owners were making a profit out of her condition; they were exploiting her for money, milking her demonic fortune-telling ability like spiritual pimps. With one brief command Paul freed her of the evil-spirit parasite and her sanity was restored.

Of course, this made Paul and Silas instant enemies of the owners. Soon they were dragged before the magistrate, humiliatingly stripped, beaten with rods, and thrown into the dungeon. Was Silas tempted to say to Paul when their feet were being fastened in the stocks, "How be next time we just keep our mouth shut?" I don't think so.

Men, there will come times when your family looks to you to provide spiritual leadership, even when it's not popular. As society degenerates, ethical holy behaviour starts to stick out like a sore thumb. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, heroic writer from the Soviet archipelago, says: "The west has been undergoing an erosion and obscuring of high moral and ethical ideals. The spiritual axis of life has grown dim." Spiritual softening results in moral mess. We are tempted to buy the line that there are no absolutes, that truth and right are "relative" and subject to each person's interpretation; this leads to a collapse of family values.

Prepare to be unpopular. Just because others are drinking doesn't mean you need to be drawn into excess. Hold your tongue when the talking gets coarse, rather than joining in. Start to raise questions if gambling creeps into your service club through raffles or ticket draws for fundraisers. Dare to be different: holiness is about being different in a godly way.

Our example here is Joshua, who challenged the Israelites, "Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped...and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14,15) He let others know where he stood: he was going to obey God, whatever anybody else thought. He didn't care if it didn't win him a popularity contest; he was performing for an "audience of One".

(2) 'JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS' ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH: Some would use this as an excuse for caving in to earthly superiors and thus impeding God's work. We meet our "smallest man" jailer friend in Acts 16:23,24 which states: "...the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks." But we find out later on that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, deserving fair trial before any punishment. By "just following orders" unquestioningly, the jailer participates in an injustice towards 2 individuals.

If our fathering is inadequate, we can't hide behind the excuse that we "were just following orders". It didn't work at the Nuremberg trials and it won't work in God's court either. We can't plead, "I was just away from home too much because of my job," or, "I've got to move even if it's not best for my family because if I don't I won't get promoted," or, "The community service group needs me these extra nights even though I know I'm neglecting my family," or, "But my buddies just keep wanting me to come over for a drink all the time." It won't wash. These excuses spell neglect and deep down we know it.

Jane Hansen describes the damage that can be done by neglect as well as by outright abuse, and the way this can poison our children's view of God. She says, "Many earthly fathers have not been able to love well. Some have been emotionally or physically abusive. Others have been emotionally unavailable to their families, or absent altogether. Consequently, many children and many of us adults have a faulty view of our Father God. We see Him as disinterested, distant and uncaring. Or perhaps we see Him as a harsh taskmaster, cold, critical, always demanding that we do better. We see Him as one who never really accepts us or loves us in the tender ways that would let us know in the core of our being that we are valued, that we are safe and delightfully welcome in His presence. Thus we become caught in a cycle of hurt, loss, neglect, and pain, bringing it with us into our marriages and passing it on to the next generation." So, "just following orders" is no excuse, be it employers or other influences. Nobody on their deathbed ever said, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office!"

(3) Guard your personal WORSHIP LIFE: SEE THE UNSEEN - OTHERS ARE WATCHING. Notice in verse 16 that Silas, Paul and company (including the author Luke) were "going to the place of prayer" when all this happened. Even though there was no established church or synagogue, these guys still made a habit of going to the riverside where there was a place of prayer. But even more remarkable is verse 25. "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Think about it. They've been dragged around, unjustly treated, publicly humiliated, beaten up, and are now captive in a stinking dark dungeon with their feet locked in the stocks. Wouldn't you or I be griping about what a rotten deal God's handed us? Wouldn't that be the "natural" response, to complain loud and long and blame the Almighty for allowing it to happen? But what are Paul and Silas doing? "Praying and singing hymns to God." They're not focused on their current state, they see the unseen. They're looking past the obvious to the eternal. Like Peter and John 11 chapters earlier, they're likely "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name [of Jesus]" (Acts 5:41). So when troubles come, get down on your knees (you're already halfway there anyway!) and get in touch with the Lord who is able to make good come out of any evil that befalls us.

Notice that "the other prisoners were listening to them". Probably the jailer had been, too, before he dozed off. Dads, you're being watched. Your kids are eyeing you to see if this "religion" thing is real, or if it's just a show. If they stumble upon you having your morning "quiet time", Bible in hand, it'll be worth more than a year's worth of sermons by me on the importance of Scripture. If when you lead grace at meal time you pray in a conversational tone with God as a Best Friend you've been talking to at other times through the day, your kids in future will always detect there's something missing whenever they hear others offer a stiff formal grace "by rote". When they look up out of the corner of their eye at church and see you really getting into the hymn because it echoes what's in your heart, they'll sing with more gusto too. And if when the chips are down and apparent failure's staring you in the face, they sense you've been pouring out your woes to your Maker while trusting that somehow He's going to see you through, you'll have passed on a heritage of faith that will help them manage in life's trials by turning to "the God of their father". So, guard your personal worship life: see the unseen - others are watching.

(4) WHAT EARTHQUAKE IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO WAKE YOU UP? Some of us are so sound asleep in our role of fathering that it's going to take something pretty radical to jolt us into action.

Verses 26,27: "Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped."

The jailer had responsibility to guard these inmates from escaping. Roman custom was that if you let a prisoner get loose, you paid with your own life. (e.g.Acts 12:19) He couldn't imagine that with eveything flung wide open the prisoners hadn't already left. But the apostles weren't so quick to seize the opportunity; they waited for God's way, God's timing.

The fact that he "woke up" makes it obvious he'd been sleeping on the job - a potentially fatal mistake. But too many dads today are "asleep at the switch" when it comes to being good fathers. When they finally do realize what they've missed, it's too late; the kids are flung far across the country, and no longer interested in their preoccupied parent. (song, Cat's in the Cradle) "When you comin' home, son?" "I don't know when, we'll get together then, Dad, I'm sure we'll have a good time then."

What'll it take to make us sit up and take notice of opportunities vanishing before our eyes? A heart attack? Business failure, or layoffs? Such personal "earthquakes" often induce those who survive to come out the other side with rearranged priorities. If we keep on sleeping, our children's hearts are forever robbed. HB London, pastor to pastors with Focus on the Family, recalls that he "would've given anything" just to have his father come and watch one football game when HB was playing with the school team. One time his dad did appear with a couple of business associates, but before the game started the threesome had left. Even if he'd asked what the score was, it would have meant so much, but he never did. He needed some kind of earthquake to jolt him into noticing.

(5) GOD'S HELP BEGINS WITH HUMBLY BELIEVING, vulnerability, and asking - not giving orders. Verses 29-31:

"The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved— you and your household."

Drop the "tough guy" act: you need God, you can't get through life and into eternity with Jesus on your own. This takes some swallowing of pride and forsaking of the "John Wayne" myth, but in Jesus it is possible. If you haven't already yielded your life to Christ, don't wait another day. Tomorrow may be too late. Prophet Amos in the Old Testament in chapter 9 offers an image of the REAL "tough guy" about to bring judgment on a sinful nation: "I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: 'Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake.Bring them down on the heads of all the people; those who are left I will kill with the sword. Not one will get away, none will escape.'" Imagine - however big and magnificent that temple was, God was going to hit its pillars so hard the whole building would be shattered. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Prov.1:7; 9:10); get right with God before anything worse happens.

Some of us having been playing the "tough guy" or policeman role in our families too long. Submitting to God will dispose us to be more patient and tender toward those who look to us for genuine love and fatherly support. Jane Hansen observes, "When a man begins to feel that it is "safe" to be emotionally vulnerable, he becomes able to provide that emotional safety to those around him. The children become beneficiaries of their father's new-found freedom...'What leaves the heart, reaches the heart.' Children begin to sense the safety in their father's heart and his emotional presence in their lives. As a result, they begin to respond in kind." Humbly believe, invite Jesus into your life and your heart, let him re-make you into a new creation your family's waiting for. Whether you're saved or not is too important a question to leave until your funeral.

(6) DISCOVER JOY FROM ARRANGING FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY TO HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. The little jailer went further for verses 32-34 state, "Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God— he and his whole family."

Filled with joy - that's where we wanna be. It comes from not keeping the message to yourself, but sharing the Good News of God's forgiveness and peace through Christ with your whole household. Give those to whom you gave physical life an opportunity also to receive eternal life. This doesn't mean you have to sit down with a tract and explain to them the whole nine yards. Though a good idea, that's not necessarily the most appealing approach. Be creative, use a little imagination: there are many other means to present the gospel message in a format today's generation finds interesting. If your kids are young, buy a colourful Bible story book and read to them out of it. Borrow Veggie Tale videos (but just make sure you don't get hooked yourself). Rent Christian feature-length movies from a local Christian book store; Worldwide Pictures ones often have a gospel presentation at the end. Whatever means you choose, just DO it. Bring your family into contact with agents that will enlighten and challenge them to make a decision about where they stand with God.

Pious Jews recite daily Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the "Shema". It's God's key guidance to dads about creating opportunities for the whole family to encounter His message. It starts, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (An ultra-liberal church might like to cut it off there, but the rest goes on to imply that loving God involves obedience to His Word.) "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." In short, make God's teaching so obvious in your home that your offspring can't help noticing it and being touched by it.

(7) HOW ARE YOU MEETING AND ENCOURAGING YOUR KIDS? Paul was single, so his "kids" were the believers he evangelized. As we finish out the story, we see that God's servants emerge as the real leaders in the end; and that Paul immediately proceeds to contact his "children" in the faith.

Verses 35-40: "When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace." But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out." The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left."

Note those last few words: "They met with the brothers and encouraged them." Dads, do your kids see you as present and an encourager around home? Y'know, the Bible doesn't offer reams and reams of commands on how to be a good father. In the New Testament there are principally just 2 verses specifically addressed to dads: Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Colossians 3:21 adds, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." So don't exasperate them or make them resentful or disheartened, but encourage them. Be there for them when they have a problem to share, or need a listening ear. Maybe you'd rather be out fixing widgets, but this really is more important.

To wrap this up: we serve a wonderful God, a model heavenly Father. Dr.Norm Wakefield went through the book of Psalms noting every mention of "the LORD". He came up with this "dad definition" as a result, for these adjectives describe God as our Father: A person of refuge; a friend; supporter; companion; a dad who is present; a lens; forgiving; and trustworthy. Praise God for being so good, and for helping us not to be the world's "smallest men" but to be the best fathers - real giants! Amen.

(Job 33:22-30)

His soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the messengers of death. "Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him’— then his flesh is renewed like a child’s; it is restored as in the days of his youth. He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. Then he comes to men and says, ‘I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.’ "God does all these things to a man— twice, even three times— to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him.

(Psalms 23:1-6)

A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Acts 3:18-22)

But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you— even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.

(John 11:21-27, 38-44)

"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." ... Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

"Christ Restores What We Can't Fix" - Funeral of Worthy Ross McNee - June 18, 2001

From what I've been told, I understand that Worthy loved many activities and people during his life. Since his youth, he loved horses and horseback riding. He went to some pains to walk one horse home about nine miles. He also loved motorcycles; one time when his Harley quit, he practically wore out his shoes pushing it home. Worthy worked at the feed mill at first, then farmed until the pigs got to be too much for him health-wise.

Relationally, Worthy loved his family and friends. His easygoing nature won friends, and though he might seem quiet and shy, he teased his sisters so much they were glad they only had one brother! His love for his wife and children and grandchildren has been very obvious by the hole in your heart and tears on your cheeks that've resulted from his demise. We mourn the loss of a friend and companion as well as a father or grandfather, someone who was always there for us when we needed him.

Yet another quality of Worthy that stands out was that he loved to fix things. He was a real handyman. He enjoyed making things out of wood; he could help out with plumbing problems, and was a jack of all trades. In fact he apparently died tinkering, working away trying to fix the lights on the trailer. He loved to fix things that weren't right.

We live in a wonderful universe, but there are some things about creation that have been so badly bent they can't be fixed by our human skills. Ever since we first sinned, disease and death found entrance to the perfect world God made. Now the creation is "subjected to frustration" as Paul puts it, "groaning" in bondage to decay (Rom.8:20-22). Our best scientists have not been able to figure out a way around death; our best educators and policy-makers have not discovered lasting solutions to hatred and disease and strife that result in destruction in countries all over the globe. Creation needs fixing, our hearts need fixing. We are mortal, ultimately our health fails and we all die. We need someone smarter, stronger, more loving than us to set things right.

The word "fix" meaning "to repair" is not found in the Bible. But there are many passages which refer to God "restoring" things. Jesus Christ is the Restorer of what we can't fix; through the Bible we come to understand Jesus is a "handyman" too, he can "fix" what's wrong with us. He can set us right and restore us forever.

The book of Job is probably one of the most ancient writings in Scripture. Yet as we read earlier, it speaks of a "mediator" who finds a "ransom" for a person. Their flesh is "renewed [or restored] like a child's". They will see God's face and shout for joy; restored in more than a physical sense, they are restored to a "righteous state" -- their spiritual problems are fixed, too. They will "live to enjoy the light".

Psalm 23 promises that, like a good shepherd, God not only provides food and drink but "restores my soul". Psalm 71(20f) says, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." God fixes what's wrong with us inside and out, spiritually and physically. Hosea the prophet said (6:2), "After two days [the Lord] will revive us, on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in his presence." It seems it's from this very passage that Jesus got the understanding his resurrection would take place on the third day after his crucifixion. Easter is about God restoring or "fixing" us forever.

Jesus was widely known as a healer of all kinds of human ills during his earthly life. Once on the Sabbath he restored a man's shriveled hand, even though doing it then brought deadly opposition from his enemies (Matthew 12:13). And the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11 is a model of what we trust will happen for all who believe in Jesus as their Saviour, their eternal "Handyman". He declared to the grieving family, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live, even though he dies." That softens our loss when we know the separation is temporary.

God's love reaches out to us in our groaning human condition. His grace, shown in Christ dying for our sins and rising to give us eternal life, brings us hope. He can fix the problems we can't handle on our own, especially the final challenge, death itself. Jesus is our Restorer. We conclude as the apostle Peter did when he said: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5:10) Amen.

"Called to Christ-likeness in Conflict" - June 24, 2001 - 1 Peter 3:8-18

A reporter was interviewing an old man on his 100th birthday. The reporter asked, "What are you most proud of?" "Well," said the old man, pondering the question, "I don't have an enemy in the world." "That's wonderful!" said the reporter. "Yep," added the centenarian, "I've outlived every last one of 'em."

It's not hard to make enemies in the course of one's life. Conflict arises whenever two people's desires clash. Yet Christ calls us to copy his own love for enemies in our dealings with those who oppose, misunderstand, or criticize us unfairly.

For an example of what NOT to do, we just have to look at the story of the Donnellys which is featured currently at the theatre. The Donnelly massacre was the outcome of a community caught in a feud. On the one hand there was the hard-hearted attitude of the "Whiteboys". This group had imported from Ireland the enmity of the poor Roman Catholic peasants toward the English Protestant landlords and any who had dealings with them. A new country offered a chance for a fresh start, but the Whiteboys considered the Donnellys "Blackfeet" because, although Catholic, the Donnellys had commercial dealings with outsiders and even contributed toward the construction of the Anglican church.

On the other hand, the Donnellys were no angels. James & Johannah had in fact squatted on an absentee owner's property to start their own farm, and Mr.Donnelly's defensiveness of his claim resulted in conviction for manslaughter. The parents taught their sons to be fighters. Johannah is quoted as saying, "From the time they could toddle, I taught my seven sons to be foin fist-and-club fighters. Sure, an' 'tis I who taught them how to gouge, bite off an ear and crack in a head with a club; showed them the best way to send a fast punch to the chin..." She told them, "Hit first and talk later...Never forgive your enemies. Always remember and never forget that, when in a rough-and-tumble fight, be shor' to git in the first blow..." (Leaves one wondering, How d'you know it's going to be a 'rough-and-tumble' fight if YOU'RE the one who gets in the first blow??)

The two factions were mixed together in a volatile setting in pioneer-land Biddulph Township, right next to Huron County; and the conflict erupted in a massacre the night of February 4, 1880. Whatever crimes the Donnellys may have committed previously, nothing compared to the brutality of the killings. They are testimony to the darkness of the hardened human heart.

Conflict has been common in the Christian church as well as outside it through the centuries. There is even trace of conflict amongst the disciples while Jesus was still with them. We're told in Mark 9(33f) they had been arguing on the road who was the greatest. Then in Mark 10(41), when James and John ask to sit next to Christ in his glory, the disciples become indignant with them. So even Jesus had to deal with conflict amongst the 12.

There are at least 5 guidelines the New Testament gives about conflict and dealing with enemies. First, DEALING WITH CONFLICT IS A PRIORITY. Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." So don't put off reconciliation; deal with it, even more urgently than presenting your offering at worship. It's as if God means to say, "Don't expect me to accept your offering if you've got outstanding issues with a brother or sister in Christ." The apostle Peter in his first letter (2:21; 3:9) twice asks believers to respond graciously to mistreatment as part of our "calling".

Second, DEAL UP FRONT, CONFIDENTIALLY, WITH THE FACTS. Matthew 18:15-17 is a key teaching of Jesus on how to approach conflict resolution. He said, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Notice the procedure starts out with speaking directly to the person concerned, no one else. So many conflicts could be avoided if people just went and tried to clear things up one on one rather than spreading half-truths. Next, "one or two others" are asked to accompany, as witnesses and to add objectivity. This ensures that things are dealt with on the basis of evidence, which is the intent of the quote from the Old Testament. Finally the church is appealed to as a court. Only if these steps are tried and unsuccessful does Jesus allow for the relationship to be severed.

Third, GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE: HUMBLE YOURSELF. A conciliatory, servant attitude will work much better in arriving at an agreement than a high-and-mighty "I'm right / you're wrong" approach. When the disciples argued about who was greatest, Jesus called a little child, had him stand among them, and said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4)

1Peter 5(5b-6) urges, "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:5-6) Don't leave God out of the picture! He is the only truly just judge. If your cause is right, God will vindicate you eventually, without your having to force things. Earlier, Peter wrote, "In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord." (3:15) Revere Him, fear Him, not other people, no matter how awful our enemy may seem. Peter's adapting Isaiah 8:13 which says, "The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread..." Honouring God helps us not to have an overly high estimation of ourselves. Peter suggests if we're "conscious of God" it helps us bear up under unjust suffering.

Fourth, GO ONE BETTER - REFUSE TO RETALIATE. Perhaps you've heard of the inverted "Golden Rule" one little boy quoted as a guideline in his scuffles: "Do one to others before they do one to you." That's maybe the Mob's way, but it's not Jesus' way! In the Sermon on the Mount he said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39) Not "tooth for tooth" but "turn the other cheek". Peter puts it this way: "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9) And Paul, who had so many enemies and unjust hurts, wrote in Romans 12: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:19,21) This is easy to say when you're snug and warm and nothing is threatening. But the most "natural" thing for our human nature to do when we've been hurt is to lash out and hit back. Maturity in Christ, though, and the Holy Spirit's gift of self-control will help us not to take revenge but leave room for God to work.

Fifth and last, FIND COMFORT IN COPYING CHRIST'S PATTERN. The apostles were not the first to be persecuted. Even Jesus referred to others who'd been maligned before Him. Again in the Sermon on the Mount he said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12) A bomber pilot used to say, "You know you're over the target when you're drawing flak." The prophets, then Jesus, drew flak; they paid dearly for their obedience to God's truth.

It is not humanly possible to resist the temptation to fight back each and every time we're attacked. But casting ourselves on God offers us strength to resist the temptation to respond with evil -- strength in Christ to live holy even if it means a cross. A couple of times Peter says it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (2:20; 3:17); why? Because "Christ suffered for you" (2:21), and "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." This is the whole pattern or shape of Jesus' life. He was reviled, maligned, accused unjustly, but He did not revile in return (2:23). Peter views it as a great substitution, an exchange: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24) The whole reason WE can be saved is that Christ did not give in to retaliation or revenge, justifying himself. He left that to God, and willingly took our punishment in our stead. This is of the essence of Christ-likeness in a conflict situation: absorbing the pain that ought to be someone else's, so God's healing love can touch them.

Peter uses an unusual expression in 2:21: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21) Some of you may remember in the old one-room schoolhouses, something above the blackboard. (guess?) There was often a row of cursive letters, modelling what each student's handwriting should ideally end up looking like. So a fair chunk of time for young students was spent practising handwriting until it came to be a copy of the "master" set of letters up above. The word Peter uses for "example" is literally "writing-copy". Clement of Alexandria (Strom.V.8.49) uses it of the copy-head at the top of a child’s exercise book for the child to imitate, including all the letters of the alphabet. Turning the other cheek thus is one way we copy Christ in our lives, showing Him by our actions. If we are his "disciples" or followers, after all, we ought to "follow in his steps" - keep on HIS track - even when opposition mounts and dander gets up.

The story is told of a church meeting where an issue was being hotly debated. People argued their "rights" on one side of the matter, then others argued "what about their rights" that they perceived would be infringed if things went ahead. Finally an elderly gentleman stood up and, clearing his throat, said, "Rights? Rights! All I hear you talking about are getting your rights! Jesus didn't come to give us our rights -- He came to take away our wrongs!"

Roy Anthony Borges is a prison inmate who, after becoming a Christian, had some hard lessons to unlearn. All his life he had been taught to hate his enemies, particularly within prison walls. One of his most vexing enemies was Rodney, who stole his radio and headphones one day while Roy was playing volleyball in the prison yard. It was an expensive radio, a gift from his mother. The earphones had been a Christmas present from his sister. Roy was angry and wanted revenge, but as he prayed about it, it seemed to him that God was testing him.

Day after day, Roy wanted to respond violently, to knock the wisecrack grin off Rodney's face, but Romans 12:20-21 kept coming to mind: Paul's instruction to avoid vengeance, leaving it to God to settle the score. Roy began to look at Rodney through God's eyes and have compassion on him. He began praying for him. He began trusting God to accomplish something in Rodney's life.

By and by, Roy's hatred for Rodney began fading, and he found himself helping his enemy and telling him about Jesus. Then one day, Roy later wrote, "I saw Rodney kneeling down next to his bunk reading his Bible, and I knew that good had overcome evil."

It is a priority to settle conflict. Deal with it up front, factually, one on one. Be humble; refuse to take revenge. Find encouragement from Christ in copying His redemptive pattern. God can use our obedient reliance on Him to bring healing to a situation instead of more wounds! Let us pray.

"Built to Last: the CBFG Church" - Sep.9/01 (adaptation from Jan.21/01) - 1Corinthians 3:5-16; Mt.16:13-19

The church - is it built to last, or bound for collapse? The latest Canadian statistics show that over the previous ten years, the number of Canadians age 15 and over who attend a religious service once a month dropped from 41% down to 34%. And for those between the ages of 25 and 34, only 24% go once a month. A ChristianWeek editorial comments, "Especially among the young there is a strong feeling that the institutional church actually hinders the deeper search for purpose and meaning. But...while conventional religion has largely lost its status as the principal vehicle of spiritual authority, the search for spiritual satisfaction continues unabated. Books on religion and spirituality are the fastest growing segment of the market... That the Christian church is out of favour at a time when so many people are seeking spiritual substance to give meaning to life's material pursuits is unconscionable." The editorial adds that the church is to blame because: "All too frequently it has failed to provide authentic worship. Too often it has not been a place where souls are restored. And its members are always apt to serve their own needs..."

While most churches have been declining, Canada's largest evangelical denomination has seen significant growth. Pentecostals have responded to the trends by placing a heavy emphasis on junior high, youth and young adult groups, with many of its churches dedicating two or more staff to the needs of these groups. This emphasis on youth, popularity among new Canadians, and the Pentecostal style of worship have helped that church overcome the trends.

How can we re-structure and re-vision to be Christ's ambassadors more effectively in a society in which going to church is no longer in fashion? What should be our priorities, our non-negotiables, the bare-bones best of what people are looking for in a lively church? Don Posterski of World Vision Canada and Irwin Barker authored a book titled, "Where's a Good Church?" They found the top priorities for Canadians in selecting a church were: preaching; local evangelism; being "in touch with the times"; offering opportunities for involvement; and cell groups. Christian Schwarz using a scientific approach to "Natural Church Development" came up with these eight "quality characteristics" for healthy churches: Empowering leadership, Gift-oriented ministry, Passionate spirituality, Functional structures, Inspiring worship, Holistic small groups, Need-oriented evangelism, Loving relationships. Centuries ago, long before statistics, the Apostle Paul offered advice to the church at Corinth on how to "build to last". I'd summarize key ingredients of an effective church with just the 4 letters C-B-F-G: Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared.

(1) Christ-centred

At the heart of what church is all about is worshipping, praying, and praising a particular person: the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Church is not about "ritual" so much as "relationship". The power and healing available through Jesus' cross is the main motivation in our gathering. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:11, "...No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." That's square one, basic to our being. Lose focus on Jesus and your church becomes indiscernible from an ordinary club. Also, Jesus in giving His life for us gives Christianity its unique flavour: grace. When people are looking for a church, they're not attracted by orthodox doctrine or teaching of traditional truth so much as by grace. Pounding the Bible apart from emphasis on Christ would make us legalistic and judgmental. Jesus is the One who's going to really attract people who are looking for positive changes in their lives, and that's because he's full of grace as well as truth. Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Scout movement, used to say, "If it's not fun, it's not Scouting!" I'd parallel that: "If there's no grace, it's not church!"

Gary Hellard was recently appointed national director for Youth for Christ. He says we need to start doing evangelism in a different way to reach youth. Too often churches try to force youth into old molds of what they think religiosity should look like, rather than offering Jesus' life-changing message. Hellard says, "People have a distaste for the verbal gospel. People want to see the gospel."

(2) Bible-believing

Despite society's moral relativism, there ARE absolutes; God shows them to us through His Word. Paul talks about "the Day" that will show each one's work for what it is and "test the quality of each man's work" (3:13). The measuring stick used on the Day of Judgment will be what God has already made known to us through Scripture.

If we are Christ-centred, we will share Jesus' own attitude toward the Bible. He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35) Christ said Scripture "can't be broken" (Jn.10:35), and when praying he exclaimed to the Father, "Your Word is truth." (Jn.17:17) Peter quoted Isaiah to the effect that our human glory fades like the flowers, but "the word of the Lord stands forever" (1 Pet.1:24f).

(3) Fellowship-friendly

What caught Paul's notice in the first place before writing 1 Corinthians? Mention that friction had developed amongst believers. They were boasting about loyalties to various itinerant leaders - Paul, Apollos, or Peter. Paul reproaches them for being so immature (3:3,4): there is jealousy and quarreling, they're not spiritual but fleshly, "acting like mere men".

