With April's Fools Day just around the corner - I wonder how many of us will attempt to pull a practical joke on someone.
Even though I think that I have a pretty good sense of humour, practical jokes aren't my specialty. Oh, I try, and sometimes I'll have some success, but for the most part - I just sit back and enjoy what other people try to do.
I recall a time when at Bethany Bible College, a friend of mine - who we'll call Kirk Perry - offered some almonds to me. Now if you know me, I enjoy eating most kinds of nuts (cashews being my favorite). I ate them and enjoyed them. However, as I was gobbling down this treat, I kept thinking that there was a slight hint of chocolate to these almonds. Oh well, nothing too serious. Well, it turns out that this friend of mine - who pastors on Grand Manaan - had originally had chocolate covered almonds, sucked off all the chocolate and gave them to me; pretending to be kind and generous. You can imagine my disgust when the truth came out.
That is an example of a practical joke that got completely out of hand. Well, to be honest, if it had been me giving them away, I too, would have thought it to be quite funny. Kirk, I hold no hard feelings - it was a good joke. However, humour can sometimes be lost on us if we're the brunt of the joke.
It's interesting how our words or actions can affect other people. I am saddened that sometimes we in the church say or do things towards others that are not uplifting, edifying or encouraging - but rather slanderous, painful and outright wrong (dare I say evil?). James reminds us in 3:10, "My brothers, this should not be." As opinionated and self righteous as we might like to think we are, God's word reminds us to consider others before ourselves. What does this mean? If I wouldn't want to eat disgusting almonds, then I shouldn't pass them on to others, either. It is easy to get uptight about what someone might do - or what I might perceive them to be about...but as a Christian - a follower of Jesus - then I need to lay down my selfish need to be right, or in control, or judgmental. I need to be a builder, not a destroyer.
If we put both verse 9 and 10 of chapter 3 together, James states, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."
With April Fool's approaching, will we allow ourselves to be reminded of ways in which we've slandered, gossiped, lied about and caused pain to another - and correct that wrong? It's time to stop being a fool and be a true follower - of the Master.
What do you think? Hit the comment button to let me know.
"Sends Revival, Start with Me"
Pastor Ken
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...
William Shedd, a nineteenth century pastor and theologian, wrote, “A ship is safe in a harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”
Obviously, ships are for sailing. Some are built for speed, some for carrying cargo, some for looks, but all for sailing.
I have a 10 foot Sea Doo (not sure whether that qualifies as a ship or not), that I truly enjoy. There's nothing better than getting out on the water on a beautiful day and cruising around. However, at the moment, it is safely stowed away for the winter. Because of that, I'm not able to enjoy it. Oh, I could sit on it and pretend that I'm sailing the ocean waters...but that would be a poor interpretation of the real thing.
Sometimes, as I reflect on the modern day church, I feel that we have settled for a poor imitation of the real thing. As I mentioned in the sermon yesterday morning, too many churches are solely focused on keeping the doors open and the lights turned on. We should never be satisfied with just doing the bare minimum, as God's people.
The church of Jesus Christ is called to reach the world and to impact people with the hope of salvation and of life change. It's a big vision...and it requires a big commitment on our part. If the church is to remain relevant and truly have an impact on the community - then we must get out of the harbor. Jesus showed us that living outside of the comfort zone led to possibilities and opportunities. Yes, it produced risk as well; but who said being a Christian ought to be safe?
There's a ship in Halifax that never leaves the harbor. It has a rich history of effectiveness and naval service. HMCS Sackville served well in WWII and beyond. However, today, it is a museum/memorial to days gone by. It's a good endeavour to have the ship serve as a reminder of Canada's naval past, but the ship was never intended to be a museum. When it was built, it had a far greater purpose - but over time, it became out of date and irrelevant. The church (or its people) should never suffer the same fate. If we become a museum of days gone by, then it's because we stopped ministering to others and finding ways to impact and influence them. Jesus never meant for the church to stay in the harbor - He intends for it to sail.
What do you think? How can the church be relevant in 2007?
"Send revival, Start with Me"
Pastor Ken
Obviously, ships are for sailing. Some are built for speed, some for carrying cargo, some for looks, but all for sailing.
I have a 10 foot Sea Doo (not sure whether that qualifies as a ship or not), that I truly enjoy. There's nothing better than getting out on the water on a beautiful day and cruising around. However, at the moment, it is safely stowed away for the winter. Because of that, I'm not able to enjoy it. Oh, I could sit on it and pretend that I'm sailing the ocean waters...but that would be a poor interpretation of the real thing.
Sometimes, as I reflect on the modern day church, I feel that we have settled for a poor imitation of the real thing. As I mentioned in the sermon yesterday morning, too many churches are solely focused on keeping the doors open and the lights turned on. We should never be satisfied with just doing the bare minimum, as God's people.
The church of Jesus Christ is called to reach the world and to impact people with the hope of salvation and of life change. It's a big vision...and it requires a big commitment on our part. If the church is to remain relevant and truly have an impact on the community - then we must get out of the harbor. Jesus showed us that living outside of the comfort zone led to possibilities and opportunities. Yes, it produced risk as well; but who said being a Christian ought to be safe?
