Embracing Community

Last Sunday we continued our series on First Baptist Church's vision statement. We looked at the idea of embracing our community. Different Christian groups have looked at the world around them in different ways. Some have seen the world as something to be rejected and the Christian community as needing to develop its own culture. I attended a church that warned against anything worldly which it seemed to loosely define as secular. The problem is that the Bible looks at the world as both good and bad. The world is something God created and is good and can even be said to be loved by God. But the world can also be a symbol of a sinful value system in rebellion against God. When we look at our world or community we need to see both what God loves and what He hates. In Jesus' prayer in John 17, He indicates that He is in the world but not of it. That is, Jesus has not bought into the sinful value system but He is not avoiding the world. Jesus actively went after people, loving them and drawing them to Himself. Jesus calls us to be in the world but not of it. There should be something different about us but we should not separate ourselves from our community. We must embrace our community with the love of Christ.

Lent

A couple of years ago Amanda and I were challenged to give up something for Lent. It is not a way to earn God's love but it is the spiritual discipline of sacrifice. The first year we gave up Tim Horton's (I had totally forgotten that Lent corresponds with that other holy season of Roll Up the Rim time). Last year I gave up Facebook. This year we have decided to give up meat and junk food. While I enjoy junk food, I really, really like meat. At this point I am only hours into Lent and I already miss it. However, I do not regret the decision. It has always been meaningful to give up something that I like in order to get closer to God. I would encourage you to consider giving up something for Lent.

Biblical Teaching

Last Sunday we continued our series on the vision of First Baptist Church. We looked at the idea of seeking God through biblical teaching, focusing on 2 Timothy 3:16-17. There was three things that I tried to get across.
1) The Bible is inspired - This does not mean that it is just inspiring nor that it is a book that just dropped out of heaven. The Bible was written by human authors and it reflects their contexts and personalities but they were led by the Spirit to give us all we need to know to be in right relationship with God.
2) The Bible is practical - The Bible is not just for theologians and Bible scholars. The Bible deals with every issue we can face, either explicitly or in principle.
3) The Bible is a tool - The Bible is not be worshiped. The Bible is there to get us to God, ultimately through Jesus Christ. One day the Bible will have no more role. Until that day, we must use it for what it is meant for, not defending our own pet agendas, but leading us to Jesus.

Nine Things I Love About Amanda

Nine years ago today, Amanda and I got married at Central Gospel Temple in St. Catharines. There was a blizzard the night before and I got stuck in my driveway 45 minutes before the service but everything still worked out. It has been a very full nine years as much has happened to us in that time. Despite many challenges, God has been good to us and I am very blessed to have a great wife like Amanda. I thought I would share nine things that I love about Amanda.

1) I love Amanda's faith. She has true child-like faith in the way a child is not afraid to ask the tough questions. Amanda's faith challenges mine and helps me to grow in the Lord.

2) I love Amanda's mind. Amanda is one of the smartest people that I know. People talk about my degrees but Amanda, who is just starting her post-secondary education, has a natural wisdom and intelligence that is not based on formal education.

3) I love Amanda's sensitivity. Amanda has a gift for seeing exactly what I need and when. She is very sensitive to my needs. I wish I had that. (So does Amanda).

4) I love the way Amanda is with the children. Amanda is an awesome mom. There are always rough days but Amanda is able to make each of the children feel special. That love has not been diluted as our family has grown.

5) I love the fact that when Amanda is tired her personality becomes an awful lot like mine. She publicly complains about my sense of humour but she really tells some good puns herself. The problem is that I usually don't get them.

6) I love Amanda's heart. She has a very big heart. She is easily moved to compassion. There is a very good reason our family has grown the way it is. Amanda has a strong desire to do what is right, especially when it comes to children.

7) As you may know, there are eleven years difference in our ages. I love that Amanda is not intimidated by the difference in our maturity. She is very patient while I try to catch up to her.

8) I love Amanda's memory. She can memorize almost anything. I am a bit envious as there are days I could forget my own name.

9) Last and definitely not least, I love Amanda's beauty. I am so blessed to have such a beautiful wife. I know all husbands are supposed to say that but if I was single and Amanda walked into the room, I would absolutely take notice. Amanda, with all the worries and cares of nine years and five children, is even more beautiful today than the day I married her.