Paul points out that believers share a common fellowship in Christ. (16) "Don't you know that you yourselves (plural) are God's temple and that God's Spirit is in you?" Something special happens when Christians come to meet together that isn't the same when we're by ourselves: Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20) He blesses our fellowship.

Posterski and Barker discovered that both "opportunities for involvement" and "cell groups" were strong factors in persuading people to join a particular church. "Cell groups" include things like home Bible study groups, neighbourhood prayer groups, and small groups organized around common interests that meet together for prayer and fellowship. Schwarz lists both "holistic small groups" and "loving relationships" amongst his 8 key qualities for natural church development. What are YOU prepared to do to further this congregation's degree of fellowship beyond just the "come sit in a pew and stare at the back of another person's head" experience?

(4) Growth-geared

Switching to the "building" metaphor, Paul observes that we can be building on the foundation with valuable and durable materials such as gold, silver, and precious stones, OR cheap perishables like wood, hay, or straw (3:12). The idea is letting God have control in our life to make us into something new and grand. Unfortunately our attitude might hinder God and make us wind up as mud huts when what He really intended was a palace! The Lord seeks to be developing us, making us more mature. Baptism is not a sign that we've "arrived", but that we're just beginning!

Two "sub-sections" of growth also start with "G": gifts and giving. Besides our natural gifts or talents, God gives us spiritual gifts. Paul writes at the beginning of chapter 4, "[People] ought to regard us...as those entrusted with the secret things of God.Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." Whatever your gifts may be, God's expecting you to use them! People are excited in churches that help them discover and exercise their spiritual gifts: prophecy, evangelism, teaching, encouragement, assisting, giving, leadership, compassion, and so on. But you may not find out what your gift is until you "take the plunge" and offer to help out with life in the Body. God supplies our needs when we're doing His will; he may have a gift waiting for us that will only be revealed when we commit to sign up in faith for a given task. Christian Schwarz notes that "gift-oriented ministry" is a characteristic of healthy churches.

Besides gifts, there's giving. God longs for us to grow in our stewardship, sharing His abundant grace with others. With regard to money, it's not just a matter of tithing 10%: that's too much a "law" approach. The New Testament standard is giving that's sacrificial, "hilarious" (2 Cor.9:7). We can paraphrase Jesus' words in Acts 20:35, "It's more blessed to give than to get." Have you given to the point of discovering the blessing He's talking about?

Giving our time is just as important. The church can always use more volunteers, be it Sunday School teachers, set-up or clean-up crews, small group hosts and leaders, whatever. The opportunities are endless. We can even be missionaries without leaving our own community. The national director of Youth for Christ notes, "We could use 100-150 missionaries tomorrow...Young people are not as anti-God as we think they are. They've always been hungry for genuine spirituality, perhaps more so today than ever before."

"Find a Church that...

1. Takes God and His Word Seriously. We might call it a teaching church. This kind of church believes the Bible is indeed God's Word. His inerrant Word. Scripture is not something to be trifled with. It is the only standard for this church's faith and practice. This church is not overly absorbed and enamored with some pastor or other individual who may be greatly gifted, impressive, or full of charisma. In fact, most churches that take God's Word seriously appreciate the breadth of gifts in the body, and enjoy a team approach to ministry. Men were created to walk together. To play team ball. This is a church that works hard at expounding Scripture and seeing it applied to daily living.

2. [A church that] Takes You Seriously. This is a church that looks long and hard at all God has wrapped in you -- the unique blend of passions, interest, gifts, talents, and visions that you are -- and harnesses them for the kingdom. So that you and other Tender Warriors can be all God intended you to be...[pulling] together like true yokefellows, plowing a straight line toward the realization of God's rule "on earth as it is in heaven". This is a church that has some expectations of you -- biblical expectations -- and it will help you take a good look at yourself and your unique contribution to the Body of Christ and "God's plan of the ages".

"Overcoming the Worm in the Big Apple" - September 16/01 - after World Trade Centre Attack - Lk.13:1-9; 2 Cor.1:3-11

The unthinkable happened this week - something so mind-boggling that if anyone had even mentioned it a week ago they would have been laughed at. But somehow, shockingly, astoundingly, it is true - hijackers flew airliners into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, and crashed a third plane into the Pentagon. The death toll from these deliberate acts of terrorism has climbed into many thousands. How, as those who profess to follow Jesus Christ, can we explain such a dastardly act? How can we get our minds around it, make sense of it in the context of faith?

First of all, we need to remember that EVIL IS ABSURD - awful - senseless. There's never really a satisfactory explanation for the works of the wicked, or major calamities. It's difficult to make sense of a major tragedy, it has an inerasable quality of "this ought not to have happened!" Evil is absurd, totally alien or foreign to a universe created by a good and loving God. Yet somehow we live in a bent, corrupted world. The Big Apple (New York) was attacked at its core this week. But it is the same disease that infected the human race through eating the first forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, a worm that nibbles away and explodes the myth of innate human innocence and goodness, exposing the corruption, fears, and greed of our own hearts.

Evil doesn't make sense because it is un-God-ness, totally contrary to God's nature. In John 1 as introduction to Jesus we're told, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In the original language, "Word" is logos, from which we get "logical"; thus Jesus is God's reasonableness, making-sense, he gives meaning to what is. John 1:18 says Jesus is God's making-known or revealing of Himself to people; in John 17 while praying to the Father Christ said, "I have revealed you to those you gave me... I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known." (17:6,26) Jesus helps things to make sense for us because he shows us God's true nature, bringing meaning and order to life. Evil is absurd because it is un-logos, the opposite of Christ's life-giving meaning.

However, though evil is absurd, God through Jesus can bring good and order out of chaos. Genesis 1 describes earth as "formless and empty" before God spoke creation into being. In Colossians 1(17-20) Paul says Jesus was "before all things, and in him all things hold together." Jesus is the "glue" that gives structure and purpose to the universe. Paul goes on to say, "God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." The collapse of the World Trade Centre was terrible, unreal; it's akin to the ultimate un-thinkable, when God walked among us as an innocent man and we tortured Him to death. Yet through Christ's sacrifice God was able to bring victory out of defeat, eternal life out of death - reconciling the worst sinner to Himself. Jesus can pull off surprising turn-arounds when evil causes things to run amok; Romans 8:28 assures us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him..."

Second, something we need to remember in light of this past week is that CALAMITY IS NOT NECESSARILY A SIGN OF JUDGMENT, yet a reminder to all of the need to be prepared for eternity. Let's look at how Jesus commented on a tower collapse in Luke 13, starting at verse 1. (Read from Bible Luke 13:1-9) So just because a tower fell on these 18 unfortunate souls, Jesus says, doesn't mean God was singling them out as worse sinners than other people. They were NOT more guilty. But what lesson does Jesus draw from the tragedy? "Unless you repent, you too will all perish!" Check your attitude, turn to God instead of relying on yourself. Modify your thinking to make room for God in all you do: life is fragile, look to your own soul! Are you bearing fruit, or using up the soil? Could someone describe you as "a waste of good air"? So, calamity doesn't mean God was "out to get" those individuals because of their faults, but it should ring an alarm bell for us to check our own status in His eyes.

Third, a caution. We can't assume those who died in the crash deserved it. But as a wealthy western culture, we ought to be aware that PRIDE OR CORRUPT WEALTH MAKE US TARGETS FOR ATTACK BY THE ENVIOUS OR THE DISADVANTAGED. The World Trade Centre and Pentagon were chosen as targets because they ARE icons, symbols of the prosperity and military power of the United States, if not the western world. Highly visible, designed to impress. Remember the tower of Babel? In Genesis 11(4) the builders said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." Remains of ziggurats or high towers have been discovered from ancient Mesopotamia that had high-sounding names: "The House of the Link between Heaven and Earth" at Larsa, or "The House of the Foundation-Platform of Heaven and Earth" at Babylon. It is a deep-seated temptation in human nature to want to build landmarks that make us look good. (Think of the CN Tower!) In Zephaniah's time, Assyria was the imperial power of the day, yet he prophesied in 2:13, "[God] will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert." This would have been totally inconceivable to the folks of his day, with Nineveh being such a well-established city; yet after it was destroyed, even the location was forgotten until modern archeologists discovered it. Nineveh's callous pride shows through in Zephaniah 2:15 - "This is the carefree city that lived in safety. She said to herself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.'" (an attitude that belongs to God alone) The prophet exclaims, "What a ruin she has become, a lair for wild beasts! All who pass by her scoff and shake their fists." Nineveh's wealth came at the expense of other countries, who were only too quick to rejoice when she was overthrown. They felt justice was finally being done for the injustices and heavy taxation they'd endured.

Today, how many people in the Third World would view North Americans as having excessive wealth, like Assyria? Many would say we live in luxury. Our flying "chariots" enable us to cross the continent in hours, yet they can also double as mobile bombs as we're now aware. Do we consume wealth frivolously while many in other countries are hungry and needy, often due in part to expensive foreign loan repayments? Let's beware of becoming proud, or amassing wealth at others' expense.

Fourth, OUR NEIGHBOUR'S DISTRESS BECOMES OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE GOD'S MERCY. On Tuesday there were 500 flights in the air over the states when things started happening and airports were shut down. Many of those flights were re-routed to Canadian destinations. About 30,000 Americans found themselves enjoying an unscheduled Canadian vacation. Were we good hosts? Apparently most of the visitors experienced a positive reception, according to what President Bush told Prime Minister Chretien. And the mayor commended New Yorkers for the co-operation they showed with those in need. Common folk became heroes; I heard of one man who carried a boy that was in a wheelchair down dozens of flights of steps. When calamity strikes, it becomes a chance to share God's grace and help with others.

The wrong response is to rejoice in someone else's trouble. It was disturbing to hear of Palestinians celebrating the attack with chants of "God is great" and handing out candy to passersby. Obadiah is a very short book in the Old Testament which condemns the people of Edom for their attitude when the Jews suffered. Edomites lived in what they thought were invincible mountain strongholds. Obadiah said in verses 3-4, "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, `Who can bring me down to the ground?'" Their lofty living-quarters seem to promote in them a lofty conceit. Obadiah goes on to prophesy in verses 10 on, "Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever. On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble." Instead of delighting in another's tragedy, God wants us to share His love and kindness. Paul writes to the Romans in chapter 12(15), "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Later he adds, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (12:20,21) Now THAT sounds like something Jesus would do!

The early church was well acquainted with suffering. Believers often had to "do without", especially on mission trips, or were persecuted for their convictions. But they discovered God met their needs, with an abundance of comfort to share. In 2 Corinthians 1(3f) Paul praises God as being the "Father of compassion and the God of all comforts", who comforts us in all our troubles, SO THAT we can comfort others in trouble with that same comfort we've received from God. One way we can help is mentioned in verse 11 - our prayers help to deliver others from perils. Along with physical assistance like blood donor clinics.

Jesus was a great example of showing compassion to those in need. He stopped and showed He cared, and was able to bring life when it seemed all was lost. In John 11 Lazarus, the brother of Jesus' dear friends Mary and Martha, became sick and died prematurely. Speaking to Martha, Jesus emphasizes a key factor in overcoming evil is trust in Him. Verses 25-27: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' 'Yes, Lord,' she told him, 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.'" Faith matters; it prepares the way for God to work miracles in our muddles.

Just after that, Jesus sees Mary and others weeping and is "deeply moved in spirit and troubled", in fact verse 35 stands out as simply stating, "Jesus wept." How about that! He knew what He was going to do - raise Lazarus from the dead - yet He still joined in the mourning beforehand. This truly is sym-pathy, feeling-with those who are troubled. Yet Christ reminds them there is hope in verse 40: "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" It all hinges on faith, committing oneself to trust that God can bring good out of apparent defeat.

Finally, the incident of the terrorist attacks reminds us of THE AMAZING THREAT - OR PROMISE - OF A DEVOTED LIFE. The devastation was brought about by a dozen or so "suicide bombers" who were so dedicated to their violent cause that they were willing to die for it. As a result of their commitment, thousands of lives were snuffed out. How much more positive can be the result of a few people's lives totally devoted to following Jesus who brings life!

Have you considered that your own Master calls you to a similar total commitment to the cause? Jesus said in Mark 8:34-35, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." That's a tall order - but He expects it of us! No, we're not talking about trundling off to guerilla training camps in Afghanistan, but about laying down our lives to do what God wants each moment of each day, instead of just doing our own thing. Will you sign up for the mission? You're joining a long and noble line of believers through the centuries who volunteered to serve the Lord no matter what the cost. It's a real risk, to decide to combat evil wherever we encounter it; but the Holy Spirit will guide and empower us as He did Jesus and the apostles. There's evidence that the fourth hijacked plane, United Flight 93 that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, did not cause the horrendous loss of life that the other planes did because passengers on the plane struggled with the hijackers. We know this because of cell phone conversations people on the plane were having with their relatives on the ground. Having found out about the World Trade Centre disaster, passengers indicated they were going to try to "do something" to stop their own plane from becoming a threat. Apparently they were not able to save themselves; but who knows how many other lives were saved because they determined to risk their own necks against the terrorists?

How about you? We've seen the damage a few dedicated evil people can bring; why not discover the great potential for good that Jesus is waiting to work through you? The need is great. The collapse of a skyscraper emphasizes life's fragility; but people all around us are going to die at some point, too, one by one. And the horror of sin is that it is just as deadly, as twisted and horrible, as the thought that began the plan of the terrorists. We know we have been terrorists in our dealings with others at times - demanding our own way, threatening consequences if others don't give us control. People so much need to hear Jesus' message of love and forgiveness through repentance, before it's too late.

A town had a congenial man who led the fire brigade. Everyone thought of him as a gentleman of the highest order. Children loved to visit the firehouse and look over his equipment. He could be counted on for good conversation when people gathered on the street corners.

One day there was a fire. The fire chief rounded up his brigade, and rushed to the building that had flames pouring from its windows. Much to his surprise, the fire chief couldn't get to the fire because between him and the burning building were several hundred townspeople. Each of them was holding a water pistol, and from time to time, they would smile at one another and squirt their pistols at the raging inferno. The fire chief yelled, "What are you doing here? Why do you have water pistols? What are you trying to accomplish?"

The spokesman for the group answered, "We've all gathered here to support your efforts, sir! We all believe in the good work you do in this community, and each of us has come to make a humble contribution." With that the people in the crowd smiled at each other, aimed their water pistols at the fire, squeezed the triggers, and squirted some water at the flames. The spokesman continued, "We all could be doing more (squirt squirt), couldn't we folks? (squirt squirt) But the little that each of us can contribute we gladly give, just to show that we're with you (squirt squirt)."

The fire chief roared, "Get out of here! Fires like this are not for well-meaning people who want to make limited contributions! Such situations demand firemen who are ready to risk their lives in putting out the flames!"

Going to church and making small contributions to the work of ministry from time to time may be nice, but so much more is required of us if we are to deal with life as true Christians. Evil is absurd; pride and meanness are so prevalent; people are hurting all around, and need to hear and see God's comfort and call through us before the chance is gone. Give your life to the Lord Jesus and let Him overcome the worm of sin - in your life and that of so many others. Let us pray.

"Make 'em Pay!" - Sept.23/01 - Rom.13:1-7; Mt.5:38-45

Jesus said, "Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." But we're always looking for ways around this, how to minimize our losses, our obligation to those who wrong us.

A successful Irish boxer was converted and became a preacher. He happened to be in a new town setting up his evangelistic tent when a couple of tough thugs noticed what he was doing. Knowing nothing of his background, they made a few insulting remarks. The Irishman merely turned and looked at them. Pressing further, one of the bullies took a swing and struck a glancing blow on one side of the ex-boxer's face. He shook it off and said nothing as he stuck out his jaw. The fellow took another glancing blow on the other side. At that point the preacher swiftly took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and announced, "The Lord gave me no further instructions." Whop!

It is natural to want to retaliate, to pay back the nasty things that have been done to us. When others wrong us, we feel hurt, injured, dumped-upon. As one four-year-old prayed one night, after listening to the Lord's Prayer at church: "Forgive us our trash-baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets." Lately in the news there has been much discussion as to the appropriate response to the attack on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. So-called "hawks" favour military action against the terrorists, while "doves" prefer peace and don't want to risk more conflict and casualties. How can we approach this question biblically, with the "mind of Christ"?

First, is there A PLACE FOR PUNISHMENT? At the heart of Old Testament law was the concept that God punishes wrongdoing. Right in the Ten Commandments we read, "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me..." (Exodus 20:5) God describes his own nature to Moses in Exodus 34(6f) in these words: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Reviewing laws of justice in Exodus 23(7) God emphasizes, "I will not acquit the guilty." The Old Testament prophets continued to reveal that God demands accountability. Micah 6:8 is a famous summary of what God requires of us: doing justice, loving mercy, walking humbly with God. Immediately afterwards, Micah prophesies that God will not acquit dishonesty, violence, lies, or idolatry; in fact he has begun to destroy the Northern Kingdom because of its sins. (Micah 6:9-16)

This theme, that there is a place for punishment, is not just peculiar to the Jews or the Old Covenant; it carries right on through into the New Testament. In a section on church discipline in Matthew 18(15-17), Jesus said those who refuse to listen to the church are to be treated as pagans or tax collectors. And several of his teachings graphically refer to God's punishment of the unrepentant: the wicked tenants are brought "to a wretched end"; the man without wedding clothes at the banquet is thrown "outside, into the darkness, where the will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"; the unfaithful servant is cut to pieces; and the goats are consigned to eternal fire and punishment (Mt.21:41; 22:13; 24:51; 25:41,46).

The apostles perpetuate this reverence for God as one who punishes. In Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira die because they lie. Paul tells the Corinthians to expel an immoral man, insisting believers are to judge those inside the church (1Cor.5:12f). Note - the man apparently learns his lesson and is restored to fellowship in 2 Cor.2(8). The author of Hebrews says God disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness; out of the pain of punishment will come a harvest of peace and righteousness. (12:10f) In 12:6 The author quotes Proverbs 3(11f): "The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Anyone who thinks the concept of God as exhibiting wrath belongs in the Old Testament hasn't read much of the New Testament. In Romans 2(5f) Paul warns, "Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will give to each person according to what he has done'." The closing chapters of the Bible, Rev.20-22, predict the judgment before the Great White throne (20:11-15) with awful consequences for evildoers (20:15;21:8;22:15) as everyone is judged according to what they have done. So Scripture is consistent, from cover to cover, in portraying God as good and holy, and punishing the wicked.

The key passage which authorizes human governors to be agents of God's punishment is Romans 13:1-7. (read) Don't forget when Paul writes this, the authorities are not believers, nevertheless he regards them as God's agents for the preservation of discipline and order in the population. So Christians do see a place for punishment in ongoing human relations. We accept the use of force by police and soldiers to uphold the law and punish criminals.

What about when it comes to punishing or defending against a whole nation or group of people? Is there such a thing as a "just" war? About 1600 years ago, St.Augustine of Hippo originated what's called "just war" theory. Two requirements were that there be proper authority (a leader entrusted with the responsibility of governance) and proper cause. War is not justified, said Augustine, for such causes as "the desire for harming, the cruelty of revenge, the restless and implacable mind, the savageness of revolting, and the lust for dominating". War must always be a tragic necessity, not something initiated without cause.

Over the years, Augustine's ideas have been expanded upon. Today, Christian just war theory requires there to be a reasonable chance of success. Human life is too precious, too sacred to waste. Also there must be proportionality: authorities must ensure the harm caused by response to aggression does not exceed the harm cause by the aggression itself. For example, just because the enemy attacks one of your cities doesn't give you permission to wipe them out! But modern warfare has often seen targets expand beyond strictly military ones. Thus, of all the requirements of just war theory, proportionality is the most like to be violated. (see www.breakpoint.org resource "The Theory of Just War - A Summary")

So...with all this justification, can we simply load up our guns and go out to "make 'em pay"? Can God's justice and righteousness be simplified to "tit for tat"? The problem for believers in Christ is that a religion of straightforward discipline and punishment might be Islam or Judaism or some other form of legalism, but it would not be Christianity. There's something missing: that's grace and forgiveness. Take away these and the cross would become merely a club to konk sinners (all of us!) over the head. "Make 'em pay" is one way to describe revenge - a dangerous temptation. Someone has said, "Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging [an injury], makes you even with him; forgiving [an injury] sets you above him." WA Ward said, "We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive." Anger or revenge are like lethal poison with regard to our relationship with God: they block us instantly, because we're yielding ground to the Enemy, we offer the Destroyer room to place an icy toehold on our souls and we lock right up. If there IS a place for punishment, then, WHAT HAPPENED TO MERCY AND FORGIVENESS?

John 1:17 sums up well the connection between Old and New Testaments: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Grace is THE unique characteristic of Christianity, not "give 'em what they deserve". John says Jesus was "full of grace and truth...From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." (1:14,16) Few stories from Jesus' life illustrate this better than the one of the woman caught in adultery, found in John 8. Under the law, the crowd knew they could have thrown the book at her. Yet Jesus defends her from her accusers, insisting the person who has not sinned should throw the first stone. When they all slip away, he assures her, "Neither do I condemn you...Go now and leave your life of sin." (8:11) Note he doesn't dismiss the deed - he still calls sin "sin" - but in grace he offers her a second chance. Her public humiliation has already been punishment enough.

This powerful principle of overcoming revenge and the lust for legalism is embedded right in the Lord's Prayer. "Forgive us our debts," He taught us to pray - how? on what basis? "as we also have forgiven our debtors." ("As we forgive those who put trash in our baskets...") Jesus underlines the importance of this by warning that if we don't forgive others, our heavenly Father won't forgive us! (Mt.6:15) Zippo - you're eternal toast, out from under God's wings and a sitting duck in the enemy's targets. "Eye for an eye" just isn't good enough, Jesus implied; if we're to truly become God's children we will outgive the demands of the wicked, turn the other cheek, go the second mile, actually love our enemy - love, understand, identify with them, walk a mile in their moccasins. Because our Saviour walked 33 years in our skin and gave it all up, taking our torture for love of us.

CS Lewis defines forgiveness this way: "Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse, after all allowances have been made, and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the [person] who has done it." Here's another definition of forgiveness, by counsellor Archibald Hart: "Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me." (repeat) Jesus had every right to make US pay for our sin - and he absorbed the whole cost himself.

Paul excludes "making 'em pay" in Romans 12(19-21): "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. [who pays? God pays!] On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." THAT'S what it's all about: why settle for merely winning the battle when you can overcome the enemy forces?

Think about this international terrorism situation a minute. WHAT'S NECESSARY TO REALLY "WIN"? If all existing terrorists were wiped out tomorrow, with no civilians being harmed (a bit of a challenge) - would that make an end to terrorism? If we wipe out those opponents of sufficient age to carry a gun, have we really put an end to terrorism, or just obtained a short breathing space? We would still be "the evil empire" or allies thereof in someone's eyes. We would have fostered hatred and desire for revenge in the next generation, or those who sympathize with the terrorists; Saddam Hussein has already warned of escalated conflict between Muslims and Christians. I'm not saying, with my puny political awareness, there should be no punishment; certainly in light of the attacks, some action is justified. I'm just raising the question Scripture begs, Is this really "winning"? There was a difference in how Germany was treated after WW1 and WW2; the decision to help her and Japan rebuild rather than carve her up has helped prevent a repeat of fascism, and made allies out of former enemies.

In the Biblical worldview, there's more to life than meets the eye. Who are the real enemies here? It's not just Osama bin Laden and his cohorts. There is always a spiritual side to any conflict. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." What happens to these powers if we just bloody the hills of Afghanistan? They gloat! In chapter 4(26f) Paul cautioned, "'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Do you see the spiritual dynamic? Our anger gives the Destroyer room to occupy a corner of our life.

To really win must involve more of a response than just flying lead. Loving enemies as God loved us while we were still sinners means sending sunshine and rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. Perhaps aid or job opportunities are needed in the areas from which these terrorist cells recruit their members. Our sharpest thinkers ought to be analyzing why terrorism thrives in certain situations, so we can go after the environmental factors that breed it, if at all possible. It is quite doubtful it can be eradicated altogether; people will always be free to sin, to lust for power, to coerce others unjustly to adopt their political preferences. But we are called to be faithful and godly, not to be successful.

Corrie ten Boom was stuck for the way years in a concentration camp, humiliated and degraded, especially in the delousing shower where the women were ogled by the leering guards. But she made it through that hell. And eventually she felt she had, by grace, forgiven even those fiends who guarded the shower stalls. So she preached forgiveness, for individuals, for all of Europe. She preached it in Holland, in the United States, and one Sunday, in Munich Germany. After the sermon, while greeting people, she saw a man come toward her, hand outstretched, saying, "Ja, Fraulein, it is wonderful that Jesus forgives us all our sins, just as you say." She remembered his face; it was the leering, lecherous, mocking face of an SS guard of the shower stall.

Her hand froze by her side. She could not forgive. She thought she had forgiven all. but she could not forgive when she met a guard, standing in solid flesh in front of her. Ashamed, horrified at herself, she prayed, "Lord, forgive me, I cannot forgive." And as she prayed she felt forgiven, accepted, in spite of her shabby performance as a famous forgiver.

Her hand was suddenly unfrozen; the ice of hate melted. Her hand went out. She forgave as she was forgiven.

Let us pray.

"Move on, Abe!": The Blessing of Adventuresome Faith - Sept.30/01 Gen.12:1-9; Heb.11:1-3,6-10

Faith Shaken

September has been an unsettling month. People's faith has been shaken due to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. We've lost confidence in the safety of flying: one municipal official from Burlington found this week he was the only passenger on a plane from Toronto to Atlanta; such a flight normally would have a couple of hundred passengers. Fear and uncertainty have rippled throughout the North American economy, causing massive layoffs in transportation and other sectors. Economists are talking about a recession. Folks saving for retirement have seen the value of their funds plummet as the stock market declined. It's a very uncertain time, a scary and threatening time for many. We realize the things we place confidence in, things like job and savings and even our loved ones - things that gave us security and we even took for granted - we realize these things can be very fragile, fleeting, and temporary. We need something, someone greater in which to trust. We need faith in order to go on.

Active Faith: Believe THAT or IN?

What is real faith - active faith? Let's pick an empty chair at random. (bring chair to front) I have no prior knowledge of or previous relationship with this chair. Do I have faith in this chair? Do I believe that it will support me? Well, let's see. It looks strong enough - not coming apart. Other people are sitting on this type of chair and they're not falling on the floor. Yes, I believe THAT this chair would support me.

But does that mean I have faith IN this chair? Not really. I'm not really sure it would do the job because I haven't tried it out. Because I believe THAT it will hold me, I will now make a commitment: I will try it out. As I sit, I am moving from theoretical belief to active faith. Here I go! Get ready! (sit) I have now put my trust IN the chair. I am relying on it fully. I can even STAND on the chair because my reason tells me that if it will support my weight sitting, it will support me standing. But if I start jumping up and down...I'm pushing it! (back to standing)

Chair support / Faith support

The faith many people say they have in God is like that first stage of faith, the non-committal type: they believe THAT God exists. This is quite different from belief IN God, involving total commitment and actual trust. My real faith in the chair prompted me to give myself to it, to take the risk that it might collapse under my weight. Call this the difference between "belief that" and "belief in". James describes the wimpiness of "belief that" in 2:19: "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder."