There's a ship in Halifax that never leaves the harbor. It has a rich history of effectiveness and naval service. HMCS Sackville served well in WWII and beyond. However, today, it is a museum/memorial to days gone by. It's a good endeavour to have the ship serve as a reminder of Canada's naval past, but the ship was never intended to be a museum. When it was built, it had a far greater purpose - but over time, it became out of date and irrelevant. The church (or its people) should never suffer the same fate. If we become a museum of days gone by, then it's because we stopped ministering to others and finding ways to impact and influence them. Jesus never meant for the church to stay in the harbor - He intends for it to sail.
What do you think? How can the church be relevant in 2007?
"Send revival, Start with Me"
Pastor Ken
Monday, March 12, 2007
Part 2
As you may have noticed, I'm a week late in getting to my blog. Sorry for that. I've now adjusted the blog so that anyone can leave me a 'comment' feedback - please feel free to do so.
What should be my reaction - as a Christian - when unexpected difficulties come my way? That was the question that I last left you with. Well, speaking from my own experiences, I often react in the following ways - frustration, anger, worry, grief, disillusionment, sorrow, etc. Of course, depending upon the severity of the difficulty, that determines my exact response.
Some would suggest that a Christian is somehow isolated from the 'reality' of these difficulties (ie: sickness, a death, a job-loss, a bill, a rejection). All we need to do is spout a Bible verse, put on a plastic smile and keep on keeping on. How foolish. Whether we're a Christian or not, we're still human. Feelings are present; uncertainties persist; questions about the future stare us in the face. But I'm learning to understand that it's not the severity of the difficulty that matters nor is it the reason for why it happened all that important. Lessons can be learned, of course, but there's more to the story.
While my reaction to these things may mirror those of an average person (Christian or not), it is the Hope that a believer has in Christ that can make all the difference. Now, the example that I shared last time of the unexpected hospital bill may not shout "HOPE OF CHRIST", but God cares about such things (Blue Cross has since taken care of the bill). When we go through a divorce, God cares; when a spouse dies, God cares; when severe sickness comes, God cares; when we lose a job, God cares...it doesn't matter how large or small - if it affects us, then God cares and He cares deeply.
But it doesn't stop there. If it did, it wouldn't be Hope. I recall being in a deep state of hopelessness. I didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I had suffered a great blow and I didn't know what was ahead, and in many ways, I didn't care. Life just 'sucked', for lack of a better word.
But through it all, I had Hope that God was there with me and that He would somehow work things out. In the midst of frustration, anger, worry, grief, disillusionment and sorrow - God showed me that He could heal my hurt; help me get beyond my bitterness and allow me a rebuilt life. You see, it wasn't my circumstance that needed changing, it was me. I trusted Him, though it took awhile to do so completely, and I re-discovered that He is faithful.
So, is a Christian's reaction any different to life's circumstances? Perhaps not. Some of us carry on while some complain. Yet at the end of the day - a Christian has a Hope that none other has - but He is available to all who truly ask.
"Send Revival, Start with Me."
Pastor Ken
What should be my reaction - as a Christian - when unexpected difficulties come my way? That was the question that I last left you with. Well, speaking from my own experiences, I often react in the following ways - frustration, anger, worry, grief, disillusionment, sorrow, etc. Of course, depending upon the severity of the difficulty, that determines my exact response.
Some would suggest that a Christian is somehow isolated from the 'reality' of these difficulties (ie: sickness, a death, a job-loss, a bill, a rejection). All we need to do is spout a Bible verse, put on a plastic smile and keep on keeping on. How foolish. Whether we're a Christian or not, we're still human. Feelings are present; uncertainties persist; questions about the future stare us in the face. But I'm learning to understand that it's not the severity of the difficulty that matters nor is it the reason for why it happened all that important. Lessons can be learned, of course, but there's more to the story.
While my reaction to these things may mirror those of an average person (Christian or not), it is the Hope that a believer has in Christ that can make all the difference. Now, the example that I shared last time of the unexpected hospital bill may not shout "HOPE OF CHRIST", but God cares about such things (Blue Cross has since taken care of the bill). When we go through a divorce, God cares; when a spouse dies, God cares; when severe sickness comes, God cares; when we lose a job, God cares...it doesn't matter how large or small - if it affects us, then God cares and He cares deeply.
But it doesn't stop there. If it did, it wouldn't be Hope. I recall being in a deep state of hopelessness. I didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I had suffered a great blow and I didn't know what was ahead, and in many ways, I didn't care. Life just 'sucked', for lack of a better word.
But through it all, I had Hope that God was there with me and that He would somehow work things out. In the midst of frustration, anger, worry, grief, disillusionment and sorrow - God showed me that He could heal my hurt; help me get beyond my bitterness and allow me a rebuilt life. You see, it wasn't my circumstance that needed changing, it was me. I trusted Him, though it took awhile to do so completely, and I re-discovered that He is faithful.
So, is a Christian's reaction any different to life's circumstances? Perhaps not. Some of us carry on while some complain. Yet at the end of the day - a Christian has a Hope that none other has - but He is available to all who truly ask.
"Send Revival, Start with Me."
Pastor Ken
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