Amanda, I am so thankful that you are in my life and that we can spend our days together with all of the craziness that is around us. You are my best friend and I love you very much!

Family Day

Today is Family Day in Ontario. In one way Family Day is an excuse to have a statutory holiday at a time of year when there are not many days off. In another way Family Day is a time to spend time with and reflect upon family. I will confess that my family does not look the way I anticipated things when Amanda and I got married nine years ago this week. I never expected to have two children with autism. I never expected to have three children in our family that were not biologically ours. But I must say that I absolutely love my family! There are lots of challenges and yet we also have lots of fun. Right now almost all the kids are sick. Amanda had Faith in bed with her last night and I had Justus with me on the couch. It was not our ideal night. And yet I am glad that these children are ours to stay up with. The good times and the great joy more than make up for the lack of sleep and frustrating moments. I also want to say that Amanda does an awesome job with the kids. She goes far above and beyond the call of duty. I would not want to do this without her. In conclusion, I thank God for my family and I am thankful for each one. Have a Happy Family Day!

Interesting Prayer

I found this prayer in my devotional reading and I thought it was neat.

May the yoke of the Law of God be on my shoulder,
The coming of the Holy Spirit on my head,
The sign of Christ on my forehead,
The hearing of the Holy Spirit in my ears,
The smelling of the Holy Spirit in my nose,
The vision of the people of heaven in my eyes,
The speech of the people of heaven in my mouth,
The work of the church of God in my hands,
The good of God and of neighbor in my feet.
May God dwell in my heart, and may I belong entirely to God the Father.

- Breastplace Prayer of Fursa

Autism and Vaccines

I very often get asked if vaccines cause autism. This article explains where things are at the present moment. We just do not know what causes autism although there is a strong genetic component.

Prayer

On Sunday we continued our series on First Baptist Church's vision. This time we focused on seeking God through prayer. Unlike other spiritual disciplines, prayer is not an option for Christians. Any healthy relationship requires communication and if we want to have a relationship with God we need to pray. We looked at four aspects of prayer.

1) Prayer is Corporate - Something special happens when we pray together. It is a step of faith as we make ourselves vulnerable. We can also join our faith together, interceding for one another.
2) Prayer is Private - There is a part of us that wants to impress others, even in prayer. We need times by ourselves, getting serious with God without the temptation of impressing others.
3) Prayer Changes Things - I used to think that prayer was just a religious ritual. Experience has demonstrated that prayer makes a difference. I have seen many dramatic answers to prayer.
4) Prayer Changes Us - The fact is that God does not give us the answer we want every time we pray. That does not mean that God is absent. God changes us, He gives us peace and strength in the midst of our circumstances.

Prayer is essential to the Christian life and should be central to any healthy church. For the next few weeks you can hear this sermon at www.meafordbaptist.ca.

Apologia Resources

I have started a new blog that is strictly a place to find useful books that deal with developing a Christian worldview, defending the Christian faith, becoming equipped as Christian leaders and responding to the world around us. You will be able to also see what books I am currently reading. You can find this blog at www.apologiaresources.blogspot.com. All of the suggested reading includes links to www.amazon.ca. This means that if you are interested in purchasing one of these books, and they are not available at your local bookstore, you are welcome to purchase them through these links. If you do this, I will receive a small portion of the price. This is not a get rich quick scheme. All of the proceeds will be used to continue my own research, mostly in the area of apologetics. If you regularly purchase from Amazon, I would appreciate you considering using this site. If not, please use it as a guide for a selection of good books that are helpful in growing in the Christian faith.

Blizzard

On the weekend I had the opportunity to go to the BCOQ youth retreat at Muskoka. This is my third time at Blizzard (I was at the first one nine years ago and last year). I went up with Allison Cole, Karie Schwellinger and Meagan Hayward. There was great music by Life Support (I keep wanting to call them Air Supply for some reason even though they were about as far away from that band as you could get). The speaking was a tag team effort by Tim McCoy and Nathan Gerber. They did a great job in a conversational style of challenging both teens and adults to "take of the suits" or to stop being fake and to get real with Jesus. We had a lot of fun but there was a real sense of God's presence as well. I'm glad I was able to go. Thanks to Amanda for watching all five kids while I was away! Thanks also to Andrew Scholl for taking the services at First Baptist and Woodford while I was away.