Faith & Relationship

Believing IN the chair by acting on that conviction has begun a relationship between the chair and myself. I have now officially sat in it, relying upon and entrusting myself entirely to it, 1 time. Is it silly to talk about a relationship with a chair? What if this were not just any chair but your "favourite" chair? An adult might get angry with someone else for sitting in their favourite chair, or moving it, or changing it somehow. A guy might habitually proceed after supper to his La-Z-Boy, kick off his slippers, put it up exactly two notches, prior to reading the paper or watching TV. This relationship might even become a permanent memory of his descendants, because he practised this behaviour so often.

Real "faith" then could be described as the lived-out attitude which prompts me to give or entrust myself to someone or something as a matter of habit over time. You rely on someone, you have confidence in them, based on repeated involvement. This is the kind of faith that gives us security and assurance through life. This is the kind of faith that Abraham demonstrated. James notes in 2:22f, "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend."

Faith needs to be active, its adventuresome response is blessed. Heb.11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Let's turn to

Genesis 12:1-9

and read about God's call and Abraham's response in faith. (read)

In verse 1 the Lord said to Abraham, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." "Move on, Abe! Time to get this show on the road! Pack up your kit and let's head on out of here!" So,

God's call shakes us out of our comfort zone

This was not like an adolescent with few possessions having a dream in the night saying, "Go west, young man, go west!" We read that Abraham was 75 years old at this point. He had flocks, and herds, and a staff of 318 trained men born in his own household. We'd say he had a good set-up. Can you imagine half the village of Blyth just up and moving because one person supposedly had a revelation from God?

Considering this was half way through the patriarch's life, perhaps we could liken it to what's now called a

Mid-life crisis (?)

Can't you imagine Sarah pleading with Abraham, "Let's not move, dear! Can't you try what other middle-aged men have done - buy a motorcycle (fast camel?), leave your shirt open and put on a gold necklace? Maybe even trim your beard a couple of inches? Must we move and leave all our neighbours behind? I've just joined a craft group that'll teach me how to make authentic Mesopotamian pottery!"

It really would be a huge change for the couple and all who they employed. God called him to leave his country, his people, his father's household - all that was familiar. Instead of the protection of a walled city, for the rest of their lives they would wander as nomads, "strangers in a foreign country, living in tents" (Heb.11:9). Much like refugees (as hundreds of thousands are on the move trying to leave Afghanistan). We'd be tempted to say, "No! No! I won't go!"

Comfort zones & easy chairs

Our comfort zone is dear to us; we hate being budged out of it. (newspaper ad) The bank I've frequented for decades has come out with an ad campaign using the image of - of all things - an easy chair! It says, "1% below prime - Borrowing can be this comfortable!" While at the branch the other day I looked around and counted five big posters that showed this same big easy chair. The advertising marketers know what's dear to our psyche, how to appeal to us; they know we long for comfort, and dread hardship. But the life of faith, totally committed to God and doing what He wants, may require us to give up our comfort, to leave behind things our neighbours have come to expect. Our Lord Jesus said in

Luke 9:23-25 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"

Faith prompts us to leave the world behind and move out of our comfort zone if that's where the Master is leading.

Of course, such dramatic change leaves us asking, "Why?" Genesis 12:2f: "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Not very specific, is it? Just "I will bless you." "C'mon, Lord, can't you give us a bit more detail than that? How'm I going to explain this to the in-laws?" But it's not until later that God sheds more light on the overall plan - that He's going to give them the whole land as a place for their multitude of offspring, that He plans to be Abraham's God and God of His descendants (Gen.15:7,17:6ff). Why are we shocked out of our comfort zone? Because

God's vision far exceeds our human dreams (since God delights to deal in the realm of the impossible)

This was Christ's attitude all through life. People were drawn to Him partly because of the supernatural things that God kept accomplishing through Him; they couldn't wait to see what God was going to pull off next! In Mark 10 Christ was explaining how difficult it was to enter God's kingdom, especially for the rich - like trying to fit a camel through the eye of a needle. When the disciples asked worriedly, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked pointedly at them and said,

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27)

Do you hear that bald assertion? "All things are possible with God." Echoes what the angel Gabriel said announcing Christ's conception, "Nothing is impossible with God." (Lk.1:37) We get shocked out of our conventional comforts and plans because God's vision, God's agenda is far bigger than anything we would dream possible. Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, says he's gotten to the point in his life that, if he can figure it out, it's probably not from God!

Back to the plan. Just what is God up to with Abraham? Let's read again 12:2-3, this time from the Bible in Basic English: "And I will make of you a great nation, blessing you and making your name great; and you will be a blessing: To them who are good to you will I give blessing, and on him who does you wrong will I put my curse: and you will become a name of blessing to all the families of the earth." Did you catch that? "You will BE a blessing."

God's plan is not about obtaining material blessing, but changing us to be "blessers"

If you've coming to worship because of prosperity theology, imagining that if you go through the religious motions and make the right noises God's going to bless you materially, you are sadly misled. It is true that living an obedient godly life will help spare you from many of the painful results that afflict those who willfully sin, but it doesn't guarantee you won't suffer or will wind up better off materially than your atheist neighbour. For God is more concerned with our inner spiritual state than with our outer prosperity. God wants to fundamentally transform us from being "me-centred" to being "other-centred" -- moving outward in genuine caring like the Trinity. It's not a matter of just saying, "Bless me, God!" but going on to saying, "Make me a blessing!" Otherwise we'd be like the fellow who prayed at night:

"God, bless me and my wife;

my son John and his wife;

us four, no more, Amen."

In Luke 10 a man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbour?" because he knew the Old Testament command to love your neighbour and presumably wanted to draw the circle of obligation as small as possible. After sharing the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus asks, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (Luke 10:36) Our thinking starts out from the wrong angle, "What's in it for me?" rather than, "How can I share God's grace by helping someone?" In

Acts 20:35 More blessed to give than to receive

Jesus is quoted as saying there's more blessing in giving than in receiving. In John 15, talking about how we can be connected to Him the vine, Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)

John 15:8; 1:16 Bear fruit / one blessing after another

The gospel-writer summed up the impact Jesus had on all those who knew Him in His earthly existence by saying, "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." Like the Eveready Bunny, the blessings just kept coming and coming and... God was beckoning Abraham to share the basic thrust of Jesus' life in becoming a source of blessing to others. The ripple effect would reach around the globe, as we're gathered here today reflecting on Abe's response to God's invitation. Mind you, being a source of blessing

Requires Relationship

because we can't do it on our own steam. The branches wither quickly when they're separated from the main stem. When someone lets us down for the umpteenth time; when they forget what we say; when they're being a nuisance...it's hard to love. One author termed such individuals "EGR" people: that stands for "Extra Grace Required". Grace that we don't feel like drumming up on our own - we're too exhausted - but grace that is ours through the habit of connecting regularly and frequently with our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus.

God's call to do something and thus discover "active faith" results in a crisis of belief. Will we or won't we? Gen.12:4 says, "So Abram left, as the Lord had told him." He responded promptly, as at other times (17:23; 21:14; 22:3). At journey's end, we read in verses 7-8 that he built a couple of altars and "called on the name of the Lord". Whatever other local sanctuaries and altars may have been around honouring the local gods or goddesses, Abram went public; he built an altar specifically to Yahweh, the Lord. This could have been a bold and risky act, defying the local religion of the day. So

Faith's response to the crisis of belief results in outer boldness and inner dependence on God

Judges 6:25-27 Gideon tears down altar & pole

Gideon was told by God to tear down his father's altar to Baal, and cut down the pole to the female goddess Asherah, in addition to replacing it with an altar to the Lord. Gideon was afraid of his other family members and the men of the town, so did it at night, but he still went through with it. Even though next day the crowd was demanding his death. Gideon went public and God honoured his faith, transforming him from a coward into a mighty leader or judge.

Luke 2:25-38 Simeon, Anna praise God, tell others

Simeon and Anna are both old (Anna is described as "very old" - 84), but not too old to respond in faith to God's nudging. Joseph and Mary bring the baby Jesus to the Temple, scarcely a month old. But Simeon and Anna both sense that God is about something very big through this young infant. They make quite a to-do over the young couple with their helpless babe, praising God aloud and speaking to others about God's salvation coming through this wee one. And the kid's not even talking, not out of his diapers! Yet they put feet to their faith, they went out on a limb predicting great things of this one whose adult years they would not live long enough to see. But they saw with the eyes of faith - eyes that see what's not visible.

How is God calling you out of YOUR comfort zone today?

What's He asking you to leave behind, to trust Him for?

How does God want you to become more of a "blesser" than a "blessee"?

What materially might He be suggesting you can give up, or re-prioritize?

Is your faith active enough to "go public" and internally depend more on the Lord?

As a new congregation, in some ways we have many parallels with Abraham and Sarah in our journey to this point over the past few months. We have ventured out of the "comfortable pew", the known and familiar, and are charting new territory. In meeting here we are building an altar and calling on the Lord's name, seeking His guidance for our next steps. It's been kind of scary at times; but with God leading, it's an exciting adventure. We bless Him for having brought us thus far, as we endeavour to be obedient to His Word. Our trust is in God, not fallible human institutions; we want to be Jesus' agents bringing his blessing, grace, and righteousness into everyday life wherever we're planted.

"Billy"

Tony Campolo once served as a counselor at a junior-high camp. He saw how boys that age have a strange and often cruel sense of humour. They'd pick on some unfortunate, off-beat kid and ridicule him, making him the brunt of their jokes. In particular they picked on Billy, a 13-year-old who couldn't walk right or talk right. He dragged his body across the campground in spastic fashion, and when he spoke, his words were markedly slurred. Campolo recalls...

The boys at the camp would often mimic his gestures, and they thought that was funny. One day I heard him asking for directions. I can even now hear his almost indiscernible, painfully spoken words: "Which...way...is...the craft shop?" The boy he asked, mocking his slurred speech and using convoluted hand language said, "It's over -- there...Billy boy." But the cruelest thing they did was on a Thursday morning. Billy's cabin had been assigned to lead morning devotions, and his cabin mates all voted for him to be the speaker. They wanted to get him up there in front of everybody so they could be entertained by his struggling attempts to say anything at all. When I found out about it, I was furious, but there was nothing I could do. It didn't seem to bother Billy! Somehow he dragged himself up to the rostrum as waves of snickers flowed over the audience. It took Billy almost half a minute to say, "Je--sus...loves...me...and...I...love...Je--sus." When he finished, there was stunned silence. When I looked over my shoulder I saw that all over the place there were junior-high boys with tears streaming down their cheeks. Some of them had their heads bowed. A revival broke out!

I travel a great deal, and it's surprising how often I come upon people who say something like, "you probably don't remember me. I became a Counselor at a junior-high camp where you were a counselor. And do you know what the turning point was for me?" I don't have to ask. I always know what I'm going to hear. "Billy!" [Campolo concludes, it was when] a spastic kid named Billy simply declared his love for Christ that everything changed.

Abraham and Sarah stepped out in faith. Billy stepped up to the front in faith -- trusting, knowing, loving, depending upon his Saviour. Jesus wants to receive you too into a relationship that's really an adventure. Trust Him today - then go public like Billy! Let us pray.

"A Fistful of Thanks" - Thanksgiving Sunday, October 7/01

Thankfulness makes such a difference in life. Hans Selye is a famous researcher who has studied stress. He claims there are 2 attitudes that influence the quality of everyday life more than any other; on these two emotions, he says, "depend our peace of mind, our feelings of security or insecurity, of fulfillment or frustration, in short, the extent to which we can make a success of life." The most destructive emotion is revenge. But in contrast, he says, "among all the emotions, there is one which more than any other, accounts for the absence or presence of stress in human relations: that is the feeling of gratitude."

Gratitude - being thankful, grateful, appreciative. That's what this holiday weekend is supposed to be about, Thanksgiving. Yet we take so much for granted. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to stop and thank the Lord for all good gifts that surround us - rather than plow blindly on without acknowledging them. Compared to Halloween, although Thanksgiving is far more important, it's a no-hype holiday as far as the world is concerned, for non-believers are loathe to acknowledge there is Someone to whom thanks ought to be given. Yet GK Chesterton said, "If my children wake up on Christmas morning and have somebody to thank for putting candy in their stocking, have I no one to thank for putting two feet in mine?"

It's reported there are 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of thanksgiving. If we were to deal with each one this morning, we'd never get to the turkey! But if you have five fingers on a hand you'll be able to follow along these five broad categories for which to be thankful. Then maybe when you're sitting at the table waiting for pumpkin pie and whipped cream you can test yourself to see if you remember all there is to appreciate besides dessert!

First, we can GIVE THANKS...FOR THE OBVIOUS. The word thanksgiving is associated in many people's minds with images of turkey and a family gathering around a feast of good food. Our modern-day celebration has its roots in the "harvest home" celebration in Great Britain, and the first official thanksgiving feast in the New World by the Pilgrims in 1621. So the obvious thing to be thankful for is food. In the Old Testament, we find a relevant ritual in Deuteronomy 26(9-12). The Hebrew farmer presents the firstfruits of his crop at the altar and says a little recitation to mark the occasion. It ends, "He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me." [The account continues] "Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household."

A more general reference to thank offerings is found in Leviticus 7(12-15). The NIV Study Bible notes that thank offerings were given in gratitude for deliverance from sickness, trouble, or death, or for a blessing received. As an example of rescue from sickness or death - Psalm 116:3,4: "The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, save me!'" Verse 17 concludes, "I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD." As an example of rescue from trouble, there is Psalm 107, which gives several cases of people wandering in wastelands, being imprisoned, or in peril on the sea, and crying out to Yahweh in their trouble. After they are brought to safety, the Psalm says repeatedly, "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."(vv.8,15,21,31) These are obvious things for which to give thanks - provision of harvest and rescue from danger.

But besides the obvious, we can GIVE THANKS...FOR WHO GOD IS. When I did a word search on my computer Bible for "thanks" the most common occurrence was this phrase, repeated several times in the Old Testament: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Some references: 2 Chronicles 5:13;7:3; Ps.106:1; 107:1; 118:1,29; 136:1; Jeremiah 33:11) The focus here is not on what God DOES but who He IS, His personal qualities - fundamentally good and loving. This is what shone out from Jesus and attracted people to Him. Jesus is the "exact representation of God's being", "the image of the invisible God" (Heb.1:3; Col.1:15), so God's goodness and love were evident in Him. Thus regardless of what our present circumstances might be -- whatever "fix" we're in -- we can praise and thank God for being the God He is, good and loving. And not a fickle or flighty affection, but a steadfast, enduring, "never-give-up-on-you" kind of love and devotion.

Related to this is thanking God for His Word, His self-expression, making known to us who He is. Psalm 119:62 says, "At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws." To the Jews, the Torah was a precious gift entrusted to them through Moses. But the Old Testament pointed to a Messiah who was to come, Jesus the Christ. So the New Testament states, "In these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son" (Heb.1:2); John calls Jesus God's "Word", God's revealing or communicating of Himself (1:1). So we thank God for not only BEING who He is -- good and loving -- but also telling us and showing us that through the Bible and Jesus personally. Paul exclaimed in 2 Cor.9:15, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" That is, Jesus - "God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son..." (Jn.3:16)

Are you with me? We can give thanks (1) for the obvious; and give thanks (2) for who God is. Next, we can GIVE THANKS...FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US. Psalm 105:1-2 says, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." The Psalm goes on to recite the story of God promising the land of Canaan to Abraham, saving his descendants from famine through Joseph, delivering the people from slavery in Egypt, and bringing them safely through the wilderness while providing supernaturally for them. Even to the detail of water flowing from a rock in the desert; in 1Cor.10:3 Paul identified this rock they drank from as Christ accompanying them (another reference to Jesus as "living water", hinted at in the Old Testament!). In short, then, Psalm 105 celebrates the many wonders God brought to pass in helping His covenant people; this is their "story" of what He did for them. Each of us would have our own story we could tell of God's intervention in our own lives.

Psalm 75:1 says, "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds." God's "Name" being "near" is like finding a phone handy when you need to call 911 right away; it means real help is close by, through calling on the Lord. Psalm 118:21 thanks God for answered prayer when the author was in "anguish", "pushed back and about to fall". These are examples of thanking God for what He has done for us in this life, practical help through daily emergencies.

But there's more to existence than just this life, so we can also thank God for all He has done for us eternally. Psalm 105(8-11) praises God for remembering His covenant forever, confirming his oath to Abraham and the patriarchs to give them the land of Canaan, an "everlasting covenant". For believers in Christ, God's promise is a better deal than just earthly lands; He promises us an eternal Kingdom! This began to take effect for us when God chose us. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says, "we ought always to thank God for you...because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." Because Jesus went to the cross for us, taking the punishment for our sins, we can exclaim with Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:57: "thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul describes what God accomplished in a little more detail in Romans 6(17f) and 7(24f): "thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness...Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Along with this rescue from sin's power and the corresponding deadly result, believers are granted a share in God's eternal space, the Kingdom. We're told in Colossians 1:12f to be "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Thanksgiving doesn't stop at the table with the turkey; it embraces the everlasting table with our Lord, the Lamb who was slain but reigns forever.

We can be thankful that as Christians we are now "part of the family" of the church throughout the world. Paul was always thanking God for his fellow believers (Rom.1:8; 1Cor.1:4; Phil.1:3; Col.1:3; 1 Thess.1:12; 2 Tim.1:3). For example, he asks in 1 Thess.3:9, "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" That's the way church should be - thankful just to be together!

Besides what God has already done FOR us in the past, we can also GIVE THANKS...FOR WHAT HE'S DOING IN US. Christianity is not a "done deal" in that God's changing us who trust in Christ day by day into new creatures, through His Holy Spirit who lives right inside us. Did you know we are perpetually "on parade"? Think of the last parade you were at, how the traffic is stopped, normal life comes to a standstill, and everyone watches the stars of the show as they parade down the street in their fancy floats or spiffy outfits. Add in a midway or carnival atmosphere, with the smell of juicy hot dogs, delicious popcorn and the appetizing aroma of candy floss. (Shouldn't do this to you just before lunch, should I?) With that parade or carnival imagery in mind, hear 2Cor.2:14: "thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." Did you catch that? The Lord is making such marvelous changes in us that we're perpetually "on parade"; walking with Him, our spiritual relationship is so remarkable to others that it wafts through the air to them like an irresistible fragrance. God's goodness and love are saturating our lives and provide a startling contrast to the world's cynicism and pessimism.

Another aspect of what God's doing in us is spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit distributes a variety of gifts, from teaching and encouraging and giving and showing mercy right through to administration and prophesy. Paul said in 1Cor.14:18, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you"; yet in public he preferred to speak intelligibly so others would learn and be built up in their faith. We can be thanking God for the grace given to each of us in terms of spiritual gifts for building up the church and accomplishing God's work in the world. We each can have a meaningful ministry for Jesus. Paul said to Timothy, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." (1 Timothy 1:12) The apostle was thankful Jesus had called him aboard as part of the crew in Christian work. That rings true for all of us who are serving God in daily obedience.

How are we doing? We're giving thanks for...the obvious; who God is; what He has done for us; and what He is doing in us. One last thing. There may be times when it seems you've been forgotten, come up with the short end of the stick (or wishbone) -- times when God's blessings are not so apparent. Yet we can GIVE THANKS...IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Yes, you heard me right; even when thinks are not going in our favour, Christians can still be thankful. Some good verses on this: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (Sounds like God definitely wants us to do it!) Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Whatever we do is to be blanketed in thanksgiving. Or Ephesians 5:20: "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." So thankfulness even in the worst circumstances can be something that's distinctive about Christians, it's a characteristic that will really stand out.

For an example of hope in the midst of hardship, take the prophet Habakkuk. He knew barbarian hordes were going to be invading the country and taking all the supplies. Yet Habakkuk's faith in God bolsters him to face deprivation. He says in 3:17-18, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk's not going to let circumstances get him down!

Or take Paul on board a ship that's caught in a storm in the Mediterranean and about to be smashed to bits off the coast of Malta. In Acts 27 Paul urges his ship-mates to have something to eat because they've been starving in suspense the last 2 weeks and need strength. He takes some bread and gives thanks to God in front of them all. Encouraged by his example, the others eat as well, and all 276 are able to make it to shore when the ship breaks up. Perhaps we're tempted in the comfort of our homes to skip saying grace, but Paul makes a point of it in the dark and wet of the storm-tossed deck.

Later in life, when Paul was a prisoner on "death row" for his beliefs, he sensed his life would be taken shortly. Yet even then he finds reason to give thanks: he says in Philippians 2:17, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." How can he be so up-beat when he may die soon? Perhaps he took his cue from the Master. Paul calls something "the cup of thanksgiving" in 1 Cor.10:16 -- what is it? The cup of communion. The night Jesus was betrayed, he took the cup, gave thanks for it, then offered it to His disciples explaining it represented His own life-blood poured out to forgive the sins of many (Mt.26:27). The Lord was able to give thanks even for His own death, knowing it was part of God's plan to reconcile the world to Himself. So no matter what the worst thing is that befalls us, we can find grace in Christ to thank God for it, trusting God can work sovereignly to bring good out of anything for those who love Him. Give thanks...in all circumstances.

Sometimes a touch of hardship heightens our appreciation for all the gifts that normally surround us, that we're tempted to take for granted. Martin Luther observed: "If in his gifts and benefits [God] were more sparing and close-handed, we should learn to be thankful...the greater God's gifts and works, the less they are regarded."

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that if the constellations appeared only once in a thousand years, imagine what an exciting event it would be. But because they're there every night, we barely give them a look!

The first winter the Pilgrims spent in America was disastrous: there was little food, and 60 of the 110 settlers died. In later years when times were more prosperous, the custom developed of placing 3 kernels of corn beside each plate at Thanksgiving to remind people of the hardships and famine of that first winter. It will help us all be more thankful if we can step back and look at all God's provided from the viewpoint of those who are less fortunate.

Here's a "3 kernels" story...Dr.Robert Hill was an author who while visiting Thailand was invited to a special celebration given by the King and Queen. His Thai guide asked several questions as he drove them to the pavilion. The boy knew a little English and was delighted to carry on a conversation. When he asked where the Hills lived, they told him Richmond, Virginia. The boy asked then, "Oh, you are a rich man?" Bob laughed and told him, no, he wasn't rich. Bob recalls, "Then he asked if we owned an automobile and I told him we had two cars in our family. His next question was about the house where we lived. I told him it was a rather simple house with ten rooms. He was amazed at its size, especially when he mentioned that he and his family lived in just 2 small rooms. Then he asked about our family. We told him we had four healthy children, two in college and two still at home. [He] was silent for a moment or so, then replied, "You are a rich man." We laughed, but deep in our hearts we knew he was right, though we had never thought of it in those terms. We were rich. But were we thankful?"

For me, that story was brought home by a photo in Tuesday's paper showing Afghan refugees coming from the border with Pakistan, clinging precariously to the top of a tall truck. This area has suffered from 23 years of war and five years without rain...and we think WE had a rough summer! Most remarkable thing is, if you look closely, hunkered down in amongst all the baggage, is the face of a little boy grinning ear to ear. He's alive! He's free! He's happy!

This picture is my own version of the "3 kernels", reminding me that I really have so much for which to give thanks. That is...(here's the whipped cream quiz!) give thanks for the obvious; for who God is; for what He's done for us; for what He's doing in us; and, lastly, give thanks in all circumstances. Let's bless Him now in prayer.

"Exercise Your Spiritual Gift" - Romans 12:1-8 October 14/01

A. GIFTS ARE FOR OPENING

Gifts are something to get really excited about. Especially when they're gifts from God, although we usually treasure human gifts, too. Chuck Swindoll tells about two brothers who delighted in sending a particular gift to each other back and forth each Christmas. It was just a pair of pants. But they kept dreaming up fun ways to package this ordinary gift, so it was a challenge to open.

First, the pants were tied to a car wheel and run over snow and ice, then removed from the wheel, wrapped in a lovely box, and presented at Christmastime. Next year, the other brother place those same pants in a form where wet cement was poured and allowed to dry. They were presented that year along with a sledge hammer.

The next year they were put in the framing of a small tool shed, and the entire shed had to be ripped apart in order to get to the pants. Now the next year, the same old sorry, miserable pair of pants sat in the front seat of a car which was demolished, and compressed into a flattened piece of metal. It took a tractor and crowbars to get to that same pair of pants. In this case, it obviously wasn't so much the actual gift that was given, as the fun and joy in giving it.

We can be thankful our Heavenly Father doesn't encase the gifts He gives us through the Holy Spirit in concrete, or a crushed jalopy. They come ready to use, bringing joy the moment we receive the gift and start putting it to use.

There are three principal passages in the New Testament on spiritual gifts: Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Corinthians 12. Today I'd like to focus on Romans 12, because it gives an excellent introduction to the subject. Next week we'll check out Ephesians with its emphasis on leadership, and Lord willing, the third week 1 Corinthians which features more the "sign" gifts which were causing controversy in that church and others since.

B. THE BIG PICTURE: Romans 12:1-3

The first few verses of Romans 12 help us get out of a "gimme gimme" mode when talking about God's gifts through the Holy Spirit. They help us see the Big Picture, from outside ourselves. Romans 12:1 beings, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy..." Park there a minute and ponder the significance of this "Therefore". In chapters 1-3 of the book Paul spelled out God's legitimate wrath on sinful, rebellious humanity. In chapters 4-11 he illuminated God's wonderful grace and mercy in saving and empowering those who believe in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles. We were lost - fodder for the flames - but God reached out and rescued us through the loving sacrifice of Jesus at the cross in our place. We were lost - but now we're found. That's why Paul puts the "therefore" there, indicating, "God has done so much for us...here's how we can respond." He writes, "in view of" - considering, in light of - "God's mercy"; how can we withhold anything from Him to whom we owe so much?

"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices..." Paul must have seen many sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem; in those cases the animal was humanely killed before it was placed on the altar. But here he suggests we present our own beings, very much alive, to be entirely at God's disposal. Faith, if it is real faith, expresses itself through love on the altar of our daily, public life. Someone has said, "The problem with living sacrifices is they keep trying to crawl off the altar." Putting God's gifts to work practically is where the rubber meets the road in real Christian life.

Verse 2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..." Stop being fashioned according to the shape of our present age, don't feel pressured to keep in step with society. Jesus was completely "out of fashion" with the religious and social leaders of his day, yet he was the most truly alive and relationally "with it" person who ever lived. Following Him puts us "out of fashion" with today's avant garde, even the weekly lifestyle patterns of our neighbours. God calls us to be non-conformists as far as temptation and so-called "getting ahead" are concerned. Yet some of the most beautiful and solidly community-supportive people I've known have been committed Christians. We're to be molded by the Divine Potter, not by social pressure. Even then, Blackaby points out, the cup does not go off and "do its own thing" apart from the hand of the Potter; God wants us to remain right there in His hand to be a cup used in His way.

What is "the pattern of this world"? It's been termed the rat race, survival of the fittest, dog eat dog, watch your back. Fundamentally the approach the worldly take is to ask, "What's in MY best interest?" Paul urges us to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind...able to test and approve what GOD's will is..." For the believer, the transformed and renewed, our approach is no longer, "What's in MY best interest?" but, "What's GOD up to?" And, "What is my role (in Christ) in what God wants?" It's a whole shift in focus from me-centred to Christ-centred.

Verse 3 goes on, "For by the grace given to me..." Grace given; that's the emphasis of the first 11 chapters again. All God has done for us, and what He's presently bringing about in us. Undeserved, entirely free, as a gift received in faith. Verse 6 also mentions "the grace given us". We have been raised up in God's favour so much beyond what we really deserved. By that grace, Paul continues, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you thought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment..." It's a shift in world-view, from self-centred to Christ-centred. In view of God's mercy, how off-track we were without Him, none of us in the Christian life are hot-shots compared to our Saviour. The "Big Picture" of God's deliverance from bondage to sin and death helps us see ourselves as just people whom God loved and helped. There's nothing to boast about, no matter how sensational a gift we received later on. It's all by the Lord's sheer mercy. This will help prevent some of the problems the church at Corinth experienced, where people were comparing their gifts and getting proud as a result. Sober judgment will allow us to see ourselves through "faith's eyes" as God sees us, no longer belonging to ourselves but to Him.

C.One body, different parts: Romans 12:4-5

Have you ever tried to clean out your ear with your elbow? Or to comb your hair with your feet? To eat a sandwich with your belly button? In verses 4-5 we hit an image that surfaces repeatedly in other passages where Paul talks about spiritual gifts - that of one body with many parts. "These members do not all have the same function," he explains; each is custom-suited to specific purposes. A body would find it difficult to hear through a finger or smell through a toe, so Paul's arguing we need all the variety of gifts God provides different people -- and to not be complaining that so-and-so got a different or more noticeable gift. We are all together "in Christ", sharing a common mission and purpose; each member "belongs to all the others". This body transcends all our institutional divisions such as churches or denominations.

D. Improving Your Serve: Rom.12:6-8

We come to the section that mentions 7 particular gifts. Three of these, prophets, teachers, and leaders, are included in passages elsewhere. Patricia Brown identifies 18 gifts altogether in the Romans - Ephesians - 1Corinthians sections; Peter Wagner lists 25 spiritual gifts in Scripture, Charles Bryant 32. If we can get a handle on 18 over the next 3 weeks that will be a good start!

Prophecy

Paul writes, "If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith." The prophetic gift is one of vision and insight, telling forth what one has seen or otherwise had something revealed from God. It may refer to the present time or the future. In 1 Corinthians 14(3) Paul describes prophecy as speaking to others "for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort". (Does that take away some of the "spookiness" for you?) Basically a prophet tells what God has shown them - that's it. In the comics, Superman had X-ray vision; prophets may have an ability to detect things about a person or group that aren't ordinarily known.

Others describe prophecy as "the special ability that God gives...to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance." Or: "think of a prophet as one who can know past history, see present occurrences, and then understand the bigger picture. A prophet is called to instruct, warn, correct, and forecast the end result."

How might you tell if you have the prophetic gift? You find yourself agreeing with statements like these: "People have told me that I have communicated timely and urgent messages that must have come directly from the Lord." "I sometimes have a strong sense of what God wants to say to people in response to particular situations." "I sometimes feel that I know exactly what God wants to do in ministry at a specific point in time." "I am energized when I speak about what needs to be changed in church and other arenas." (and it's not just your personal opinion)

Serving

The word "serving" (diakonia, from which we get "deacon") may refer to service in general, though some see it as a reference to ordained or diaconal ministry. Wagner defines it as "the special ability...to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God's work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired results." In short, these people get the job done! Christ's church would be much poorer without this type of unsung volunteer hero.

Those with this gift could agree to statements such as: "I enjoy being called upon to do special jobs around the church." "Others have mentioned that I seem to enjoy routine tasks and do well at them." "I prefer being active and doing something rather than just sitting around talking, reading or listening to a speaker." (like you are now - yeah, right!)

Teaching

Where would we be without the teachers? Not just the folk who with dedication pass on instruction and fill our brains; but teachers who get you excited about a subject, who make the Bible come alive, who give you practical insight you want to try out in your Christian walk? Raise your hand if you're here today and can remember one Sunday School or retreat or small group teacher who put such meaning and life into the lesson that it really impacted you spiritually. (show of hands)

The test of a good teacher is that they don't just communicate information, but do it in such a way that something is actually learned by the other person. There is "the ability to clearly explain and effectively apply the truth of Jesus Christ." A person with the gift of teaching might agree with the following: "People have told me that I have helped them learn Biblical truth in meaningful ways." "Studying the Bible and sharing my insights with others is very satisfying for me." "I am good at giving directions to people so that they can complete projects successfully."

Encouraging

What a blessing encouragers are! Whenever you bump into these people, as you walk away you feel like you've been picked up, dusted off, and given a boost on your way. No church can have too many encouragers! Patricia Brown asks, "Do you come alongside persons to help? Do you work with the lesser able and undergird people to use and do their very best?" Wagner says such folk "minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement and counsel to other members of the Body in such a way that they feel helped and healed."

Some statements you might agree with if you have the gift of encouragement (also called exhortation): "People have come to me in their afflictions or suffering, and told me that they have been helped, relieved and healed." "I have a desire to effectively counsel the perplexed, the guilty or the addicted." "I often praise coworkers for their good work and attitudes."

Giving

Paul says in verse 8, "If [a man's gift] is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously." Charles Bryant comments, "Every member of the church has the privilege and duty of contributing money to the church's ministries. The Bible teaches tithing and exempts no one from it. but God gives the gift of giving or liberality to certain persons to make money to give money to the church. One test of this gift is that usually the more money these persons willingly give, the more God blesses them with the power to make more...You will never know if you have the gift of giving until you exceed your tithe. Go beyond the biblical imperative to tithe and see what God has in store for you. If you have the gift of liberality, you will know it by the power to fulfill it."

A giver might agree, "I find I manage money well in order to give liberally to the Lord's work." "I have been willing to maintain a lower standard of living in order to benefit God's work." Or, "When I am moved by an appeal to give to God's work, I usually can find the money I need to do it."

Leadership

Paul cautions those who exercise leadership that they should govern diligently, not get carried away on a power trip or slack off. Patricia Brown adds, "If you are controlling, domineering, and need to be a leader, this gift is not for you!...These gifted individuals are able to share information and power. They enable those around them to realize and accomplish their goals. They are good managers and administrators. These persons take leadership roles to equip the church, the Christian community, to work in ways that bring about God's will." Wagner says that leaders "set goals in accordance with God's purpose for the future and...communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God." Would that it were always so!

A leader might find these statements to be true: "When I speak, people seem to listen and agree." "When I set goals, others seem to accept them readily." "When I join a group, others seem to back off and expect me to take the leadership."

Mercy

The final gift of the seven Paul mentions here is mercy. Paul encourages those who show mercy to do it cheerfully. Wagner's definition is that people who have this gift "feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals (both Christian and non-Christian) who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and...translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christ's love and alleviate the suffering." I'm reminded of Dorcas in Acts 9(36), who is described as "always doing good and helping the poor", including making clothing for them.

Those with the gift of mercy may resonate with these statements. "I have a desire to work with those who have physical or mental problems, to alleviate their suffering." "I enjoy visiting in hospitals and/or retirement homes, and feel I do well in such a ministry." "People call on me to help those who are less fortunate." Or, "I would enjoy spending time with a lonely, shut-in person or someone in prison."

Did you find yourself in one of those descriptions? Then maybe that's your spiritual gift. If not, don't be alarmed, that's just part of the list. The key thing is to be aware of your gifts and consciously making yourself available to serve the Lord in that area, because He will energize you to carry out that service for others; He's ministering through you, and that's a blast!

PS: The Mailman

Sometimes our gifts find us in spite of our formal training. Tony Campolo tells of a young professor of English literature at a state university who quit his job and left the teaching career. His mother asked Tony to go see him, concerned that with just a PhD in English literature there wouldn't be many other jobs he could do if not teaching. Going to his place, Tony discovered the former professor was now a mailman. He recalls:

Being raised on the Protestant work ethic, I then said what you would expect me to say: "Well, if you're going to be a mailman, be the best mailman you can possibly be!" "I'm a lousy mailman," he answered with a laugh. "Everybody else in my post office gets the mail delivered by 2:30 in the afternoon, or three at the latest. I never get it delivered until about five!" I inquired, "What takes you so long?"

"I visit," he said. "You can't imagine how many people on my route never got visited until I became the mailman. There are interesting people on my route who are interested in literature. There are hurting people who need the comfort that comes from the great poets. There are people who read and want to share what they've learned. I can't go to sleep at night!" And when I asked him why, he said, "It's hard to go to sleep after you've drunk 20 cups of coffee."

The following year, Tony found out that the people of his mail route had gotten together and thrown a surprise birthday party for him at the local legion hall. He was special to them, and they were special to him. His mail route had become a mission field.

May God help each of us discover our special gifts and begin exercising them - even at the risk of a few extra cups of coffee! Let us pray.

"Spiritual Body-building" - Ephesians 4:4-16 Oct.21/01

INTRO: BACK IN BUSINESS

In an article titled "What's Wrong with Sitting", Bill Shapiro writes: "My back and I were on the verge of a breakup; I was ready to call it quits. Our first 28 years together had been pure bliss. We were always there for each other -- you know, supportive but not controlling, interested but not overbearing. I guess it was about 4 years ago that things took a turn for the worse. The first sign of trouble was a certain testiness between us, and I decided to give up jogging. Long runs by the river had been my exercise, my outlet, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make to save the relationship. My back wasn't satisfied. So I started buying it gifts: a lumbar support, a self-massager, an ergonomically correct chair. But by that point communication had broken down almost completely. I never knew when my back would act out, when I'd have to make an excuse or an apology. A few nights I even found myself sleeping on the floor...Eventually I came to my senses and realized I wanted my back back. So we went into therapy..."

This article puts in a humorous way a painful problem: back injury. Half the people of working age report suffering some sort of back trouble each year; 80% of people experience lower back pain sometime in their lives. Doctors report that back troubles are the second most frequent cause of complaint, right after coughs. So I should not have been surprised this summer when between moving boxes of books, a piano, and a heavy antique concrete door sill, something went wrong with my back. I would get up out of my easy chair after sitting a while and find myself hobbling across the room. The doctor diagnosed a herniated disc bulging against the sciatic nerve, and scheduled me for physiotherapy. To get started the doctor gave me a sheet with half a dozen back exercises. So 2 or 3 times a day my family is getting used to seeing me down on the floor, contorted in various exercise positions designed to strengthen my back muscles. (diagrams)

(You may wonder what all this has to do with a sermon, but we're getting there!) The physiotherapist explained that the spine is only designed to take about 40 pounds of load. What really strengthens a back is all the other muscles and ligaments through the abdomen. He said it's like the ropes supporting a mast on a sailing ship. A light started to go on. I thought of the guy wires around a TV or radio tower; or on feed elevators, the brace wires sticking out alongside that support an auger through mid-air. God has designed the disks in our back to marvelously heal themselves (though there may be several weeks of pain in the meantime); medical experts advise back sufferers to start a routine of daily exercise to strengthen the "guy wire" muscles that brace the spine and give it much more strength, so the whole body can be supported.

When talking about spiritual gifts in the church, Paul used the analogy of a body with many parts. Ephesians 4 mentions the leadership gifts that provide structure within a church, as a spine supports the rest of the body. Yet the spine or the leaders are but one part; the whole body gets involved in carrying the load. How much of my body gets involved in doing those back exercises? All of it, from head to foot! First let's look at the passage overall, as it describes...

A: CHRIST'S BODY-BUILDING PROGRAM

Ephesians 4:4 says, "There is one body and one Spirit..." It's easy to lose sight of that when we start talking about spiritual gifts, how so-and-so has this gift which is very different from the ability God's given somebody else. The Corinthians started boasting about their own abilities and forgot they were supposed to be one group, all together. In verse 7 Paul writes, "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." Grace given - as we saw emphasized last week in Romans 12(3,6). We are changed when we become Christians; we give the Lord Jesus permission to renovate our lives, and He delights in giving us at least one of a whole variety of special abilities to carry out within the fellowship of His church. Whatever the Holy Spirit enables us to do, it's by sheer grace, a free undeserved gift.

Verse 11 says, "He...gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (why?) to prepare God's people for works of service," to the building up of Christ's body. The verb "prepare" can be translated to equip, to outfit, as when someone goes moose-hunting and needs quite a bit of special gear to survive out there in the bush. These four gifted types of persons - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor/teachers - are equippers, outfitters, your "tool-time Taylors" in a spiritual sense. The big picture is of the whole group of believers, furnished with what they need, then getting on with the work of ministry, applying their particular gifts so as to build up Christ's body the church.

This is again emphasized in verses 15-16: we the Body "grow up" into Christ the Head, the Body itself being built up as each part does its work, joined and held together by every supporting ligament. RSV puts it, "knit together by every joint with which it is supplied." It's a corporate effort, all pulling together, like those exercise diagrams. Maybe the apostles prophets evangelists and pastor-teachers are like the spine, giving structure and support to all the other various body-members, telling it not to slouch. Those with these leadership gifts may find themselves telling church-goers to "straighten up! Put some spine in your spirituality, some backbone in your beliefs!"

A spine by itself is pretty useless. It's just a rack from which the active members of the body hang. In the church in medieval times, a harmful distinction was made between the "ordained" and the "laity"; it was even felt only priests were really the "true church", making lay folk second-class. In modern times, we buy into this error when we call only one person in a congregation "the Minister". Scripture says all God's people are to be prepared for the work of ministry. The "guy wires" of muscles and ligaments are just as important as the spine when it comes to lifting a load.

Keeping that in mind, let's look more closely at each of these leadership or "outfitting" gifts.

B: Apostles

The term "apostle" comes from the Greek word meaning "to send". Initially it referred to the twelve disciples who accompanied Jesus during his time of ministry. Mark 3:14-15 says, "He appointed twelve-- designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." Jesus' emphasis during his lifetime was not building an organization, but pouring his life into these few men, mentoring them so they were prepared to be his ambassadors after the resurrection. An apostle is one sent out with orders, with authority, charged to represent the sender and carry out a task in his name. Actual extended contact with the Saviour was important, so that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they'd know what Jesus was wanting to have happen in a situation. Preaching and countering evil forces were two principal tasks. As time went on, the term became applied more broadly, first to Matthias (Acts 1:26), then Barnabas and Paul (Acts 14:14), and others we know little about (Andronicus and Junias, Rom.16:7). Patricia Brown describes an apostle as "called out by God and sent to a specific people...able to cross cultural boundaries to reach people for Jesus Christ and form new Christian communities." 1 Cor.4:8-13 outlines the cost: becoming a spectacle to the world, fools for the sake of Christ, often being hungry, poorly clothed, and held in disrepute.

Apostles were expected to share their experience of Jesus in a wide variety of cultural situations, often foreign countries. Nowadays we might call those with a form of the apostolic gift "missionaries". (from the Latin verb missio, "to send") Charles Bryant says a missionary has a "Holy Spirit-energized yearning and extraordinary ability to cross boundaries and joyfully adjust to new and different people and circumstances. Their main technology is relating to different others with a contagious warmth that radiates the love of Christ...These persons have an inner desire and dream of aiding others in another land or culture...Whenever missions is mentioned or promoted in their local church, something stirs within and they respond accordingly."

Our oldest daughter, Emily, would fit this category. Emily was involved in outreach with YWAM during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She was looking forward to going to Kosovo with Operation Mobilization this summer, and will quite likely do missions work overseas after college. While in Atlanta she felt a real cross-cultural bond with African American people. Corrie Shannon, another young person, has just returned from a short-term mission in Indonesia.

But you don't have to leave Canada to be a missionary. We had a friend in Guelph, a public health nurse named Marg, who hosted international students from the university at her home. Over the years several became Christians, and after retiring from nursing Marg worked with a mission agency geared to international students. God gave Marg a gift of seeing past the cultural differences to be a friend in Jesus' name.

Those with the gift of apostleship also sometimes end up as denominational officials. They display a special appeal and manner that cause bodies of Christians to want to work together for common goals. Brian Stiller might be an example, or possibly Franklin Graham. You may have the apostolic or missionary gift if you relate to these statements: "I feel comfortable relating to ethnics and minorities, and they seem to accept me...I would be willing to leave comfortable surroundings if it would enable me to share Christ with more people...More than most, I have had a strong desire to see peoples of other countries won to the Lord."

C: Prophets (discussed last week)

D: Evangelists

What stereotypes do you have of evangelists? Mine is from a Covenant Players drama in which a guy comes up behind another one, bops him on the head with a newspaper and proclaims, "I am an evangelist!" Whatever stereotypes you may have, put them to one side while we consider what the Bible calls the gift of evangelism. These are "good news" people. Are there people you know who, often when you see them, can't wait to tell you something great that's happened? A true evangelist may have that same infectious "full of good news" quality, they're eager to tell what Jesus has been doing in their lives.

Charles Bryant describes this gift as "the extraordinary ability to give such a witness to the love of God as expressed in Jesus Christ that it moves others to accept that love and to become disciples of Christ." Peter started it all off in Acts 2, preaching the first sermon of the church, and 3,000 people accepted his message and were baptized. Philip proclaims Christ in Samaria in Acts 8, then catches a ride with an Ethiopian official and tells him the good news about Jesus.

Bryant observes, "The evangelist perceives when the time of harvest is ready. I am acquainted with an evangelist who knows by name over 3,000 people he helped to be born again. He said that he has a special sense of when the time is right, when the birth is ready to take place. He is careful not to force the process too soon. Sometimes, he says, it takes a long spiritual gestation period. With others, the period is not that long. He has learned...to treat each prospect according to the person's unique situation and process."

Patricia Brown gives the example of an evangelist named Leon, who who offers a 3-day spiritual retreat to men in prison. He also leads an out-prison ministry that assists released prisoners to get on their feet. He demonstrates his passionate love of people as he shares the greatest gift of all: Jesus.

You might have the gift of evangelism if you agree with these statements. "I have shared joyfully how Christ has brought me to Himself in a way that is meaningful to nonbelievers...Non-christians have noted that they feel comfortable when they are around me, and that I have a positive effect on them toward developing a faith in Christ...I am attracted to nonbelievers because of my desire to win them to Christ."

E: The Pastor / teacher

We discussed the teaching gift last week; but the construction of the Greek here makes it seem as though Paul may be referring to the type of person who is both pastor and teacher, kind of a combination gift. The Greek word for "pastor" is derived from "shepherd". This is one who protects, oversees, manages, cares for, feeds, and assembles a flock. In John 10 Jesus defined a good shepherd as laying down his life for his sheep, unlike the hired hand who doesn't care about the sheep and runs away when danger comes. The good shepherd knows the sheep and the sheep know him; he calls the sheep by name, and they listen to his voice. In Matthew 18 Christ offers the picture of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep on the hills to go off in search of one who's wandered astray. Jesus urged Peter to strengthen his brothers (Lk.22:32), to feed Christ's lambs (Jn.21:15-17). Peter in turn wrote in his letter that pastors should shepherd the flock willingly, be eager to serve, not greedy for money, but be examples to the flock; they are under-shepherds of Jesus the "Chief Shepherd" (1Pet.5:2-4). Paul tells the elders from Ephesus in Acts 20(28), "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." There is a trust involved, an accounting to be given. Paul sets out the criteria for overseers in 1 Timothy 3, which include being able to teach, and managing one's own family well else how can one manage God's church?

Wagner defines the gift of pastor as able "to assume a long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers." Did he say "long term"? Unfortunately some churches are like my first one: before I arrived, it averaged a change in ministers every 2.5 years over the past 30 years; that's not a "long term" relationship, hardly long enough to get to know people. (audio clip - Pastor to Pastor)

In his description of this gift, Charles Bryant points out that the person oversees not only individuals and their spiritual welfare but also the group (flock) formed by the individuals in relationships. Pastors are concerned about maturation and effective participation in the body of Christ. They respond to a call for help but also seek to get others involved in the helping; ministry is not a solo act, but a flock or fold affair. A pastor often acts parentally in managing relationships between the members. As a shepherd counts the sheep, so a pastor also keeps track, since they must give account to Christ for both numerical growth and relational growth. A pastor needs to balance reading, studying, and sermon preparation (the teaching side) with in-home visiting and making meaningful contacts (the pastoral side).

Wagner suggests these statements to tell if you might have the gift of pastoring (if so, see me after!). "I have enjoyed relating to a certain group of people over a long period of time, sharing personally in their successes and their failures...I feel unafraid of giving spiritual guidance and direction in a group of Christians...I have helped fellow believers by guiding them to relevant portions of the Bible and praying with them."

We mentioned the word "pastor" is derived from the term for "shepherd". I'm not acquainted with actual sheep, but growing up on a dairy farm I got to watch my dad in action looking after the herd. Foremost was his ever-present concern for the cattle. It got him (and my mother too) out of bed at 6:15 every morning to do the milking, lest their udders start to hurt. He had to feed them chop and hay and silage. There was sanitation: straw for bedding, cleaning out calf pens. Check the water supply, and that the heater in the tank wasn't causing a shock. He helped heifers with calving at all hours. And many times, before going to bed, Dad would go back out to the barn to look in where the cattle were and just watch: to make sure everything was all right, that no cow was bothering the others, or to find out who was in heat in case he needed to phone the breeder...that was the "overseer" role. There was a lot involved in being a "shepherd" of cattle; but one thing he didn't do was stand over each animal to make sure they ate and produced milk. They did that on their own, my father just provided the environment. So pastoring a church involves many functions, but the "work of ministry" remains the responsibility of all who belong to Jesus, whatever their gift or office.

F: Results of Equipping -- a Northern Village

The latest Canadian Bible Society newsletter provides a story from northern Canada that shows how some of these outfitting gifts work together to allow the church to build up itself. Pond Inlet is a small Inuit community where young people were suffering from substance abuse, sexual and physical abuse, and depression. In one small community of less than 500, 17 youth took their own lives one summer.

Many years before, a missionary from Great Britain named John Turner had introduced men and women to God. He prayed with them and was a friend and pastor to many, committing his life to the people of northern Canada. He died in a tragic accident, but the message he brought remained alive in a few hearts.

Two descendants of the people who were the first to be evangelized, Joshua and James Arreak, became part of the translations team of the Bible Society. They began to pray that God would come to the people; they wept for the young people who died, for those abused and assaulted. As pastors and other Christians in the community continued to pray, gradually more and more people came to the church. The New Testament in Inuktitut made it possible for people to hear God's Word in their own language for the first time. Pastors went to neighbouring communities, bringing the Good News. As they prayed and worshipped together, the community was transformed, the Holy Spirit changed hearts and lives. Collectively, the people of Pond Inlet cleansed their houses by disposing of alcohol, drugs, pornography, and graphically violent music. Fathers wept for their sins, confessed them in front of their children and asked for forgiveness. Husbands renewed their vows with their wives. Wives found peace with God. Today, the article concludes, "teens are vibrant worshippers of God, finding their identity in His grace and not in harmful substances."

Thus the Body builds itself up in Christ's grace. Missionaries, pastors, translators, parents and youth - gradually they found out what Paul said happens when believers are outfitted for ministry. "From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Let us pray.

"It Takes All Kinds (of Gifts)" - Oct.28/01 1 Cor.12:1-11,27-31

Intro: Treat or Threat?

Charles Bryant has conducted over 300 workshops on spiritual gifts for various denominations. He says: "When people open themselves to God, they find that an experience of the Spirit of God is inseparable from the discovery and exercise of the charismata, the gifts. Such should never be a threat to any church body that seeks to lift up the church as the body of Christ in and for the world."

In this our third and final week looking at teaching about spiritual gifts in the New Testament, we come to 1 Corinthians 12. This is the most controversial passage, compared to Romans 12 or Ephesians 4, because it mentions the most sensational and outright "supernatural" gifts - those of healing, miracles, and tongues. But when we look at these sensational gifts in context, we're reminded that we don't need to be alarmed or threatened (or split over it, as churches and denominations have) -- as long as we view all the gifts as just different aspects of God's grace, empowering Christ's body the church for its mission in all its diverse forms.

A) All Kinds of Gifts...for the Common Good

Paul introduces the subject very carefully, knowing there has already been controversy amongst the Corinthians because of the noticeably different gifts. Verse 3 reminds everybody that the Holy Spirit's purpose is to exalt and honour Jesus, not any particular church member. He says, "No one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit." "Jesus is Lord" - that's the Spirit's main goal, to shine a spotlight on God's Son. So whatever our spiritual gift may be, however humble or sensational, the goal is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to Jesus our Lord / boss / owner and governor.

In verses 4-6 Paul uses repetition to emphasize that, although gifts may be vastly different, God's moving is the unifying factor. "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." Different gifts, definitely; but one Giver who's sharing them out to bring about something God-sized when they all work in tandem. Verse 7 sums up the goal: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." Not for our personal jollies, or so we can brag and boast: but for the common good, to build one another up. "It takes all kinds" -- especially in the Church, where there's so much to be done, so many hurts and needs to meet in Christ's name, so many different personalities through whom the Spirit seeks to minister. Whatever our own gift may be, whether it seems everybody else has it or nobody else has it, that's not the point: Christ equips and outfits each believer to accomplish something toward His Kingdom goals.

It would be a strange mechanic's toolbox that only had one wrench. In your kitchen, I would expect to find all kinds of cutlery, whisks, spatulas, graters, bowls, and pans...not because any particular tool is better or surpasses the others, but because you need different utensils for different dishes. It would be kind of tricky trying to peel a turnip with an egg-beater! So the Lord has placed within the Church a whole variety of gifts for the many different ways of ministering His goodness to a needy world.

B) A Ton of Tools

Recalling this as background, let's plunge into the list of gifts in 1 Cor.12.

1) Wisdom

"To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom..." (12:8) Peter Wagner defines this as knowing "the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how given knowledge may best be applied to specific needs arising in the Body of Christ." Wisdom is more than knowledge; it's knowing what to do with the information, how to go about a project with tact and sensitivity. A keen sense of timing may be involved; what's the best approach to this task? In Acts 6, there is a problem with distribution of relief to the widows, and there seems to be some friction between those of Jewish and Greek extraction. The early church selects seven men who are "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" to care for the benevolent needs of the community.

This past Tuesday I was able to attend the EMC annual pastors' retreat at Stayner. It featured Carl George, a church growth consultant from California. His wisdom has helped many pastors, in churches of all sizes. He began as a pastor in Florida; when questioning whether their denomination really planted the most churches as it boasted, he found himself asked to be the Conference Statistician. He didn't ask for that, just one day passed out some mimeographed sheets of stats to neighbouring churches; but through that developed his specialized ministry of consulting, as God gave him wisdom in that area. Other people with this gift often become authors - people like Chuck Colson, Elizabeth Elliott, Oswald Chambers; they're able to see the big picture of Christian living, personally and corporately. Perhaps you can think of experienced people in our own congregation who seem to have the gift of wisdom, to whom you might turn for counsel when facing a problem.

Wagner suggests you might have the gift of wisdom if you agree with these statements. "I can intuitively arrive at solutions to fairly complicated problems...When a person has a problem, I can frequently guide them to the best Biblical solution...I have felt an unusual presence of God and personal confidence when important decisions need to be made."

2) Knowledge

Paul credits the Holy Spirit with giving others "the message of knowledge". Wagner defines this as the ability "to discover, accumulate, analyze and clarify information and ideas which are pertinent to the well-

being of the Body". Acts 18(24) describes Apollos as "a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures", who spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately. "He vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." (18:28) He not only had knowledge, but was using it convincingly in mission. Some of you will remember Kirk Durston of the Campus Crusade / New Scholars Society, who last fall answered "tough questions we'd like to ask God". Kirk, like Apollos, had an impressive gift of knowledge, and ability to call up the right fact at the right time. Ravi Zacharias is another modern apologist who would have the gift of knowledge. Acts 18(27) says Apollos "was a great help to those who had by grace believed": that's the focus here, not being a Mr.Know-it-all but presenting Christ's truth in a way that promotes the Kingdom and pushes back ignorance and resistance.

You might have the gift of knowledge if you feel: "Others have told me I have helped them distinguish key and important facts of Scripture...I have had insights of spiritual truth that others have said helped bring them closer to God...I study and read quite a bit in order to learn new Biblical truths."

3) Faith

To find out what faith is, check out Hebrews 11: it's a whole chapter that's an honour roll listing the heroes of faith in Scripture. Abraham is commended for his faith in Romans 4(20f). He has been told by God his offspring will be as numerous as the stars in the sky, although he's a ripe 100, and Sarai's 90 and barren. Yet he believes God's going to make it happen. Paul writes, "He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Job is another example of great faith: in one fateful, tragic day he loses all his sons and daughters and all his possessions; he's wiped out, but he doesn't take it out on God. Instead he accepts whatever happens, trusting God's got everything under control. He says, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21) Wow! We ask ourselves, would I be able to respond like that, without bitterness or ranting? Such great faith!

Patricia Brown writes, "Persons with the gift of faith have extraordinary confidence in God's faithfulness; because of their gift, they help the faith community find assurance as they do the work of ministry." She cites the example of a widow named Ada who raised 7 children and buried a coal mining husband who died of black lung. Her faith in Christ has helped her to give generous aid to her home congregation and care for her family even in lean times. When her home and small country store serving a backwoods community burned down, she picked through the rubble and began again. Her community respects her as a woman of faith. Joni Eareckson Tada, AW Tozer, and George Mueller would also be examples of people of faith: in Joni's case, rich ministry has sprung forth from the seeds of her personal misfortune.

Wagner calls the gift of faith the ability "to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purposes of God for his work." You might possess this if you'd say, "I have believed God for the impossible and seen it happen in a tangible way...There have been times when I have felt sure I knew God's specific will for the future growth of His work, even when others have not been so sure...Others have told me that I am a person of unusual vision, and I agree." Faith sees beyond what is ordinarily seen; faith beholds God's possibilities in spite of present circumstances.

4) Healing / Miraculous Powers

This is where it gets really interesting! Paul states that to some are given "gifts of healing", to others "miraculous powers". I've put them together because they both relate to the supernatural (though some healings may be the acceleration of a natural process). It's recorded that Jesus performed many miracles in his lifetime; the chart in my study Bible lists 23 cases of healing, 9 instances of command over the forces of nature, and 3 examples of bringing other people back to life (that's different from his own resurrection). Peter healed a lame man in Acts 3. Stephen, one of the 7, performed miraculous signs (Acts 6:8). Philip performed healings and miracles in Samaria, resulting in great joy (Acts 8:6ff). Paul too had miraculous powers, healing a man lame from birth (Acts 14:8-

10) and reviving a young man who fell from a third floor window (Acts 20:7-12; see also 19:11f). James, Jesus' brother, was very practical, not at all someone who would sound flakey or over-enthusiastic. Yet in chapter 5(14-16) James instructs: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed..." Why should we poo-poo or be skeptical of the idea that God still heals, as he did in New Testament times? It's expected that we pray for each other to be healed!

I had one parishioner up north who suffered from fibromyalgia and a spinal condition. She travelled far to Benny Hinn crusades, listened to his tapes, was quite convinced others were healed, but did not receive healing herself. Then one time Benny's brother Henry came to the Sault - a much less polished or flashy presentation. But God granted her relief through the ministry of the unsung brother Hinn.

Charles Bryant says, "God gives a healing ministry to the church, apart from secular and medical practices, to free the church of hindrances to fulfill its commission (see Matt.28:19-20) ...Healings build up the church for effective ministries. They are not merely to deliver an individual from misery, pain, discomfort, or suffering." Bryant distinguishes between physical healing and "wholeness". "The Bible records many accounts of suffering designed for God to bring about a greater good. Healing...may be of the mind, that is, aiding someone to accept an illness as God's gift. I call this wholeness rather than healing. To be whole is to accept God's will whatever it brings, even ill health and pain." Remember Job, afflicted from head to toe with painful sores? How did he respond? He asked, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10)

5) Discernment of Spirits

We touched on prophecy previously; also "helping others" (verse 28) is akin to serving, and "administration" to the gift of leadership. Let's move on to what in the NIV is called "distinguishing between spirits". Wagner defines this as the ability "to know with assurance whether certain behaviour purported to be of God is in reality divine, human, or satanic." In other words, are they faking it? Is it genuinely under the direction of Jesus? 1 John 4(1) counsels, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Gnosticism was creeping into the churches back in that day, teaching that the divine Christ came upon Jesus at his baptism and then left him at the cross, so it was only the man Jesus who died. So John adds, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God..." Enemy counterfeits may try to downplay the uniqueness of Jesus.

It is especially important to be discerning these days, when occult and New Age influences creep in subtly. Bryant reports we can identify over 5000 new movements and religious cults in America. This week the Minister's Study article in the Citizen newspaper proposed the theory that "The Messiah is one of you" - certainly not Biblical, more of an Eastern religious flavour.

Bryant notes a high percentage of people have this gift of discernment between spirits. He recommends putting at least two persons with this gift on every committee or board that makes critical decisions. They can often feel whether people are ready to vote, or the issue needs more time to be taken before God in prayer. Approximately 90% of clergy spouses surveyed scored highest on this gift. You might have this gift if the following is true for you. "Others in the church have noted that I have been able to see through phoniness before it was evident to other people...I can tell with a fairly high degree of assurance when a person is afflicted by an evil spirit (or, indulging in some secret form of idolatry)...I can recognize whether a person's teaching is from God, from Satan, or of human origin."

6) Speaking in Tongues / Interpretation of Tongues

The first example of believers being blessed with supernatural utterance is at Pentecost in Acts 2, when visitors from many different regions heard Galileans speaking in their own language. More usually, as for Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, tongues referred to someone's personal prayer language. It's not that spooky; basically you find yourself praying to God in spirit and out loud unimpeded by the conventions of (in our case) the English language. In Romans 8(26f) Paul says we may not know what we ought to pray for, "but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express; and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit..."

Bryant defines this gift as "the extraordinary ability to pray and to praise God with beneficial wordless phrases or utterances not familiar to known languages, and with such a joy-filled intimacy with Christ that faith is strengthened and ministries become effective." These people have a very real and active prayer life; they seem to have less stress-related ailments and maintain positive feelings about God and others; they pray with a vision of healing and wholeness. Bryant found that as those with this gift matured, they discovered it had 2 dimensions: first, a spiritual and psychological preparation in which pent-up emotions and anxieties are released. This frees them for the second dimension, to become extraordinarily effective in ministry to others: they can love others unselfishly, their prayers become more giving praise than petitioning for something, and when they offer petitional prayers they find more joy in praying for others than for themselves.

Interpretation is the ability to make known in ordinary language the message of one who speaks in tongues. Paul prohibits more than 3 people speaking in tongues in public worship unless an interpreter is there who can make sense of the sounds. (1 Cor.14:27f) His key principle (14:26b): "All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church." For the common good.

Conclusion: Fanatic Frenzied Founding Fathers?

Are you a little leery of those who say they've experienced the more supernatural gifts? Do you view them as fanatics, kind of out there on a limb or about to go off the deep end? Those who exercise their spiritual gifts of all kinds are actually part of a long and distinguished tradition. See if you can guess what "fanatics" these quotes are from.

a) (clue: 16th century) "How often has it happened and still does that devils have been driven out in the name of Christ, also by calling on his name and prayer that the sick have been healed?" Who do you think? Benny Hinn's great-great-great grandfather? No, that was the original Reformer, Martin Luther.

b) (here we have an exact date, May 10 1741; this "fanatic" kept a journal) "Sunday, pain in back and head, with fever; had to lie down most of day; only easy in one position. At night tried to preach; pain, and seized with cough, etc. There came to mind strongly, "These signs shall follow them that believe." (Mk.16:17) Prayed; called on Jesus aloud to increase my faith and to confirm the Word of His grace. While I was speaking my pain vanished away, neither sickness nor pain. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I give thanks!" Forty years later the same "charismatic" even recorded healing of a horse's lame foot after he prayed! Who could this be? Oral Roberts' distant relative? Surely not one of our mainstream forebears in the faith? Who indeed, but John Wesley, founder of Methodism!

May God's grace move us to all be such "fanatics" that we can't help exercising the gifts with which Jesus blesses His church in carrying out His mission. All kinds of gifts, sensational ones AND the ordinary or unsung ones - all for the common good. Amen.

"'Hey! Hey! Anybody Listening?' -- God Speaks...through the Church" - 1 Cor.14:26-33; Col.3:15,16 Nov.4/01

Intro: Tool Talk

One day the tools in the Carpenter's workshop were having a meeting. Brother Hammer presided. Several suggested he leave the meeting because he was too noisy. The hammer replied, "If I have to leave this shop, Brother Screw must go also. You have to turn him around again and again to get him to accomplish anything." Then Brother Screw spoke up. "If you wish, I'll leave. But Brother Plane must leave too. All his work is on the surface. His efforts have no depth." To this the Plane responded, "Brother Rule will also have to withdraw, for he is always measuring folks as though he were the only one who is right." But the Rule then complained, "Brother Sandpaper, you ought to leave too because you're so rough and always rubbing people the wrong way."

In the midst of all this discussion, in walked the Carpenter of Nazareth. He had arrived to start His day's work. Putting on His apron, He went to the bench to make a fishing boat from which those eager to fish might put out their nets for a catch. And who knows, someday He Himself might borrow the boat to tell people crowded along the shore some great news. All day long the Hammer pounded, the Plane shaved, the Sandpaper smoothed the rough spots until the graceful curves of a sturdy fishing boat emerged in simple elegance under the Carpenter's skill. Later that night, when the tools were all stowed neatly in their place above the bench, Brother Saw was heard to remark, "You know, I see now what I never saw before. All of us are workers together with the Lord."

Review: One Body, Many Members Working Together

Over the past 3 Sundays, we've been looking at spiritual gifts. The Bible passages emphasized that Christians are one Body in Christ, though they have many different gifts. Romans 12(5) said that in Christ, we who are many form one Body; each member belongs to all the others. Ephesians 4(12) emphasized that leadership gifts are given so that the body of Christ may be built up; verses 15-16 said that "speaking the truth in love" we would "in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul pointed out we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, and all given the one Spirit to drink; he said, "You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (12:13,27) He went into some detail explaining the analogy of the church as a Body: "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!'"(12:21) He adds that instead of division in the body, its parts should have equal concern for each other.(12:25) So in each of these passages, though at least 18 different spiritual gifts are mentioned, the context is always the one Spirit working through the One Body for the common good. The theme is the building up of the church as a whole through the co-operation of its parts, to be equipped for ministry between and beyond its own membership.

In our adult Sunday School class, we've been watching a video in which Henry Blackaby talks about "Experiencing God" through hearing God speaking to us and responding. God has a project He's seeking to bring about in our world, something big and God-sized. But because He loves us he invites us to join Him in what He's doing. He reveals our part to us, speaking to us in at least four ways: the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the Church. When these four sources of messaging begin to line up, we can be sure God's trying to say something to us. Something big is afoot and He wants us to get on board. Then comes the crisis of belief when we decide whether we're going to respond in obedience.

Our topic the past 3 weeks ties right in with Blackaby's material on how God speaks through the Church. And we are at an exciting point in the life of our new Living Water Christian Fellowship where opportunities to grow and branch out into various ministries are opening before us. So let's look today at how God might be seeking to communicate His vision for us through the Body.

"You've Got Nerve!" - The Body Communicates

Is it possible to have a perfectly healthy limb, such as an arm or leg, but for it to be absolutely useless? Sometimes people are injured through diving accidents and become paralyzed through an injury to their nervous system. Or older people suffer "strokes" with a similar result. The cells in the arm or leg are still there and healthy, but the nerves aren't working, so there's no communication with the rest of the body. Muscles are still there and would work if they could be told what to do, but they're not able to "hear" the signals from the brain. They must be manually exercised periodically to maintain their condition until the paralysis, if temporary, is healed, and the connection restored.

So it's not surprising that the apostles emphasize communicating with one another in the Body of the Church, listening carefully for God to speak to us through fellow believers - in addition to the Bible, prayer, and circumstances.

1 Corinthians 14 offers us a unique glimpse at the worship life of the early church at Corinth. What we see is a style of worship that some are recommending today for churches that want to reach out to the postmodern generation: worship that is participatory and communal. Verse 26: "When you come together," Paul observes, "everyone" (is he kidding??) "everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation." This is not a talent show or variety concert, not a performance, so he reminds the Corinthians all must be done for the strengthening of the church; not grandstanding, drawing attention to oneself. Note verses 29,31: "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said...For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." In other words, a few share what they're hearing from God, while the others "weigh" it "carefully" - sifting out whatever may not be the essence, checking it against Scripture, praying about it. By this means of listening to one another, the objective is accomplished "that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." The Body is built up, edified. And not with the atmosphere of a circus, but (v.40) "in a fitting and orderly way", "for God is not a God of disorder but of peace".(14:33)

Turn to Ephesians 5:18,19 and you'll find a similar emphasis on sharing with one another in group worship. "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs..." Colossians 3:15,16 offers more advice: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.And be thankful.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." There's that "one body" emphasis again! We're to have Christ's peace "ruling" or "umpiring" in our hearts, not competing or clamouring in our meetings. What does it mean to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly"? Savour together the recorded wonderful history of Jesus as we read the gospels, yes; but this could also include sensing by the Holy Spirit what Christ is attempting to communicate to us for our situation today, here and now. Christ's word is discerned "AS you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom", amidst an atmosphere of praise and gratitude.

How far removed this picture is from the usual church worship experience where parishioners come in and sit down in a pew, hardly speaking to anyone else. They look out on a vista of the backs of people's heads. They listen to somebody up at the front do some readings and then a long talk. Then when 12 o'clock comes they hurry home with scarcely a "hello" to their fellow church-goers. And if there's a new visitor, it may take them weeks to start to be included in any after-service conversation that does occur. And we call this "one body"?! Where is the "one anothering"?

Dr.Leonard Sweet advises that for churches who want to be relevant to a post-modern generation, worship needs to become "EPIC": Experiential, Participatory, Image-based, and Communal. E-P-I-C. From what Paul says, the early church was much closer to that than the 20th century church. In a high-tech postmodern world, people hunger for contact, high-touch. They want to feel a part of the worship, not an observer or onlooker. They want to be part of a community, to feel included, that their personal gifts they bring are valued and needed. That will happen as we start to listen to one another, striving to discern "the word of Christ" through other members in addition to the Bible, prayer, and circumstances.

The Price of Participation

So what's holding us back? What's the cost, the dangers of becoming a church fellowship that is more open to what we might share with one another? One cost is our right to ourselves, to be individuals, to have things the way I want them. Romans 12:5 said that each member belongs to all the others. But I don't want to belong to somebody else! Sorry, when we surrender to Christ as Lord we yield ownership. Romans 14:7-8 says, "For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." We don't "own" a right to ourselves any longer. As a follower of Jesus, I have given up my rights to myself, God is now officially in control of my life. And apparently He wants me to be in relationship with these other believers, some of whom are very different from me. Paul says, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honour one another above yourselves." (Rom.12:10) That doesn't come naturally, only supernaturally with the help of the Holy Spirit; it's not easy for humans to put others first. 1Cor.14:31 stressed "you can all prophesy in turn", the "spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets". What! You mean in this instant-crazy society I'm actually supposed to wait on someone, to take turns? Ephesians 5:21 goes even further, commanding, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Submission is scorned in a world that champions "doing your own thing". Yet Scripture seems to be suggesting we're stronger as a group when the members of the Body allow the Head (Jesus) to call the shots, not be independent. Being filled with the Holy Spirit lifts us out of individualism into a bigger-than-my-own-body experience; but this requires me to give up my right to ME, to subordinate my own point of view to what's best for the group.

Thomas à Kempis said, "If Christ is amongst us, then it is necessary that we sometimes yield up our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to have perfect knowledge of all things? Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others." Blackaby notes that evangelical churches have so emphasized the doctrine of the priesthood of believers that they have lost their sense of corporate identity. Christians think they stand alone before God and aren't accountable to anyone else, including the church. But, "God made us mutually interdependent.We need each other.What one member lacks, others in the body can supply."

Sharing What God's Showing Us

"You can all prophesy in turn," Paul insisted, "so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." "Teach and admonish one another..." We need to be listening to one another, sharing what God's showing us. Blackaby uses the analogy of walking down the train tracks. The ear says, "I hear a whistle coming from the other direction." The eye argues, "But nothing is on the track as far as I can see. Let's keep on walking." So the body, listening only to the eye, keeps on walking. Soon the ear says, "That whistle is getting louder and closer!" The feet say, "I feel the rumbling motion of a train coming. We better get our body off these tracks!" What do we do -- try to ignore the conflict and hope it passes away? Take a vote of all your body members and let the majority rule? Trust your eye and keep on walking since your eyes have never let you down before? No, we'd get off the train tracks as soon as possible. Blackaby concludes, "Because a church is the body of Christ, it functions best when all members are able to share what they sense God wants the church to be and do. Members of a church can't fully know God's will for their lives in the body apart from the body. A church also needs to hear the whole counsel of God through its members. Then it can proceed in confidence and in unity to do God's will." "Apart from the body, you cannot know God's will for your relationship to the body...Every member needs to listen to what other members say.If the members are not talking about what they sense God is doing, the whole body is in trouble."

What does this look like in practice? When Blackaby pastored a church in Saskatoon, people were given an opportunity and encouraged to share in a variety of ways: in worship (usually at the close of a service), in prayer meetings, committee meetings, business meetings, Sunday School classes, home Bible studies, and personal conversations. Many called the church office and shared what God was saying to them in their quiet times. Others shared what they experienced at work or at school. The entire church became practically aware of Christ's presence in their midst. The pastor discovered that when someone who'd made a significant commitment to the Lord in one of their services was given an opportunity to share with the body, sometimes that testimony prompted others to respond in a similar way. Thus God spoke through the church to other believers.

Discerning between "Need" and "Call"

Now, every need is not a call. One individual is not the church. Besides the counsel of people, we need to clarify God's call by the way people's counsel through the church lines up with the Bible, prayer, and circumstances. When those begin to say the same thing, then we can proceed with confidence, assured God has given clear direction.

Can God even speak through...THAT person?!

Suppose we protest, "You don't know my church.I can't depend on them to help me know God's will." Blackaby cautions we're revealing more about what we believe about God than what we believe about our church. We're saying, "Not even God can work through these people. He's just not powerful enough." Of course that's not what we really think, but our skepticism of others gets in the way. How much of God comes to dwell in a new believer? All of God. "You have been given fullness in Christ..."(Col.2:10) A new believer may be a little "rough around the edges" in the eyes of a long-term churchgoer, but the Holy Spirit can still use their words to send an arrow into our heart when we need convicting by God on a matter. In Christ we can shake off our spiritual pride, get down off our high horse; to tune out a person by our prejudiced opinion that they have nothing worth sharing is saying more about our deficient belief concerning God than our belief concerning the church.

Learning from the Redwoods: Get Connected

We get strength from hearing God's word through each other. California redwood trees are the largest living things on earth, some over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. You'd think such large trees must have a tremendous root system reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. But actually their roots are very shallow; so how do they do it? How do the world's tallest trees stay standing? Their roots intertwine, they're locked to each other. So they can stand up under the storms and high winds because they don't stand alone, they're locked together, supporting and protecting each other.

Praise God, who is growing this fellowship of Christ's body as we speak His truth to each other in love. May the Holy Spirit help us to hear one another as God seeks to show us exciting things together! Let us pray.

"A Ten Teaches on 11/11 After 9/11" - James 3:17-4:10 (various) - Remembrance Day, November 11/01

Remembrance Day Different this Year

Remembrance Day this year has added significance due to the events of September 11. The terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon sent a shudder through the world that we're still reeling from two months later. The economy has been shaken; thousands of jobs have been cut as companies scramble to restructure. Troops and ships have been dispatched to try to rout out and overcome the terrorist cells and their leaders. Postal employees fear being contaminated by germ-laden white powder. Medical authorities feverishly stockpile smallpox vaccine. Even as local citizens here in Blyth, we feel very vulnerable when anything unusual happens, like a large plane buzzing the town. The tragedy of September 11 has brought a poignancy to November 11 that we haven't felt for some years.

Today we pause to look back and remember previous battles against evil, even though the outlook ahead is uncertain. The attacks jolt us into pondering what it is in life that gives us security. In what or whom do we put our trust? The Bible directs us to put our confidence in God, rather than in the most substantial alternatives this world offers: the power of violence terrorists and criminals use, the power of riches that the well-to-do rely on, or the power of image that drives Hollywood and those who find themselves popular through looks or charm. Yet as a visual aid to reflect on this Remembrance Day, I'd invite you to consider the symbols that we find on a basic unit of currency: the ten-dollar bill. Not because "the church is always preaching about money" (!) but because the new 2001 issue of the "10" has something to teach us on 11/11 after 9/11. (If you happen to have new ten in your pocket you might want to get it out for a closer look as a visual aid -- don't worry, you'll get to keep it!)

A. "Ten Dollars": What do we Really Value?

The Bank of Canada titles this piece of paper legal tender, namely "Ten Dollars". A dollar is supposed to be a unit of value. What is it that we really value?

It's no coincidence that the terrorists took aim at the massive twin towers of the World Trade Centre. These were very visible symbols of Western financial power. But money is not everything. To the relatives grieving the death of over 6000 victims, money is certainly not the most valuable thing: it can't bring back their loved ones. The results of the attacks on financial markets showed just how vulnerable our systems of wealth are: stock markets tumbled, consumer confidence has waned, the Canadian dollar fell further. A cartoon around the time of the Second World War showed Italians carting their money, the lira, around by the wheelbarrow-ful, it became so devalued. Thankfully it's not that bad here, but we've woken up to how dependent the value of dollars is on factors beyond our control.

The Bible says "a rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination." (Prov.18:11) A high wall - but only in his mind! All too quickly, conditions can change, and the money someone looked to for security can't help them. By contrast, the previous verse says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." (Prov.18:10) We can find real refuge in God; He can keep us safe. Sadly, the occupants of the World Trade Centre found out those "strong towers" just weren't strong or safe enough.

Jesus said, "You can't serve both God and money." (Luke 16:13) It's impossible to divide our loyalty, it's either one or the other. He urged us to "use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." (Lk.16:9) This world passes away; but by using our dollars for God's purposes, remembering the poor and needy, we can store up a brighter future in heaven. Paul urged Timothy to "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on what we really value - that there are more precious things in life and eternity that simply dollars.

B. Sir John A. MacDonald / Library of Parliament: Vision / Wisdom from the Past

Next, we see the bill features the face of Sir John A MacDonald, first Prime Minister of Canada, whose terms in office covered 19 years - quite a span of our country's early history. Beside him is a view of the Library of Parliament. These taken together could represent "vision" and "wisdom from the past". Sir John A championed a bold vision that would make a nation out of a handful of very different provinces. Through his vision and perseverance, the young country was united coast-to-coast by the Canadian Pacific Railway. This allowed settlers to pour in and carve communities out of the wilderness. Today we might be helped by a similar broadening of our vision; it's all too easy to focus on the interests of our own province, our own county, our own hospital or school district, and refuse to consider the bigger picture. Crises such as September 11 do momentarily help us overcome our regionalism, as our fist Prime Minister and the founders of Confederation managed to do.

At the same time as we widen our vision for new opportunities, the Library of Parliament suggests we need to treasure wisdom from the past. A culture in decline tends to become engrossed in games and amusements - the latest movie, substance, rave, or video game. The crisis of "9/11" startles us to ask the big questions of life that force us to dig deep, and turn to the Bible for God's guidance. Maybe too we'll supplement the latest magazine or CD by educating ourselves with the perspective from a classic book, some literature from our bygone cultural heritage. It's too easy for educators in a materialistic consumer culture, faced with dwindling resources, to cater increasingly to the demands of industry in equipping tomorrow's minds. If we do that, we risk a severe case of cultural amnesia, forgetting who we are or why we're here.

The foundation of the Judeo-Christian heritage has always been the Bible. It's our ultimate source of wisdom. The Psalmist said, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Ps.119:105) The apostle Peter reminds us, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts...For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21) This is no ordinary book, but God's inspired message to us - "B-I-B-L-E": "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth". Sir John A had political vision; Jesus Christ urges us to guard our spiritual vision. He said, "Your eye is the lamp of your body.When your eyes are good [or, pure], your whole body also is full of light.But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." (Luke 11:34-35)

C. Poppies / Flanders Fields / Veteran, Youth at Cenotaph: "Lest We Forget"

The back of the ten dollar bill shows several things specifically connected with Remembrance Day: poppies, the poem "In Flanders Fields", a veteran and youngsters observing a war memorial, the motto "Lest we forget". Decades have past since our last national involvement in a war, but recent movies such as "Saving Private Ryan" and articles like the one about Tom Hanks in this month's Reader's Digest help keep before us the sacrifice made by so many in the First and Second World Wars and Korean War. As the son of a veteran myself, I was privileged to grow up with my father telling stories from his experience as a signalman in the campaign up through Sicily and Italy. But youth these days only catch glimpses of what war must be like third-hand.

I was reminded again of the impact of war when last month I attended the 50th anniversary of an uncle and aunt. Perusing the photo albums, I saw again my uncle's oldest brother: the one uncle I would never see, because he was a pilot killed when his Mosquito bomber crashed while landing on a snowy airstrip in France in January 1945. Unlike his siblings, he would never marry or have sons or daughters, a missing set of cousins for me.

Following a devastating battle against the Philistines, David in the Old Testament took up a lament for his dear fallen buddy Jonathan, son of King Saul who also was killed. David cried out, "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! Saul and Jonathan-- in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain...I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!" (2 Samuel 1:19,23,25-27) When you look at the picture of the veteran at the cenotaph, no doubt similar thoughts are going through his head. Jonathan was David's "soul-mate"; to lose him was a real blow to David. Comrades in a regiment can become closer as a "family" than some natural families. Part of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is seeing your buddies die in war: sometimes valiantly, but sometimes in frustratingly accidental circumstances that in retrospect make no moral sense.

We grieve, yes. But believing in God who conquered death through Jesus Christ gives us hope. Paul wrote, "We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14) To another church Paul added, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:53-57) The evil plans of the terrorists resulted in death to many. Sin takes its toll through death, but for believers in Jesus the Risen Lord, it need not be a permanent defeat or loss: we look forward to being reunited with those who are His in a place where nothing can hurt us.

D. Dove / UN Observer: Preciousness of Peace

The last set of symbols is a dove, the symbol of peace, and a blue-bereted UN Peacekeeper observing through a set of binoculars. The motto above says, "In the service of peace". How precious is the sense of security we enjoy in peacetime! You're confident the mail isn't going to contaminate you, the building you're in isn't about to be destroyed. You don't have to go hungry or stand in long line-ups for scarce rations; you don't have to camp out in makeshift tents, totally dependent on aid agencies. Peace is precious - the peace and freedom bought for us at the price of the fallen troops of yesteryear.

The woman in uniform reminds us to be praying for Canadian Forces troops deployed to Afghanistan and other countries around the world today. Also to be praying for and support Regular Force personnel on bases here in Canada, and Reservists going about their weekend training and summer exercises, often with aging equipment of questionable reliability. We can also be praying for other dedicated people who protect our security: police and those in emergency services such as firefighters and medics. They are called upon to put their own lives at risk in order to save others; from their ranks many died at Ground Zero in New York.

The dove is not only a symbol of peace, but a symbol for Christians of the Holy Spirit. Peace begins in our own hearts and relationships. James tells us that fights come from desires that battle inside us; wrong motives keep us from receiving what God would supply, so instead we covet, quarrel, and kill (Jas.4:1-3). If we really want peace, we need to start with God's help by making war on our own wrong impulses. Jesus tells us to take radical measures to stop our hand, foot, or eye from causing us to sin, particularly if it would damage another "little one" who believes in Him. He commands, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Mk.9:42-50) Scripture teaches that God's kind of wisdom is "pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere...Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (Jas.3:17f) That happens when we let God's Spirit change us from the inside out.

If peace is so precious, so valuable, how can we have peace in ourselves - so we can "let there be peace on earth" by letting it "begin with me"? How can we overcome the terrorist tendencies of our own selfishness? Ask Jesus on whom the dove first descended, He who Himself made the "supreme sacrifice" for this very purpose, to bring us to God. The Bible says, "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20) Peace comes when we're willing to trust God for what is of real value in life. Paul tells us that God will credit righteousness to whose "who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore," he declares, "since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God...And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 4:25-5:5) The dove represents God's gift of peace and love when our own faults have been cleared; then we're able to show grace and forgiveness to others.

So, how can God teach us through a ten dollar bill, with help from the Bible? God wants us to realize what is really valuable -- not dollars, but the security He can give. To have prophetic vision, and treasure wisdom from the past, especially the guidance of Scripture. To remember those who gave their lives, while being assured of hope in our own griefs through the fact of the Resurrection. And to be praying for peacemakers, while combatting evil in ourselves and accepting His peace through Christ's war on sin at the cross.

"Money Talks"? Millionaires Admit Unfulfillment

As you put your ten back in your pocket, try to tuck God's promises in your heart, his direction in your soul. Remember today the lives sacrificed for our freedom, in particular, Christ's gift of Himself so we may have life in all its fullness. Many wars have been fought over money and material goods, but they can't compare to what heaven offers. Hear what some millionaires have to say. Rockefeller admitted, "I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness." Vanderbilt said, "The care of $200,000,000 is enough to kill anyone. There is no pleasure in it." J Paul Getty: "What can I say? I only know I am desolate." John Jacob Astor: "I am the most miserable man on earth." And lastly, Henry Ford remarked: "I was happier when doing a mechanic's job." Let us pray.

"'Make WHAT?!' Discipleship A-F" - Nov.18/01 Infant Dedication - Mt.28:18-20; Luke 14:25-35

Last week the recruiting officer from London visited one of the local high schools. For an hour in a special assembly, students were enticed to join the Canadian Forces by the promise of good pay, travel to distant places, the career of a lifetime. It was probably an opportune time for recruiting, as we've just come through the crisis of September 11, the patriotism of Remembrance Day, and are facing an economic slump. I doubt if the downside of the military life was talked about: frequent moves, cold nights in tents on exercise, stress on marriage and family life...some of the problems troops were bothered by when I served as a chaplain in the reserves. And offsetting the most glamorous or appealing aspect of "signing up" is that little clause in the fine print about "unlimited liability": you're putting your life on the line, some day duty may require that you end up at the wrong end of a gun barrel. We do need men and women in the Armed Forces, yet I hope they enlist with eyes wide open.

There's Someone else in the recruiting line. Someone who promises excitement and adventure in carrying out the Commander's orders. Here too there is an "unlimited liability" clause: recruits may be called upon at some point to "lay it all on the line" for the Leader. Jesus Christ calls us to follow Him, to become His disciples and join in a conflict behind and beyond earthly fightings and wars: the spiritual battle between God's forces and the enemy.

What are the church's basic marching orders? What is it we're "about", in a nutshell? At the very end of Matthew's gospel, Jesus outlines what's called "The Great Commission". These are the parting instructions he was leaving with his followers to "get on with" and carry out. Two words form the heart of the Great Commission: "Make Disciples". That's Job 1 for the church, not worship or fellowship or caterings or service projects or anything else, but just this: "Make Disciples". Make WHAT?! What's a "disciple"? We can spot a soldier by their uniform at 50 yards, but could we spot a "disciple" at 5 feet? How do you identify a disciple? Are there standards or requirements for disciples, just as the CF would have joining requirements for would-be recruits? Jesus' teaching helps us understand what he means by making disciples in half a dozen headings, A-F.

A) Authority Accepted: Disciples...know who's boss

Matthew 28:18 records that Jesus came up to his followers after being resurrected from the dead and said these words: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Did you hear that, the implications of what he said? What a sleeper of a statement! Listen again carefully. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Just like Jesus to put it so humbly, in the passive tense. Anybody else might have said it this way: "OK, I'm in charge now! I'm the head honcho, chief of the whole shebang! I'm the Big Boss, Numero Uno." Christ had been made the Kingpin of the universe, but his humility affected even the way he announced the fact. That's consistent with his humble manner before death, the self-emptying servanthood which qualified him to be entrusted with such authority.

Philippians 2(6-11) gives more background. There it says Jesus left his heavenly glory and made himself nothing, took the nature of a servant as a human, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death -- even death on a cross. A sacrificial death to pay the penalty of our wrongdoing. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place, and gave him the name above every name; that every knee should bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. Because Jesus didn't refuse "going down" all the way on our behalf, he is worthy to have ultimate authority over the whole cosmos.

To be a disciple, then, begins with accepting this authority. For the believer, life is organized around Jesus as the centre. We have much liberty, but we won't move outside obedient followership. He's boss, not us.

B) Believe and Be Baptized: Disciples...choose to stand out

As we read on in Matthew 28, we find a command with 2 parts. Verse 19: "THEREFORE, go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, [first sub-clause] BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Baptism for the Jews such as John the Baptist was a sign of repentance, moral cleansing, turning to God. For Christians it has the additional significance of being named and claimed for the Trinity, those who come for baptism acknowledge publicly that they're "under new ownership", they belong to Jesus now. Romans 6 describes baptism as being united with Jesus in his death, our old sinful self is done away with, so we can receive new life, regenerated by the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, Peter announces baptism is an appropriate way of responding to the preaching of the good news that God has made Jesus Lord and Christ. He says (Acts 2:38), "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." It's clearly a voluntary choice as he goes on to plead with them (2:40), "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

If baptism is the glove we see, belief is the hidden hand inside the glove: the two were meant to go together. Jesus said in Mark 16(16), "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." The emphasis is on believing, for that is the condition of the heart that is of key concern to God. 1 Peter 3(21) describes baptism as the "pledge" or "response" of a good conscience toward God - a conscious act. Believers who are baptized are giving public expression to what Christ through the Holy Spirit has been doing inside them. So in our dedication promises, we undertake to encourage our child to receive Christ as Saviour personally for themself, and be baptized as a witness to that new allegiance.

C) Commands Carried out: Disciples...are disciplined (duh!)

The first part of making disciples in the Great Commission pertains to baptism; in the second part, Jesus orders that we teach converts "to obey everything I have commanded you". Uh oh! Did he use the words "obey" and "command"? Is this going to be burdensome and legalistic? Will he order us to whip ourselves with long rough knotted chords, go door to door distributing a quota of religious periodicals, or climb the steps of a basilica on our knees? Will we have to arise at some unthinkable hour in the dark each week, take our children to the central meeting place, sit for hours in the cold, and join in group chants while our offspring suffer before our eyes? (whoops - that's minor hockey, sorry!) But just what have we gotten ourselves in for?

What is Jesus' key command? John 13(34f) says, "A new command I give you: Love one another...By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Hm, that doesn't sound so bad. In John 15(12,17) Jesus says that His command is that we love each other as He has loved us. And in Matthew 22(34-40) someone asked Jesus which is the most important commandment. Answer: Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbour as yourself. Everything else hangs on that. Well - maybe this "command" business isn't so threatening after all! Just let's make sure we DO keep Jesus' commands. Can we recite any of the beatitudes? Do we observe Jesus' other instruction about prayer, or giving; about forgiveness, or controlling our desires? Are we transmitting Jesus' way to our children?

For believing parents, this means we'll be careful to create a consciously Christian home environment. Start off with Bible story books so your kids will feel at home with Scripture. Pray at meals and bedtime; as they get older, you can have more informal prayer times about things they're concerned about. Guard them from the world's propaganda through the tube or internet; shield them and teach them to be discerning about things that would rob their purity. Patrol against harmful images when it comes to shows or movies. The Ten Commandments are not the "Ten Suggestions". If we're sincere about being disciples, we will walk with the Lord by keeping His commands.

D) Dear Devotion: Disciples...love Jesus MORE

We've already seen that love for God is essential. Jesus pushes the envelope in Luke 14:26. He surprisingly declares, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-- yes, even his own life-- he cannot be my disciple." Did we hear that right? He's using exaggeration to get our attention; we've already seen we're to love one another. He means we need to hold Him most dear, to love Him MORE than any other attachment -- else we'll short-change ourselves, and not be able to access the Holy Spirit's surplus of love pouring into our heart for our other relationships.

Peter's devotion to Christ had a ways to go the night he denied Him. He had boasted earlier in the evening that he would lay down his life for Jesus (Jn.13:37); but the Lord knew Him better than Peter knew himself, and informed him his devotion wouldn't even last the night. So by the time the rooster crowed next morning, Peter had denied he knew Jesus three times. But Christ didn't abandon His burly boastful apostle. In John 21(15-17) He forgave Peter and set things right by asking three times, "Do you love me?" That's the key question as far as Jesus is concerned; not how often we've come to church, or how many good deeds we've done, or how much we've suffered in life -- but, "Do you love me?" "Am I dear to you? What's the temperature of your devotion for Me? Do you love Me more than anybody else, any other thing in the whole world?" That's a disciple.

E) Everything (that's what we're called to give up) & Estimate (the cost): Disciples...choose to follow at all costs

The terrorists were able to do so much damage in September because they were totally committed to their cause, evil as it was. They were prepared to die to carry out their mission. Did you realize Jesus is asking you and me for the same level of commitment, though for much higher purposes? Luke 14:27 says, "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." The cross was a painful tool of execution -- you didn't come down off one of those alive! That's what Jesus came to earth for; that's where he calls us to be prepared to go, whether risking death in some kind of mission or in a hundred little deaths to self each day. Are we ready to lay down our life for Him - to truly give or "dedicate" ourselves and our loved ones into His custody? Verse 33 says, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." EVERYTHING! "Lord, you're asking a lot here, y'know!" Well, the pattern hasn't changed. In Mark 1(17f) the first disciples left their fishing nets, boats, and livelihood when Jesus called. In Mark 2(14) Levi left behind the tax collector's booth; I'll bet that job netted a tidy profit -- Levi would have been set for life! But he found something more than riches.

Jesus offers a couple of illustrations in Luke 14 to help underscore how essential it is to weigh what it'll cost to become a Christian. Verse 28: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" Or he also gives the example of a king with 10,000 troops going to war against 20,000. He's going to do some serious considering before he commits to battle, at the risk of all those lives. Are we really willing to go with God if it will cost everything we treasure? That's just the crazy kind of recruit Jesus is looking for! For only then are we free enough of the thorns that choke to serve Him with abandon, to be totally available. And that's what the task before us is going to take.

This "everything", for parents, includes our children; our desire to protect or contain them. The dedication ceremony reflects our willingness to acknowledge they weren't really ours in the first place, but gifts for a time from God. Also, we promise to encourage our children to enter their own personal relationship with Christ. It's not something we can do for them; estimating the cost and making the commitment has to be done by each individual, responding freely to God's grace. "God has no grandchildren", it is said; and "Disciples are made, not born." Dedication of infants grants the freedom of choosing about belief and baptism to the child, where the responsibility ultimately comes down to anyway.

F) Flavour Fermenting: Disciples...make a distinctive difference

In Luke 14, our Lord Jesus wraps up the teaching on what it means to be a disciple with a brief but intriguing saying. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out." He's not talking about the quality of Sifto's product, but about the essence of a disciple, our flavour, our preserving power (for that's what salt was vital for in the days before refrigeration). As salt enhances flavour, so believers are to make a distinctive difference, redeeming whatever circumstances they find themselves in. We are salt and light if we're truly allowing God to work through us (Matthew 5:13-17); others will notice a God-flavoured difference. In the previous chapter (Lk.13:20), Jesus likened God's Kingdom to yeast: a small amount works all through a batch of dough. It permeates and infiltrates, like the salt.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 2(15f) wrote, "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." Flavours and fragrances go a long way; just ask those who are down wind on the day you decide to spread manure! That's kinda how sin and pride smell to God. On the other hand, a little Christian caring and thoughtful tenderness - a card, a visit, a few kind words - can create a pleasant aroma direct from heaven that lingers and comforts a hurting person long after the initiator has left.

Here is the genius of God's project: it doesn't depend on achieving a "critical mass" or majority number of believers before the Kingdom can impact society. God's Spirit infiltrates and heals the wreckage of life through individual followers of Christ. Jesus' goal is not to build buildings, but to build people, believing disciples: that's the real "church", not some place with walls and a roof. Church is a happening when we meet; the Kingdom happens when God's love and power touch another life through you or me. When you cultivate your life in Christ, you develop flavour, you're His salt, His "yeast". You ARE making a difference for Jesus even if you're the only visible believer in your setting. For every critic you're hearing, there are others saying inwardly, "I wish I had what they've got" -- the peace, the security, the endurance that God's Spirit is building in you daily. You are making a pronounced difference on a spiritual level. You're an ambassador staffing a heaven-backed outpost. Just don't let your saltiness get diluted!

So, what is Job 1 for the Church? Making what? Disciples! Now we can spell what a disciple is, A-F: Authority Accepted; Believe & Be Baptized; Commands Carried out; Dear Devotion; Everything (what they give up) after Estimating the cost; and Flavour Fermenting. The common thread is being joined to Jesus, walking with Him each moment.

Tony Campolo had a preacher friend who one day on a train in London England found himself in a compartment with two men in their late thirties. Suddenly one of the men had an epileptic seizure. The other man, though, seemed to know just what to do: covered him with an overcoat to keep him warm, used a newspaper so he wouldn't bite his tongue, and lovingly blotted the sweat on the epileptic man's forehead. After the seizure ended, the caregiver explained they had been in Vietnam together, and were both wounded severely. Despite great pain, screaming in agony at each step, the caregiver's friend had dragged him through the jungle, saving his life. Then a year earlier the caregiver found out about the epilepsy and that his friend needed somebody to be with him all the time. He closed down his apartment in New York, sold his car, and went to England to take care of him. The caregiver concluded by saying, "You see, after what he did for me, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for him."

CT Studd said, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to give for Him."A disciple recognizes what Jesus did on the cross to accomplish salvation, and in response says to Him, "After what You did for me, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." Of course, that involves following closely the Living Lord and obeying his leading, step by step. Let us pray.

"We're Expecting!" Pt.1 Moses: Messiah Demands Our Attention - Dec.2/01 First of Advent

Intro: Great Expectations

When a young couple is expecting their first child, it can be very exciting. There's a nine-month period before the birth filled with wondering, hopes, and anticipation. Will it be a girl or a boy? Who's the baby going to look like? What will its hair colour be? Will he or she be short or tall, thin or chunky? And part of expecting consists of choosing a short list of possible names. But you've got to wait until the baby's actually born to find out the answers to all these questions and decide which name actually suits.

In these four weeks leading up to Christmas, we as a church family are anticipating the birth of a child...or rather, remembering the excitement and joy of His birth at Bethlehem. Perhaps there's danger of this wonderful event becoming "old hat" instead of "good news". We forget that the Jewish people of the Old Testament had to wait centuries, hundreds and thousands of years, for this child to be born - not just a few months! So with the help of Moses, David, and the prophets, let's spend some time over the next weeks understanding just WHO it was they were expecting, what characteristics would identify the long-awaited Messiah or "Anointed One", the specially-marked One who would become Leader. Christ's life and death were "according to the Scriptures" (1Cor.15:3f), He was a very unique child, the major goals of whose life were laid out even before He was born. There is a strong note of fulfilment of prophecy all through the gospels, and Jesus was very conscious of this. As we sift through the Old Testament, we find some amazing predictions about Jesus that help us "name the baby" for who He is, and appreciate Him more fully at His birth.

1) EVIL-CRUSHER (or Saviour: Genesis 3:15)

The foreshadowings about Jesus go all the way back to the very beginning of the human race. As soon as sin appeared, before our first parents were even out of the garden of Eden, God promised a Saviour. After finding out the serpent had succeeded in tempting Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, God said, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Genesis 3:15) Notice the saying does not refer to their immediate descendants, but to a future "offspring" or "seed". Jesus is the one who, though attacekd by evil powers, was not defeated by them but conquered them; we could name Him "evil-crusher". In Luke 10(19) he authorized the disciples to overcome evil, saying, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." When the time comes for Him to be crucified, Jesus observes, " Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out." (John 12:31) 1 John 3(8) says the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross," we read in Colossians 2(15). Paul carries on the terminology when he writes to the church at Rome, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Romans 16:20) So the first name hinted at for Jesus in the Bible is "evil-crusher", or Saviour from evil.

The tug-of-war between good and evil is a central part of human living. We want to feel safe and protected from evil. The unity among nations willing to co-operate in the anti-terrorism campaign has been remarkable. A common external enemy made countries who are normally suspicious of each other agreeable to working together. It's worth it to protect families everywhere. It's bad enough that accidents happen in the course of life; much worse that individuals filled with hatred plan deliberate acts of destruction, killing innocent civilians. There is great public support for President Bush and other leaders to take military measures, because we yearn for the cavalry to surge into view when we're threatened by enemy forces. When it comes to spiritual sources of evil behind the visible agents, Jesus is God's designated evil-crusher.

2) All Nation-Blesser (Gen.12:3; 22:18; 26:4)

To Abraham and Sarah, God revealed the beauty of His long-range plan: to bless all nations on earth. And that would be brought about through their offspring. In Genesis 12(3), when calling Abraham to relocate to Palestine, God promised, "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you." This is reiterated in Gen.22(18) and 26(4): "...through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed." How about that? God's not a policeman standing there with a big club in case we make a wrong move, but a loving Father wanting to bless us!

The apostle Peter reminds the Jews of this promise after Jesus' resurrection in Acts 3(25f): "He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways." Paul says God announced the gospel in advance to Abraham by saying this; Paul points out that the word "offspring" or seed is singular, referring to one individual, namely Christ.

We are so tribal. Be it Afghan military leaders at UN peace talks, or families quarreling over how to divide the estate or whose house to hold Christmas at, we tend to be very tribal. We divide easily into "us" and "them" ways of thinking. We're not so much concerned about justice as we are about "just us". But God's goal is to make blessing available to everyone on earth, even though we're mortal and unholy, not of His "tribe". Jesus came to bless all peoples, whereas He had every right to obliterate us for our rebelliousness. We read in John 3(17), "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Or in John 12(47) Jesus says, "I did not come to judge the world, but to save it." And this wasn't just for the Jews, but everybody; in the Great Commission He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations..." It made Peter uncomfortable at first to visit Cornelius; it still makes people of different race on this continent uncomfortable to sit in church besides someone who is "different". But Jesus sees the inner person, not the exterior.

Jesus teaches us to be a blessing to all people. Once Tony Campolo asked Nobel Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu how he came to be an Anglican priest. Tutu explained that in the days of aparthied, when a black person met a white person on the sidewalk, the black person was expected to step fof thepavement into the gutter to allow the white person to pass, giving the white person this gesture of respect. One day, when Tutu was just a little boy, he and his mother were walking down the street when a tall white man, dressed in a black suit, came toward them. Before he and his mother could step off the sidewalk, as was expected, this man stepped off the sidewalk and, as Tutu and his mother passed, tipped his hat in a gesture of respect to her. When Tutu asked his mother, "Why did that white man do that?" she explained, "He's an Anglican priest. He's a man of God, that's why he did it." Tutu concluded: "When she told me that he was na Anglican priest, I decided there and then that I wanted to be an Anglican priest too. And what is more, I wanted to be a man of God." What impact was reaped from a simple act of unusual blessing! Jesus is the All nations-Blesser.

3) Substitutionary Son: Genesis 22:2

Abraham had great faith and developed a close walk with God. One day I think God decided He'd let old Abe in on a little secret, while stretching his faith and growing his character at the same time. He told Abraham in Gen.22(2), "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." And Abe went through with it, even to the point of raising the knife to kill his precious child, when God intervened and provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac. The emphasis on "only son" hints that some day God would offer HIS only

Son in place of sinners. Both at Jesus' baptism (Mt.3:17) and transfiguration (Mt.17:5) the voice from heaven refers to Jesus as "My Son, whom I love". His glory, John says, was of "the One and Only" from the Father.(Jn.1:14)

The emphasis on Jesus taking our place, as the ram was substituted for Isaac, is found in various books in the New Testament. Hebrews 10(10) says that by God's will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once FOR ALL. Peter writes, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1Pet.3:18) Sacrifice is very important in the Old Testament as symbolizing how people would be put right with God; the animal was laid on an altar built of earth or stone, kind of like a table. God said in connection with instructions how to sacrifice in Exodus 20(24), "Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you." Jesus was laid in a manger when he was born - an interesting parallel to being laid on an altar, especially if early church father Justin Martyr was right that the stable was actually a cave, then it might have been a stone trough. Anyway, the main point is that we deserved to die for our sins, but Jesus came to die in our place as a substitute. God sacrificed his dear only Son just as he called Abraham initially to do.

4) Lord: Genesis 49:10

Isn't this amazing? We're not even out of Genesis yet, the very first book of 66 in the Bible, but already we're seeing hints that the Messiah will be called "Saviour" (from evil) and "Lord". When Jacob blesses his twelve sons in Genesis 49, he uses some very interesting wording for Judah. The patriarch asserts, "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his." Jacob is predicting God's ruler over the nations will come from the line of Judah. And indeed we see from Jesus' legal geneology through His adopted father Joseph that this is true: they were from Judah's tribe. The symbolism of "sceptre" and "ruler's staff" point to Jesus being Lord. Revelation 5(5) refers to Him this way: "See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed."

5) Passover Lamb: Exodus 12:6

The defining event of the Hebrew nation was the "exodus" or departure from Egypt. Nine severe plagues had devastated the Egyptians but Pharaoh's hardened heart refused to grant them liberty. It was the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, that finally convinced the Egyptians to let them go. God gave the Hebrews a sign by which to distinguish their households from that of the Egyptians: the blood of a lamb smeared on their doorposts, so the destroying angel would "pass over" their home. This lamb was to be slaughtered on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, our March-April. The date of Jesus' death, centuries later, was associated with the sacrifice of the Passover lamb (e.g. Mark 14:12). Jesus took the cup of the Passover meal and assigned it new meaning: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mt.26:28) So the Passover lambs actually pointed ahead to the REAL sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Makes sense for a lamb to be born in a stable rather than a house!

John the Baptist picked up on this identification of Jesus with the Passover lamb when he called out in John 1(29), "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Paul is very blunt when he tells the Corinthians, "...Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Cor. 5:7) And Peter writes (1Pet.18f), "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

What had the Hebrews done to earn the right of having a Passover lamb? Absolutely nothing, it was God's choice, God's sheer mercy. This points to the most unique thing about Christianity: grace. "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17) Jesus is the lamb freely provided to save us, without cost, a free gift. Romans 3(24) says we "are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

An application here concerns how easy it is to fall into the trap of judging and condemning others, even for lesser sins, while we still have a "log" in our own eye. Grace empowers us to cut others some slack, to stop being so critical. It is simply by God's kindness and mercy, symbolized in the passover lamb, that we have been delivered from sin's penalty ourself.

6) Wounded Healer: Numbers 21:9

Another potent foreshadowing of the Messiah comes when the Hebrews in the wilderness become impatient, grumble about their conditions, and God sends venomous snakes to bite them. Humbled, they ask Moses to pray for help. God tells Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole; "anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." (Numbers 21:9) The symbol is still used today in the medical field.

When talking with Nicodemus, Jesus himself referred to this "type" or foreshadowing of his saving death on the cross. We read in John 3:14f, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." When they looked to the bronze snake on the pole, they lived; when we look to the Son of Man on the cross, we come to live forever. Jesus spoke again of being "Lifted up from the earth" in John 12(32); in John 6(40) he explained, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Why the serpent on a pole? Couldn't God have chosen a little nicer symbol? But that's exactly what happened: to save us, the Son became Sin. The Bible says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) You see, it's an exchange, a swap: Jesus could only clothe us in his righteousness by taking our "snakiness" and bearing the penalty of it himself. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1Pet.2:24) When God at judgment time looks at a believer, He won't see our sin but Christ's righteousnewss; when he looks at the cross, He'll see our sin laid on Jesus. That's not an excuse for us to take licence, but be thankful, and in humble repentance keep turning away from our sin to our Wounded Healer.

7) Prophetic Teacher: Deuteronomy 18:15

Moses is associated with the Law: say his name and you visualize Charlton Heston holdig two stone tablets. The five "books of Moses" (Genesis to Deuteronomy) are also called "the books of the Law". Moses was faced with the daunting task of founding a nation, instituting laws and an organizational structure that would stand the test of time. God's inspiration by the Holy Spirit enabled him to do this. Yet he knew there would be times when people "blow it", so God also showed Moses a sacrificial system that would point ahead to Jesus' death that actually reconciles people to God.

Moses probably also realized in establishing laws he couldn't anticipate every situation that would arise, and if he did, the resulting volumes would be unwieldy to use. God promised to provide live help in the form of other inspired prophets to help along the way. In Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses prophesied, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers.You must listen to him." So the Israelites came to expect that the Messiah would also be a Prophet, a great Teacher.

At Jesus' transfiguration the voice from heaven told the disciples, "Listen to Him!" (Mt.17:5) In other words, "Pay attention to My Son! Moses and Elijah don't even compare." During his earthly ministry, people referred to Jesus as "rabbi" or "teacher". Jesus asserted that if we reject Him, we reject the One who sent Him (Lk.10:16). In John 7(16) he said, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me." Later he commented that the very words He said belonged to the Father who sent Him (Jn.14:24). After the resurrection, Peter and Stephen both quote the verse from Deuteronomy in insisting to the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the Messiah, the Prophetic Teacher Moses was referring to.

How excellent Jesus' teachings are! How profound the passages such as the Sermon on the Mount, how captivating his stories such as the Prodigal Son! Through the ministry of the printed page, small Bible study groups, and preaching, Jesus continues to teach and speak to people about God today. Yet people supposed he was but the son of a simple maid and carpenter.

"We're Expecting!" Pt.2 David: Messiah Saves Us from Reproach and Rejection - Dec.9/01 Ps.2,16,22,69,72,110,118

What Makes a Leader?

What do you look for in a leader? Someone who will take charge like the "iron hand" of Margaret Thatcher? A "great communicator" like Ronald Reagan? A capable diplomat like Lester Pearson? Someone whom the masses can relate to, such as Lech Walesa? We probably would like a combination of these, someone who has a strong vision and is out in front of the rest of us, but who also can relate to us, who knows and understands the challenges of the "little guy" and will look out for the interests of the ordinary citizen.

In Bonn Germany this past week, talks concluded on leadership for Afghanistan for the next six months. The four factions chose Pashtun tribal leader Hamid Karzai. But he was not one of the representatives at the talks in Germany; he was still back in Afghanistan, fighting outside the city of Kandahar. Ironically, about the same time as he was chosen, he was slightly injured by a stray bomb. In an interview, he did not talk boastfully, but admitted to being a believer in God's help. So the Afghanis chose, not a suave diplomat used to cushy conferences far away from the scene of strife, but a leader who was already "in the thick of it", getting his hands dirty. Someone with a humble servant attitude, who was already proving his ability by undergoing hardship.

Between the Old and New Testaments, the Jewish people were looking for a great leader to come on the scene and restore their nationhood. They had guidance from Moses and the Prophets that would help them recognize the Messiah when He came. But Christ Jesus did not fit their expectations in that they thought He came from the wrong place, with humble beginnings, and attracted the "wrong sort" of crowd. The good news though is that He was not only God's Chosen Ruler, but also a Righteous Sufferer, able to relate to the temptations, hardships, and suffering of the common person. Because He bore unfair reproach and rejection, he is able to come to the help of others who are likewise scorned and misunderstood.

Last week we looked at the prophecies about the Messiah from the time of Moses. This week we can see from the Psalms of David, composed about a thousand years before Jesus was born, that God used David's own experience to help Him understand what the Anointed One (meaning Christ or Messiah) would be like. As God rescued David from reproach and shame, so the Messiah similarly would have to endure great trials in order to become a truly great leader who then has power to help others.

David - Model Jewish King

David was the greatest king in Jewish history. His son Solomon became wealthiest, but David was the one who defeated Israel's enemies and expanded its borders, creating the conditions for the "Golden Age" of Solomon's reign. The exploits of David and his "Mighty Men" were legendary. So the Jews came to view David as a type or forerunner of the promised Messiah. In fact, God gave a prophecy through Nathan that the Messiah would come from David's line or house. We read in 2 Samuel 7:11,16: "The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." So we can see the target narrowing down, from Abraham, to Jacob not Esau, to Judah not the other 11 brothers, and now David within the tribe of Judah.

Why was David great? He feared God, and this gave him exceptional courage. He really wasn't supposed to fight Goliath because he wasn't even in the army - he was just bringing a care package from home for his brothers - but because Goliath defied the army of Israel, David picked up the gauntlet to defend God's honour (1Sam.17:45). David feared God; he was a fighter; and he was also a fugitive. For 10-15 years he was on the run from King Saul, because David had become a famous military leader and Saul was jealous. David hid in caves because there was a price on his head; he was rejected by the authorities, though he had done nothing wrong. Skilled in outdoor survival against all kinds of enemies as a former shepherd, David trained 600 other "rejects" into a giant-killing fighting force. They made a living by providing a roving security service. But for a dozen years, though he had already been anointed as king to succeed Saul, David learned to survive the hard way, and had to await his turn with humility and patience.

When he did finally come to power, David never lost his concern for the poor, because he had "been there". When Nathan tells a story to rebuke him for the affair with Bathsheba, David is outraged that a rich man would take his poor neighbour's lamb (2Sam.12:1-6). David identified with the "little people" and sincerely cared for them...unlike later aristocrats such as Marie Antoinette. When told that the people had no bread to eat, she replied, "Then let them eat cake!" We'd say she was totally "out of it", removed or alienated from understanding the common person's situation. It's been said, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely"; but before Christ was born, people were anticipating that God's Anointed Leader would truly care for the lowest in society, and bring righteousness and justice for all, as David did.

Perhaps because David was such a great leader, a "man after God's own heart" (1Sam.13:14), the Lord was pleased to grant David prophetic insights into the true nature of the Messiah, even 10 centuries before he was born. The life of Jesus is amazingly foreshadowed in several of David's Psalms, and these references were so startling that they are quoted several times in the New Testament. So as we seek to find names for the baby to be born at Christmas, one is "God's Chosen Ruler"; but also, before attaining to privilege and power, Jesus was a "Righteous Sufferer" similar to David on the run for no crime at all. After the suffering, Jesus like David would be vindicated, proved right. This would show kingship is a result of God's help, only God could have made it happen.

God's Chosen Ruler

Several psalms are called "royal psalms" because they were written for the special occasion of a king's official crowning, or coronation. But in addition to honouring the current king, they seem to look beyond to the perfect, everlasting King who would one day lead the nation into eternity. Psalm 2 is the first of these psalms we'll look at that honour the Messiah as God's Chosen Ruler. Note verses 2 and 6-9. "The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One." (But human opposition doesn't cause God grief; he has other plans as the One in control of kings, politicians, and everyone.) "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill...I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

"Anointed One" is literally "messiah" in Hebrew, or "Christ" in Greek; it refers to someone set apart by marking with oil to be the designated leader of God's people. "You are my Son" is most accurate in referring to Jesus, the begotten but not created Son of God. He will rule the nations at the end of earth's time, as in Rev.12:5 and 19:15. This psalm is also quoted in Acts 13:33 as referring to Jesus' resurrection; in Heb.1:5, His superiority over angels; and Heb.5:5, for His appointment as High Priest.

Psalm 16:10 has an important prophecy about Jesus. "...You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Peter points out in Acts 2(27) that David was buried and his tomb was right there in Jerusalem, so he must have been speaking of someone else; namely Jesus, who was resurrected. This was an important sign that God accepted Christ's sacrificial death for all, and raised him to eternal life as he'd predicted. This supernatural event showed He was God's Chosen Ruler, he had entrusted his life and future to God. As verse 1 of the same psalm says, "Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge."

Psalm 72 is another coronation psalm that would have been used at the official enthronement ceremonies for Jewish kings. But it contains elements that were peculiarly fulfilled in Jesus' life. Verse 10 speaks of "kings of Tarshish and of distant shores", of "Sheba and Seba" bringing tribute and gifts; verse 15, "gold from Sheba" is given to him. The wise men presented the infant Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Verse 11, "All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him." Also noteworthy is the style of the honoured ruler's governing. Verses 12-14: "For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight." Jesus was continually helping and healing the needy; he has rescued sinners who put their trust in Him from eternal death, separation from God. Verse 17 should have a familiar ring for you from last week's message to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through him..." Christ is the "all-nations blesser"!

Psalm 110 is very deliberately quoted in the New Testament in connection with Jesus, particularly vv 1 and 4. "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'...The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" Jesus used verse 1 as a puzzle for the religious authorities, highlighting that David's special "descendant" was also around in his own time (Mt.22:43-45). Hebrews chapters 5 and 6 show that Jesus' priesthood was not from the line of Aaron and Levi, but a special appointment as for Melchizedek. These various psalms, then, look far ahead to the time when Mary would conceive by the Holy Spirit One who would be God's chosen ruler "par excellence", the Messiah specially appointed by God to reign in eternity.

Righteous Sufferer

It's one thing to be appointed leader. That may have overtones of patronage or special favour, landing a cushy job in a windfall, maybe like being appointed to the Senate in former times. It's another thing to earn the right to leadership the hard way. We saw earlier that David's time as a fugitive in the wilderness made its impression on him in terms of solidarity with others experiencing hardship. Like David, Jesus also suffered unjustly in his lifetime. He was rejected, criticized, scorned. It is the psalms which reflect the future Messiah's troubles that grab our attention as pointing most specifically to Jesus as being the Christ.

Psalm 118:22 is referred to by Jesus Himself. It says, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Jesus quoted this in Matthew 21:42 because the chief priests and Pharisees were opposing him. Verse 25-26 were adapted by the crowd to cheer Jesus on as he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey: "O LORD, save us ('hosanna')...Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD." God offers good news to those who are rejected, who feel like cast-off pieces of building material: when we repent and receive Christ, the Holy Spirit begins working in our lives to make something beautiful, we are new creatures. God will accept us and incorporate us into His plans even when the world considers us write-offs, and scoffs at us.

Psalm 69 has several verses which point ahead to Jesus. Verse 4: "Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me." Notice the person is suffering "without reason, without cause" - they are innocent. In verse 7 the author speaks of enduring scorn for God's sake; shame covers his face. Verse 9, "zeal for your house consumes me" - as when Jesus took a whip and drove the animals out of the temple and upset the tables of the money-changers. "The insults of those who insult you fall on me." Christ became the target of other people's opposition to what God was doing. Verses 11-12 refer to enduring scorn, being made sport of, being mocked. More of this in vv 19-21: "You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." Jesus was both shamed and scorned at the cross; the attendants offered him wine vinegar when he was thirsty, and this is noted to be a fulfillment of Scripture in John 19:28. A key verse in the psalm is 29: "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me." In other words, "I'm hurting, God! Save me!" When life hurts, God encourages us to call out to Him for help. Jesus went through pain even worse than us, so he understands all about it.

But the most convincing picture of all of the Messiah comes from Psalm 22. Do you recognize who quoted verse 1? "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus on the cross called out the same thing, in Matthew 27:46, "'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' -- which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" Jesus was relating to David's cry when he was taking the punishment for the sins of the world. Verses 6-8 mention more ridicule by others: "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 'He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.'" Compare this with Jesus' experience in Matthew 27:39-44: "Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him." The reproach just kept on and on.

Verses 16-18 give specifics about the suffering: "Dogs have surrounded me" (a common Jewish way of referring to Gentiles, like the Romans); "a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet." (in Jesus' case, with spikes) "I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." (again, fulfilled when the soldiers gambled for Jesus' clothing) In the original psalm, the turnaround verse is 24: "For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." God doesn't ignore our suffering, our rejection; the Lord hears our cry for help. The final word from the cross is not "Eloi, eloi" but "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Lk.23:46; we can entrust our future to God); and, "It is finished" (Jn.19:30) - God's goal of redeeming us has been achieved at the cross, and will be worked out in our lives when we allow Jesus to be Lord, to have control.

Gospel: Christ Shares His Power when We Share His Sufferings

The good news is that when we are feeling rejected, reproached for something not our fault, when we're bearing the brunt of someone else's unfair criticism, we're in good company. Jesus has been there before us. Paul wrote that if we share in Christ's sufferings, we will also share in His glory (Rom.8:17). The easy route when we're treated shamefully or unjustly is to respond with bitterness, blame, or self-justification. But the Holy Spirit can help us not to react like that, but entrust the situation to God to settle things. 1Peter 2(20b-24) tells us, "But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called," (what's that? we are CALLED to suffer?) "because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps...When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

How reassuring it is to know that the Messiah whom God has appointed to rule the universe has also "been there" through the rough times with us as a Righteous Sufferer. Almighty power and justice is tempered with mercy. We have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because He "has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Heb.4:15). Heb.2:18 adds, " Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Jesus' power to help us comes from His powerlessness when He was humiliated on our behalf.

In the 1996 Olympics, American runner Derek Redmond was competing in the 400-metre race. He had practised for this race for years and years, with his father as his trainer and coach. During the heat, Redmond was well out in front of the pack when his Achilles tendon snapped. He stopped running but didn't drop out of the race. In a struggling limp he pulled himself forward, dragging his wounded leg behind him. The crowd stood and cheered the wounded runner on, but the pain was so great and the wound so serious that it was doubtful he could make it. Suddenly, a middle-aged man jumped over the guardrail onto the track, caught up with Derek, put his arms around his waist, and helped him all the way to the finish line. It was his father!

When the race was over, Redmond told the press, "He was the only one who could have helped me, because he was the only one who knew what I'd been through."

When we suffer, Jesus comes alongside by the Holy Spirit to help carry us to His finish line. What a Saviour! He can truly help because He truly suffered to bring us to God. Let us pray.

"We're Expecting!" Pt.3 Isaiah: Messiah Our Stone, Mender, and Boss" - Dec. 16/01 Communion - Isaiah 7:14; 8:14; 28:16; 9:1-7; 42:1-4; 35:4-6; 61:1-2; 53:4-12

The hockey season is under way again, from the minor leagues up to the NHL. And while teams play against each other on the ice, amongst the fans watching from the bleachers will be scouts. The job of a scout is to travel around to all kinds of younger amateur leagues and find out who the hottest stars are, then encourage them to apply for the professional teams. The scout is aware that somewhere out there is the next Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, or Eric Lindross, the next "Great One" to blaze into glory in the hockey world. It would be a shame to miss spotting such a player and have someone else snatch them up, or for that natural talent to be wasted. 'Twould be an even greater shame, once they're signed to a team, for the coach to leave them benched through the season. That would be nutty, to leave your best player, a wizard on skates, unutilized.

Switching to the religious arena, for centuries the Jews from Old Testament times looked and hoped and waited for God's "Great One", the Messiah, to appear. They thought they knew what to look for. Yet when He did arrive on the scene, they benched Him - vertically. The religious authorities wanted the Messiah to score goals against political opponents, but Jesus sought to change how the game was played.

Over the weeks leading up to Christmas we've been studying Old Testament prophecies, trying to understand how Jesus fulfilled predictions made centuries before. Today we'll listen to Isaiah, a prophet who lived in the southern kingdom of Judah about 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah foresaw that God's anointed leader would not only be solid as a rock, He'd be a tender healer of broken lives, too.

A) Unique God-man -Is.7:14

The first prophecy hinted that the Messiah would be someone very special, supernatural in origin. We read in Isaiah 7(14): "...The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Matthew 1:23 quotes the fulfillment of this, adding that the meaning of Immanuel is "God with us".

It's a wonderful thing that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. Those things just don't normally happen. Genetic manipulation has recently become much more believable; just this week a Quebec researcher announced the successful cloning of 3 healthy calves. But the virgin birth was not merely a miraculous physical event; in a judicial, legal sense, this spared Jesus the taint of original sin the rest of us inherited from Adam and Eve. Jesus was both fully God and fully human. G Campbell Morgan wrote: "He was the God-man. Not God indwelling a man: of such there have been many. Not a man deified: of such there have been none save in the myths of pagan systems of thought; but God and man, combining in one personality the two natures, a perpetual enigma and mystery, baffling the possibility of explanation."

B) Stone to Trip or Trust -Is.8:14; 28:16

Do you long for something solid and sure in your life? A reference point, a "sure thing" despite all the chaos and change that whirl around us in this super-connected age? Isaiah foresees that the Messiah will be a Stone or Rock that people either trip over or trust in. Is.8:14 says, "And he [the Lord Almighty] will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." (quoted in the New Testament referring to Jesus in 1Peter 2:8 and Romans 9:33) Isaiah 28:16 adds, "So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.'" (said to be fulfilled in Jesus in 1Peter 2:6 and Romans 10:11)

The context in Isaiah's time is God warning the prophet not to fear or be in dread of what most people fear, but instead to heed God. Whatever causes us to worry or be anxious, Jesus is big enough to handle our problem. He is the foundation stone of our lives when we trust in Him, rock-solid; or if we try to ignore Him, we'll find ourselves stumbling every time. Someone said, "Worry is a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained." E Stanley Jones said, "Worry is the interest we pay on tomorrow's troubles" -- we might add, 90% of which never come to pass! Don't worry or fear as non-believers do: make Jesus your Rock, your life's Cornerstone. Everything else will then line up in good order.

C) Lord of Light (when things look blackest) -Isaiah 9:1-7

In Isaiah's time, things looked pretty dark for Israel: the Assyrian empire was threatening from the north, and conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC. The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III devastated the most northerly portion, Galilee, in 734 and 732, deporting the residents. Galilee was the "buffer zone" between Israel and enemies to the north. But in chapter 9(1-2,6-7) God gave a forecast of brighter times ahead: "...There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned...For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."

Can you hear strains of Handel's Messiah in the background? How radical to think that a born human child should be called "Mighty God"! These verses are quoted as fulfilled in Matthew 4:15, when Jesus begins to preach in the hinterland of Palestine, in Galilee. The light of His teaching first shone out there; instead of pillaging, this King brought healing to those who lived there. He became the buffer zone between people and the forces of evil.

D) Mender of Broken Lives -Isaiah 35:4; 61:1; 42:1-4

The prophet foresaw that startling miracles of healing would be performed by the God-man. Isaiah 35:5-6 talks of the eyes of the blind being opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame leaping like a deer, and the mute shouting for joy. 61:1 adds that the Messiah is anointed with God's Spirit to preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for captives. This became a basic expectation that would prove the Messiah was finally on the scene.

Jesus acknowledged this in Matthew 11(2-6) when messengers from John the Baptist arrived to inquire if He was really the promised Messiah. Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." He demonstrated to the questioners that God's promises were coming true before their very eyes; Messiah was healing, mending broken and hurting people.

Isaiah predicted that the Messiah's style of leading would be totally different from that of other emperors or dictators. This world deals in threats and force; God's Kingdom involves servanthood, patience, and building each other up. Isaiah prophesied in the first of four "servant songs" in chapter 42: "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."

The New Testament fulfillment of this is Matthew 12:18-21. The context is Jesus' healing of a man's shriveled hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees respond by plotting to kill Him. But Jesus withdraws, keeps on healing the sick, and warns those healed not to tell who He is. Christ is the mender of broken lives. He doesn't break a bruised reed; He doesn't broadcast or mouth off about His accomplishments, just keeps on putting things right for those who call on Him.

E) B.O.S.S. (Bears Our Sin & Sorrows) -Isaiah 11:10; 52:13; 53:4-12

Isaiah predicted that the Christ would come from David's family tree. We read in 11:10, "In that day the Root of Jesse [someone descended from David's father] will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious." (quoted in Romans 15:12) The Bible in Basic English translates this, "will be lifted up as the flag of the peoples." Is.52:13 says, "See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted." Christ is Lord of people of all races, lifted up as God's flag to be seen and attract people from all nations; He said, "When I am lifted up, I will draw all people unto me" (Jn.12:32).

But He is not "BOSS" in a "top-down" authoritative way; God appoints Jesus as Lord because Christ lived out the definition of boss as one who "bears our sin and sorrows". Isaiah 53, like Psalm 22, is a passage you might guess was written at the foot of the cross instead of 700-1000 years before. It's quoted often in the New Testament (Mt.8:17; Lk.22:37; Ac.8:33; 1Pet.2:22). Here the Messiah is seen as one who suffers on behalf of those He saves, taking their load of guilt and grief. We read: "He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows...He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities...the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all...YHWH makes His life a guilt offering...by His knowledge [experience?] my righteous servant will justify many, and will bear their iniquities...Therefore I will give him a portion among the great...because He poured out His life unto death...He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Christ Jesus merits the title "Lord" or "boss" because He suffered indescribably on our behalf, to pay our penalty; He bore our sin and sorrows, so we might be saved, justified, "put right" with God and enjoy free access.

In a few moments we will be celebrating the Lord's Supper. As you take the bread or cup in your hand, consider its tremendous worth. People will pay enormous prices for medication if it will heal a terminal disease. But there's one disease we're born with that can't be healed by natural medicine. We're born sinners, bent, inclined to turn away from God. The only cure for our sin disease is to receive God's appointed Saviour by faith, the elements symbolizing His body and blood. This is something you could never do on your own; Jesus paid the infinite price of His own supernatural and human life just so you could be brought into God's family, born anew by the Holy Spirit, washed clean in God's sight, ready for fellowship with your Heavenly Father. Value the sacrifice by which He deserves to be Lord of all.

Epilogue: Healed, not Cured

So Isaiah offers us this wonderful portrait of a supernaturally-born child who would grow to be our Cornerstone, our Mender and Healer, our Boss. Reflect today on how Jesus might heal what's broken in your life. Does He always heal physically? Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed from the neck down in a swimming accident. She fully expected God to heal her. But six years later, without improvement, she concluded: "God certainly can, and sometimes does, heal people in a miraculous way today. But the Bible does not teach that He will always heal those who come to Him in faith. He sovereignly reserves the right to heal or not to heal as He sees fit. From time to time God, in His mercy, may grant us healing from disease as a gracious glimpse, a 'sneak preview' of what is to come...But, in view of the fact that the kingdom has not yet come in its fullness, we are not to automatically expect it."

However, there is a spiritual "healing" that God does provide even when there is no physical "cure". One Sunday Tony Campolo ended the service with an invitation for people to remain behind for healing if they'd like him to pray for them, something he hadn't done before. About 30 stayed. He recalls:

What intrigued me was that most of the people who had come for healing had nothing physically wrong with them. One man needed healing for an addiction to pornography. One woman wanted healing for her marriage. Someone else asked healing for anger. But there were a few who did have physical illnesses.

4 days later I got a telephone call, and the woman at the other end said, "Tony, on Sunday you prayed for my husband. He had cancer." When I heard the word "had" my heart quickened a bit. "Had cancer?" I asked. The woman answered, "Well, he's dead now." When she said that I thought to myself, A lot of good I do.

Then the woman said, "You don't understand. When my husband and I walked into that church on Sunday, he was angry with God. He had cancer and he knew he was going to be dead soon, and he hated God for letting it happen. He wanted to see his grandchildren grow up more than anything. At night he would lie in bed and curse God. It was horrible. And the angrier he got toward God, the meaner he was to everyone around him. It was unbearable to be in the same room with him. His nastiness just kept getting worse and worse and worse. But then you laid hands on him on Sunday morning and you prayed for him. When he walked out of church I knew there was something different. I could feel it. He was a different person. The last four days of our lives have been the best four days we've ever had together. We talked and laughed. We even sang hymns with each other. It was a good, good time."

She paused, then added something really profound. She said, "Tony, he wasn't cured, but he was healed."

Praise our Lord Jesus, who "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows...the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him." Amen!

"We're Expecting!" Pt.4- The Perfect King: Power without Pride - Dec.23/01 Micah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah

Intro: Portrait of Greats

You see a lot of things when you're out Christmas shopping. Something that caught my attention was a painting of a sports scene. Three young boy hockey players in uniform were sitting on the ice in front of the net. On the uniforms were the numbers 66, 88, and 99; the names were Lindross, Gretzky, and Lemieux. The painting was titled "The Great Ones". By showing the hockey stars as if they were young tots, the artist gave an interesting spin to what otherwise could have been a straightforward picture. We wonder, did the stars' coaches or other adults recognize their potential when they were still young unknowns? And what of the young folk who we know today: do we overlook or ignore the potential and gifts God has given kids we're familiar with? When we look at a youngster, do we see "just" a child, or someone with the possibility of becoming as great as a hockey star? Too often people suffer damage if as children they're denied the affirmation or blessing our hearts crave from our caregivers; endless criticism or belittling remarks wither a tender heart. Thankfully, God doesn't just know us at our worst, but as who we may become in His blessing and grace. Part of the wonder of Christmas is that this tiny baby in the manger is the one born to be Saviour of the world; He was "born to give [us] second birth". His greatness enables us to turn over a new leaf and fulfill God's good will for our lives.

As the Old Testament drew to a close, God's people were looking with ever-greater anticipation toward the coming of the truly "Great One", the Messiah. They would have been keen to spot the youngster who would fulfill prophecy and achieve the goal of bringing about God's kingdom as His specially-appointed leader. Over the past month, we've been examining the startling fashion in which the predictions from centuries before were brought to completion in Jesus of Nazareth. How would the prophets "name the baby" Israel was expecting? To Moses, about 1400 BC, Messiah would be: evil-crusher, blesser of all nations, substitutionary Son, Lord, Passover lamb, wounded healer, and prophetic teacher. To David, ten centuries before the fulfillment, the Christ would be not only God's chosen ruler, but also a righteous sufferer. To Isaiah, about 700 BC, this would be the unique God-man; a stone to trip or trust; Lord of light; mender of broken lives; and "BOSS", one who bears our sin and sorrows. Lots of names were picked out for this baby before he ever arrived on the scene: but what big expectations to live up to!

The ancient writings became a script which Jesus willingly accepted and consciously sought to fulfill. On the mount of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared and "spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." (Lk.9:31) Repeatedly Jesus predicted to his disciples that he'd have to suffer, be killed, and raised to life. Then after the events of Good Friday, he interpreted them totally in light of what the prophets had written. To two wondering disciples on the road to Emmaus, he said, " He said to them, '"How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." (Luke 24:25-27) Shortly afterward, appearing to the gathered disciples that first Sunday evening after the resurrection, he said, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." (Luke 24:44)

This final Sunday before Christmas, we will wrap up our survey of those same texts which Jesus reviewed with His followers that mind-blowing Sunday. These remaining predictions from centuries before Christ's birth suggest that He would be the perfect King, but that His power would be free from pride.

A) The Perfect King

You won't find a book of the Bible named for the prophet Nathan, but he lived during the time of Israel's greatest king, namely David. The king mentioned to the prophet that he had in mind to build a house for God's Ark of the covenant, since David was at peace and lived in a palace of cedar. God revealed to Nathan that it was not David who was to build the temple, but his son. Nevertheless God would build a "house" for David by establishing his kingship and extending his family tree. Some of the predictions go far beyond Solomon the son to provide a glimpse of the Messiah. God said in 2 Samuel 7:12-16: "...I will establish his kingdom...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever."

300 years later, the nation was on shaky ground. After Solomon's reign, the nation had split into northern and southern kingdoms. Following bad government by ungodly kings, the northern kingdom had been conquered and deported by Assyria. The invaders nearly captured Jerusalem as well. Nevertheless the prophet Micah held out hope that God had not forgotten his promise, but would raise up a godly king who would defend the nation and provide security. He would come from Bethlehem, David's hometown; his origins would be "from ancient times". He would "shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord", and they would live "securely", protected by his greatness, which would "reach to the ends of the earth". To a people worn by war and worried by conflict, Micah predicted, "And he will be their peace." Not just, "he will GIVE them peace" but "he will BE their peace". Situations and circumstances can change, but this King would carry within Himself God's capacity to bring peace to any troubled relationship or soul. A perfect king.

Skip ahead another century to about 600 BC. This time the southern kingdom is on the brink of exile. The prophet Jeremiah is known as "the weeping prophet" because of his tears and consternation over the sorry state of his countrymen, religiously rebellious and politically poorly governed. Within a dozen years they would no longer be a sovereign state, but prisoners. Yet God re-affirmed the promise to Jeremiah: one day Israel would again be governed by a righteous king. We read in Jeremiah 23:5, "'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.' And in 33:15: "In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land." In both cases it is clear this king will be a descendant of David; and that justice and righteousness will be priorities for him. Power guided by principle, the perfect king.

Even well-known politicians who are fairly well established are not perfect. This week Alberta Premier Ralph Klein acknowledged he's had a drinking problem, and is resolved to get help rather than let it interfere with his duties. A newspaper cartoon lampooned Premier Klein for using slurred speech and swearing at men in a homeless shelter earlier. It would have been ironic, if not hypocritical, for the Premier to verbally abuse homeless men while remaining just as trapped himself in another dilemma, that of alcoholism. "Doing what is just and right" means admitting you need help and getting it, especially when you're entrusted with authority.

B) Power without Pride

As the clocked ticked onward through the dynasties, Israel's prophets started to foresee that not only would the Messiah be a perfect King; His power would not be accompanied by the pride and arrogance that characterized so many successful oriental despots. It's one thing to have power, it's quite another to not let it go to your head. The titles of some rulers in the ancient world even became blasphemous, making them out to be gods when they died like any other mortal human.

Daniel served in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, about 540 BC. God blessed Daniel with glimpses of historical developments that would go far into the future. In one vision in chapter 7(13f), Daniel says, "...there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Such awesome power and authority; yet the phrase "son of man" became Jesus' most common title for himself, one that emphasized his limitation and mortality rather than his divinity.

In chapter 9(26), Daniel makes a passing reference to the Messiah which hints at the downside of his position. He says, "After the sixty-two 'sevens,' [or 434 years] the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing." This is precisely the aspect of Messiahship that Jesus' disciples couldn't understand until after the resurrection: how could God allow the Messiah to suffer, to the point of death? Yet here it is predicted, back in Daniel, that Christ would not be just your typical successful politician.

Zechariah prophesied about 480 BC, after the chastened Jews were starting to return to their homeland after captivity in Babylon. God showed him that the style of the ideal king was not one that boasted about power and privilege, but focused on service. Zion's king would come "gentle and riding on a donkey". This was quite a contrast to the war-horses other nations used; the donkey was a lowly animal of peace, rather than a symbol of military might. Donkeys were beasts of burden, not battle. This was fulfilled in Jesus' life at the triumphal entry (Matthew 21:5). It's harder for someone to "ride roughshod" over you if they're on a donkey!

Zechariah's prophecy adds, "He will proclaim peace to the nations.His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth." Here's a startling hint that the Messiah will not be just king of the Jewish people, but in some way be Lord and Saviour to Gentiles as well. Jesus' concern for foreigners would show in such things as the story of the Good Samaritan, and his healing of the Roman centurion's servant. We take this for granted nowadays; but as late as the time of Jesus' and Paul, there was a prominent barrier in the temple which prohibited Gentiles from coming close, on pain of death. We were cut off and excluded from the centre of religious life as far as pious Jews were concerned. But Messiah's scope would be much broader; he came to "seek and to save the lost" - whether that be Gentile, tax collector, or other "sinner".

One last prophecy from Zechariah highlights the Messiah's vulnerability. God would achieve His purposes mysteriously somehow through the suffering of the Christ. 13:7 says, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones." Jesus Himself quotes this the night He is betrayed (Mt.26:31). Chapter 11(17) talked about the sword striking the worthless shepherd, but here God is clearly forecasting something terrible befalling the Good Shepherd. This didn't make sense at all: how could God allow bad things to happen to good people, especially the Messiah? But after the resurrection the apostles realized Christ's sufferings were on our behalf, atoning for our sin. Because He humbled himself and submitted to abuse, even though He's the most powerful figure of all time, we can be saved.

So the prophets later in Israel's history reaffirm some of the themes Moses, David, and Isaiah introduced. The Messiah would be a perfect king, but his power would not be accompanied by pride. As Jesus summarized it, he came "not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mk.10:45)

What would this teach those of us who are in positions of authority? Do what is just and right, even when it hurts, even when you have to humble yourself and admit you've made mistakes. There is no room for boastful pride or arrogance in Christian leadership. Get off your "high horse" and try seeing things from the donkey's point of view.

What can we learn if we're not really feeling empowered, if we're longing for some order in a chaotic life? (especially with all there is to do and pay around Christmas time) When we're feeling small and insignificant, forgotten like the tiny clan of Bethlehem Ephrathah, God still has His eye on us. He's got wonderful plans for us. Security doesn't come in having everything under control and paid for, but knowing the Lord of all. We live securely when we allow the phrase to come true for us, "He (Jesus) will be their peace." (Micah 5:5)

Epilogue: An Oriental Manger

Geoffrey Bull, a British missionary to Tibet, was cold, exhausted, and hungry. He'd been seized by Communists following their takeover of China in 1949, and his future was bleak. His captors drove him day and night across frozen mountains until he despaired of life. Late one afternoon, he staggered into a small village where he was given an upstairs room, swept clean, and warmed by a small charcoal brazier.

After a meager supper, he was sent downstairs to fee the horses. It was very dark and very cold. He clambered down the notched tree trunk to find himself in pitch blackness. His boots squished in the manure and straw on the floor. The smell of animals was nauseating. The horses sighed wearily, tails drooping, yet the missionary expected to be kicked any moment. Cold, weary, lonely, and ill, Geoffrey began to feel sorry for himself.

He later wrote, "Then as I continued to grope my way in the darkness, it suddenly flashed into my mind. What's today? I thought for a moment. In travelling, the days had become a little muddled in my mind. Suddenly it came to me. "It's Christmas Eve." I stood suddenly still in that Oriental manger. To think that my Saviour was born in a place like this. To think that He came all the way from heaven to some wretched eastern stable, and what is more to think that He came for me. How men beautify the cross and the crib, as if to hide the fact that at birth we resigned Him to the stench of beasts and at death exposed Him to the shame of rogues.

"I returned to the warm, clean room which I enjoyed even as a prisoner, bowed to thankfulness and worship." Let's pray.

"Born Bound to Free Forever" - Christmas Eve Dec.24/01 - Luke 2:1-20; 23:50-53

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-

7) With these rather ordinary words the Christian faith expresses the climax of the coming into the world of the Infinite, Eternal God to be our Saviour. Now if we had been making up the story, we would have arranged things a little better: a comfortable palace at least for the king of kings, the very best in baby clothes, a snug nursery with a mobile that plays "It's a small world after all..." Yet for Mary and Joseph and the tiny baby that dark night, there were no such luxuries. The trip to Bethlehem for the census had been too rushed, waiting till the last minute to see if the baby might not be born in the comfort of home at Nazareth. Strips of cloth were torn from cast-off garments to wrap the newborn in the traditional swaddle, intended to help the child feel secure as a papoose. In a back corner of the cave that served as a stable, Joseph had managed to fill a stone feeding trough with the cleanest available straw for a makeshift bed. Then they laid the little immobilized tot there in the cave, wondering at God's choice of accommodation for His only-begotten Son. The circumstances were so humbling, so unusual, they became a dead giveaway signal for the shepherds to know they'd found the right kid. As the angel put it: "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12)

But there are some amazing parallels between the beginning and the end of this baby's life. In Luke 23, after Jesus' crucifixion, we encounter another Joseph taking charge of Him: Joseph of Arimathea, described as a "righteous" man just like his adoptive father Joseph of Nazareth (Lk.23:50 / Mt.1:19). There is another borrowed cave. Again the body is wrapped in a strip of cloth, this time a linen burial shroud (Lk.23:53). Again it is laid in a spot carved out of the rock. And as the magi brought spices suited for embalming at his birth, so Nicodemus and his fellow council member bring embalming materials containing myrrh at Jesus' burial. (Mt.2:11 / Jn.19:39)

Are these remarkable parallels just coincidences, or were they planned? Does God make mistakes as in failing to book better reservations for Mary and Joseph -- or knowing the end from the beginning was God foreshadowing this baby's mission in life? Jesus was born bound -- to free forever. He came for a purpose, he was born to die. His whole life, stupendous as it was complete with miracles of walking on water and healing those blind from birth and raising the dead - his whole life was basically an overture to his main work, his tour de force: his last day, in which he atoned for our sins.

A few weeks back after the Sunday service, as we last stragglers were preparing to head home, we smiled as the newest and smallest Living Waterian was bundled into his overpadded snowsuit and made to do a little jig three feet above the ground. Little Reece's arms and legs were quite motionless as he uncomplainingly went along with the impulses of us big folks. He just watched us with his sweet baby eyes, compliantly catering to our whims, entirely at our mercy. Maybe Mary gave her newborn a little dance before she laid the wee bundle in the manger. Did she dream as she wound her precious baby immobile in strips of cloth that He was simultaneously being bound into God's plan that would lead Him to the cross? The heavenly Father put Him entirely at our mercy. But when we suspended Him in the air to do a dance of death, it resulted entirely in mercy for us.

The angel told Joseph about Mary's Son, "You are to name Him Jesus [Yeshua - YHWH is salvation], for he will save his people from their sins." (Mt.1:21) Even before birth his destiny was set. As an adult, Jesus was very conscious that he had been born bound to free those who were captive to evil. He said to Nicodemus in John 3(13-15), "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-- the Son of Man.Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." Just before his betrayal, Jesus reminded his disciples that the tragedy that was about to take place was what he was all about. He said in John 12(23,27f,32), "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified....Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.Father, glorify your name!...I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." It was for the very reason of freeing us that He came to that hour. From birth he was bound for the mission of freeing us.

How free are you tonight? The world calls freedom "doing your own thing", but that's a trick, a scam. We may think we're "free" to ignore God's direction, to lie or cheat or malign others or not keep the Sabbath or neglect to love our neighbour who's so hard to love or beg off being our brother's keeper. But the Bible says there is only one source of freedom and truth, and we're either seeking God's will or binding ourselves to the powers of darkness. Freedom to "do our own thing" is a delusion: we're not that powerful, we wind up caving in to the rule of sin. It's a sneaky progression that leads to death. But Jesus offers us true freedom: the same freedom He knew, being perfectly in the centre of God's will for His life. He said, "If you hold to my teaching (abide in My word), you are really my disciples.Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:31f,34,36) Paul said, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2) And, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Gal.5:1)

Earlier we read from John 1 about God's light coming into the world through Jesus. "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world...In him was life, and that life was the light of men." (John 1:9,4) Tonight God is offering you real light and life, true freedom in His Son. Don't get suckered in by the lie and skulk off into the darkness. God wants you to feel the assurance of being His dearly-loved son or daughter, by trusting in Jesus. John describes two kinds of people (in the New Living translation): "There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him.But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for the actions were evil.They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants." (Jn.3:18-21)

Did you catch what distinguishes the two kinds of people? Light-avoiders "want to sin in the darkness"; light-approachers do "what God wants". Stop being a prisoner of your wants, which are really concessions to the darkness' temptation to give in to your appetites, to bitterness, or to other off-track desires. Choose light and true freedom tonight: choose what God wants, for you to bind yourself to Christ Jesus, to know Him as Saviour, and to discover the eternal life and true freedom he offers.

Curtis Bradford is a pastor in South Carolina. He recalls that when he was seven years old he crawled into bed on Christmas Eve so excited he couldn't sleep. Pretending to be asleep, he lay there until he was sure his parents were snoring. Then, about 2 am, he crept downstairs. There under the Christmas tree were his presents. A drum set beckoned him to play it then and there, but he didn't dare. However, he found other gifts he could play with: a cowboy outfit, a set of six-shooters, a puppet. Filled with excitement, he emptied his stocking, began eating the candy, the apple, the orange...But suddenly, hearing a noise, he turned and saw his dad looking sternly down at him.

For a fleeting moment, Curtis was afraid, but his dad broke into a smile, settled himself in the recliner, and listened while Curtis showed him everything, explaining how the six-shooters worked and how the puppet moved its mouth. Sleep soon came over him, and his dad picked him up, carried him upstairs, and tenderly tucked him into bed. The next morning they had a wonderful Christmas, but, Curtis said, "I will never forget that Christmas Eve."

The years flew by, and on another memorable Christmas Curtis found himself again at his father's side. This time the older man lay paralyzed from a car accident and weak from cancer. Treatments, therapy, and experimental drugs had left him weighing less than a hundred pounds and in great pain. But despite his pain, he asked if Curtis would dress him so he could watch the family open presents. He wanted a cleanly shaven face. So Curtis lathered the shaving mug and brush and got out the razor to shave his dad. The old man told him how his beard grew this way and that, and how he needed to turn the razor up at one point and down at another.

After the shave, Curtis dressed him and carried him to the den where the family waited. He was able to sit there for almost 15 minutes before the joy turned to almost unbearable pain. Then his eyes filled with tears, and he asked Curtis to carry him back to bed. Gently, the strong adult son gathered the frail man into his arms. Curtis later said, "As I made my way to his bedroom, I recalled the night many years before when he had carried me to my bedroom after our private Christmas showing. Now it was my turn to carry him."

Tears ran down Curtis' face as he nestled his dad into bed, and seeing the tears, the old man pointed to a tape recorder beside the bed. Curtis turned it on, and together they listened to the Bible being read. It was John 14: "In my father's house there are many mansions..." Silently Curtis thanked God for saving him, for saving his father, for giving them those moments together, and for those times when the Lord had carried them both.

Two days later, Curtis' dad passed away. But the memories are precious rather than painful. Curtis says: "Because of Jesus, whose birth we celebrate on Christmas and who died to save those who believe in Him, I know I will see my father again. And what a family reunion that will be."

Curtis laid his dad in bed as so many years before his dad had laid him in bed that Christmas Eve. Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus in the tomb as so many years before Mary had laid the newborn baby in another cave. Each time Christ allowed Himself to be laid helplessly down, so that the power of sin in us might be laid to rest once and for all. He truly was born bound to free forever those who come to Him.

"What Child is this?" the traditional carol with the haunting melody asks.

"Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him thro',

The Cross be borne, for me, for you.

...So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,

Come peasant, king to own Him.

The King of kings, salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him."

I'm going to close with a prayer that acknowledges Jesus as more than a cute baby in a manger: for He came to give His life and so become Lord and Saviour of all who call on Him. Perhaps some of you have never actually and intentionally committed your life to Christ, and sense God nudging you to do so tonight. If so, make these words your own; pray along with me in your heart, and then tell someone about it soon. Jesus promised He'd acknowledge before the Father those who acknowledge Him before other people (Mt.10:32). Ask me for some materials we have that will help you get started in a meaningful daily walk with the Lord. If you're being drawn by the light, don't spend another minute hiding in the darkness! Let's pray, and enthrone Him in loving hearts as the carol says.

Lord Jesus, with the shepherds and wise men I bow before you. Instead of gold, incense, and myrrh, I offer you the gift of my life, with all its mistakes and muddle. I own you to be King of kings, my Lord and Saviour, Holy God come to earth, bound to die in my place to free me forever from sin and death. Please be born in me today. Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for washing away all my guilt and shame, the "uglies" of my soul that I've been hiding in shadows for so long. Shine your light and your life into me, through me. I am yours forever. Amen.

"Sin-derella, Singe-rella, Stinge-rella" - Dec. 30/01 Zechariah 3

Intro: Mesmerizing Makeovers at the Movies

The celebration of Jesus' birth is a call to turn around and start over, to become a new person by God's power made available through faith in the Lord. Virgins become mothers; lowly shepherds become vital key witnesses; royal wise men become humble worshippers. The date chosen to celebrate, near the winter solstice and beginning of the new calendar year, highlights God's invitation to start over again with His help, to become a new person in Christ. Paul wrote, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor.5:17)

The theme of being magically transformed into someone new has been popular in folklore and, nowadays, movies. Recently the folktale "Cinderella" was made into a movie starring Whitney Huston. In its classic form, Cinderella was a poor girl tormented by her stepmother and stepsisters, forced to live a life of drudgery doing the most menial tasks around home. She longs to go to the ball with the rest, but has no dress or accessories. A fairy godmother provides her with not only a makeover and lovely gown but glass slippers, coach, and servants. The prince is captivated by this mystery girl and, eventually, finds her and they live happily ever after. Pure Hollywood, we'd say, but it appeals to the hankering deep within us sometimes to be other than we are - less plain, more interesting, able to afford the very best, and so on. "Beauty and the Beast" is another story that has the same transformation motif: this time it's the guy, who is changed from a hideous beast form back into a handsome prince by loving and being loved.

Zechariah's vision in chapter 3 is also a story of wonderful transformation, not unlike Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast. But it's better than a folk tale because it's found in God's written word, so it's true! The symbolism applies not only to one historical individual back then, but clearly is described as representing "the good things to come" - what can happen for those who trust in Christ. There are at least three aspects to this amazing makeover: let's call them "Sin-derella", "Singe-rella", and "Stinge-rella".

1) Sin-derella

Verses 1-2: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!" Who is Joshua? His name, which can also be spelled "Jeshua" (like Jesus) in Greek, means "the Lord saves" (as in Mt.1:21, the child would be named Jesus because He would save His people from their sins). The name is appropriate as representing believers who are "in Christ": when we publicly profess to be a disciple of Jesus, we become associated with His name (Mt.18:5; Jn.15:21), others call us "Christ-ians". The historical high priest Joshua was one of the leaders of the remnant group of Jews who returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon in 538 BC. They faced a daunting task of rebuilding a disintegrated nation, starting with the demolished temple. The leaders must have taken some heat from neighbouring adversaries, and at times been tempted to give up, as Nehemiah was later. Zechariah's prophecy is an encouragement to Joshua to see beyond outer circumstances to God's unseen activity in the spiritual realm. Some of the things that are done to Joshua in this vision become symbolic for believers today, when we feel overwhelmed by sin or opposition: through this short profound chapter, the Holy Spirit's encouraging us to discover who we can become in

Christ. God's rebuilding the temple of our lives to be a suitable dwelling for Him forever.

The first stage relates to sin, hence the different spelling of "Sin-derella". The prophet Zechariah sees Joshua standing before God's angel or Sent One, probably Jesus judging by verse 9 a little later. And who's standing at Joshua's elbow but Satan, whose name means "accuser", and that's exactly what he's doing. This is the voice that tries to keep telling you as a believer that you're no good; that God doesn't really love you; the voice that keeps reminding you of past failures, or sins that you've confessed and repented of that are dealt with as far as God's concerned; the voice that casts doubt on whether you'll succeed at what God's calling you to do, and tries to persuade you to accept some counterfeit alternative. The Lord rebukes Satan outright, based on God's choice of His people. Note it's not because of what we've done, or our desirability or qualifications, but totally God's choice of His people. Even at your very worst, God still loves you, and if you're a believer He will not desert you, no matter what Satan tries to whisper in your ear.

In the story of Cinderella, the fairy godmother waves her magic wand, and the marvelous change happens. In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast is dying before Beauty's love resuscitates and transforms him. What actually drives the change in God's dealing with sinners? Verses 8-9 say, "I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day." Recently we saw how one title for the Messiah in the Old Testament was "Branch", another "a stone to trip or trust" (Is.8:14). Jesus is definitely in view here. The New Living Translation uses the word "jewel"; "seven eyes" or facets could refer to perfect form, Christ's sinless holiness. "I will engrave an inscription" is translated by the Bible in Basic English this way: "See, the design cut on it will be my work" - at the arrest, trial, and cross Jesus was severely marked up to bring us healing by his wounds, his scars. The sin being removed "in a single day" would be Good Friday. Paul wrote in 2 Cor.5(19,21), "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them...God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Because of what Jesus endured in dying for me, my sins are dealt with, forgotten as far as God is concerned, no matter what kind of smear campaign Satan may try to conduct. Christ's cry "It is finished!" has silenced the Accuser forever. Judicially, our status before God as those who have trusted in His Son is that we are totally forgiven, cleared, justified. As far as sin goes, we have been acquitted: we need not fear condemnation or the misery of hell any longer.

2) Singe-rella

In growing as a Christian, besides justification (our eternal status being cleared with God) there is also sanctification (being experientially changed so we come to share Christ's holiness in our lived-out earthly behaviour). When we first turn to Jesus for salvation, we're in pretty shoddy shape. Our most righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Is.64:6); as Paul described it in Ephesians 2, we were "dead in [our] transgressions and sins...gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts." Learning to walk with Jesus involves learning not to do what we did before; learning to please God not our own appetites. It may take new Christians some time to develop righteous habits, as the Lord gradually makes them aware of (and gives them victory over) the ways of the world. Liken this to Cinderella getting further from the fireplace and dusting off that filthy black soot, and singe-marks from handling fire.

Verses 2-7 speak of this moral transformation that happens in our lives. It says: "'Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?' Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here."

The Jews in captivity developed a new respect for God's Law, because they experienced the consequences of disobeying it. So as growing Christians we need to learn godly habits and leave behind old destructive patterns, no matter who else was doing them. Get your mind (and the rest of you) out of the gutter. Paul wrote in Romans 12(1-2): "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The "clean turban" Zechariah asked to be put on Joshua's head would represent his restoration to clean garments of priestly office; also we could apply them to filling our heads with God's thoughts, not human devices and attitudes. It is an ongoing discipline to train our minds to think God's way, and an important help is to memorize Scripture. Psalm 119:9,11 says, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word...I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Learning to "walk in [God's] ways and keep [His] requirements" as verse 7 of our passage says, prepares us for increasing responsibility, authority, and power in our life in Christ.

This New Year, if you don't already have a habit of daily Bible reading, why not make a start? Keep a journal handy to jot down what you learn. Store up in your heart key verses. Include this at the top of your list of resolutions. Many people these days have taken up Tai Chi, or Tai Bo, or Karate, or some sport to maintain their physical condition, but spiritually we let ourselves go to pot for lack of regular exercise. Paul wrote to Timothy (1Tim.4:7f), "Train yourself to be godly.For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

3) Stinge-rella

A favourite Christmas tradition for many people is to read or watch Charles Dickens' classic story, "A Christmas Carol". This is another Cinderella tale of sorts. This time though the one in misery is not a poor peasant girl, but a rich lonely old banker. The change that comes about is not in appearance, but in Scrooge's attitude, as he discovers the joy of giving, the satisfaction of sharing wealth with those in need.

You can go to church a long time and learn to be respectable in religious appearance. You may not suffer, if you ever did, from the tugs and tangles of an obviously immoral lifestyle. But those who have overcome the more apparent sins may become afflicted by secret sins, such as pride or greed. Yet our passage offers promise for these people to, that God can change our stinginess and selfishness.

Verse 10 promises something special will happen after God removes sin. ""'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty." To sit under one's vine and fig tree is a rural Old Testament way of describing peace and prosperity. The New Living Translation puts it this way: "Each of you will invite your neighbour into your home to share your peace and prosperity."

Immediately after the birth of the Church at Pentecost, we see something just as remarkable as miraculous signs and wonders. Acts 2(44-46) reports, "All the believers were together and had everything in common.Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts..." Chapter 4(32,34f) adds, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had...There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

I must admit, this is a growing point for me. I try to live a morally responsible life. But pride, selfishness, and greed are ever at my elbow, waiting to promote what I want instead of what God wants. As we mature in Jesus, as we come to find our security in Him rather than what the world calls "real", we are able to let go more and more of self-interest, and trust God to replenish what He calls us to give away for His loving sake. Jesus changes us to grow beyond our own concerns, He gives us His heart that cares more for others than for Himself. People will know we are His if we love one another - real, tangible love that expresses itself in kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. As we begin 2002, my prayer for Living Water Christian Fellowship is not that it necessarily be a big church, or an impressive-looking church, or even a church blessed by miracles (though that would be quite all right). My prayer is that LWCF be a healthy church - Christ centred, Bible believing, Fellowship friendly, Growth-geared - healthy in the sense of embodying Christ's love, compassion, caring, and kindness very obviously. That we would, in Zechariah's words, "invite others into our homes to share our peace and prosperity". That type of witness just can't be ignored.

The December 24 Toronto Star carried a story of a 30-year-old Catholic university graduate and writer named Nikki Barrett. One day before setting off on a pilgrimage to Spain, she was stopped on the street and asked for directions to the University of Toronto. She walked with the young man who stopped her, named Matthew, and learned he was a newly arrived Liberian refugee who hoped one day to study medicine. He was living in a shelter, and found it grim. Nikki wanted to help this stranger; she handed Matthew the keys to her apartment for the two weeks she would be away. She asks, "What, as a Christian, was I called to do? Protect my things?"

Some time later, after returning, she heard again from Matthew. He'd just learned he'd earned landed immigrant status. He has his own apartment, a job helping an ailing elderly man, and is planning his future - to become a doctor. When Nikki returned from Spain she found a note he'd left in her apartment, which said: "More than a cheque for a million dollars, the single most important thing was that you trusted me. I used your apartment every single day. It was like a sanctuary for me. I've begun to heal and dream again."

The healing power that flows from Jesus frees us from sin, from bondage to the past, from selfishness and stinginess. As we discover who we are in Him, His grace flows through us to heal and restore others -- to transform other Cinderellas, too. Let's pray.