A Message for Trinity Church Congregation

For those who haven't heard - this morning the Bishop of Huron announced that I am appointed the Director for Ministry and Mission for the Diocese of Huron effective May 1st.  This means that I will be concluding my twenty ministry as rector of Trinity Church effective that date. Twenty years is a long time and during those years I have had some incredibly rich experiences and opportunities for the Lord.  I have had the opportunity to laugh and dance with the congregation in good times, to cry and hold hands in the bad times.  Even more exciting is that we have been on a spiritual journey together that has brought us all closer to the Lord Jesus.  Letting go of these things and saying good bye to a congregation that has brought so much fullness to my life is not an easy thing to do and I am grateful to all those who, after church this morning, spoke to me words of kindness and appreciation.

I can remember heading off to my first congregation in 1977.  It was mid summer when Cathy and I had to leave our little cottage on Lake Massawipp, Quebec, and head across the lake.  (There were no roads to our cottage and the only way in and out was by boat.)  We both loved that place and our time on the lake and it required a real act of determination to head off to Quebec Labrador.  As we rode away in the boat I can remember thinking:  "The Lord hates a double minded person - don't look back at the cottage."  We didn't and we went on to one of the most exciting adventures of our lives.

I love everyone at Trinity deeply, but I believe God has called me to a new thing.  I won't look back this time either. I am deeply honored that I have been chosen for this work of implementing the new Strategic Direction for the diocese and I look forward to the wonderful and exciting ways that the Lord Jesus will use me in this new phase of my ministry. I trust that you will keep me in your prayers just as I will keep Trinity Church in my prayers as they seek God's direction for their future and for the appointment of a new rector.

May the Lord bless us all.

It's Sunday - Get Ready to Meet With the Lord Today

The Shadows of Yesterday

"Don't let the shadows of yesterday spoil the sunshine of tomorrow.  Live for today."
Nandina Morris



Everybody's yesterdays have a shadow or two in them.  It is inevitable first because of our fallen nature and secondly because we all have a personal enemy, just as we have a personal saviour.  Jesus said:  "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  Notice the battle that is ongoing for you and me. It is a battle between good and evil.  Satan has set out from the very moment of our conception to make sure that the life we have is one that is broken, hurting and held captive.  He uses three ways to rob us of the full life God intended for us.  He does it by the circumstances of life that are beyond anyone's control.  He does it by the sins of others and he even uses our own reactions and rebellions that come out of our fallen nature.  God knew our desperate plight as human beings and so he sent his only son to restore to us the abundant life he had originally planned.  But how, you might say, does Jesus restore what has been stolen?  It is, of course, a miracle.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the coming messiah in these terms:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

If you are letting the shadows of yesterday spoil the sunshine of today and tomorrow Jesus is the answer.  If you don't know how to make that a reality then maybe your pastor can help.  Have a blessed day.

Scary World Events

As things continue to develop in the Middle East and as violence and threats of civil war blossom in countries like Libya we in the Western Word can be tempted to sit back in our easy chairs and believe that none of these things will come close to us.  Life will continue on as usual and we will not be touched.  But that is not true.  Our world is too interconnected for that.  Already we are being touched as the price of oil starts to climb and the price at the gas station has gone up.  But a blip (or even long term rise) in the price of oil is small potatoes compared to the jobs that may be lost because of that rise in oil or to the violence that may be exported to other parts of the world.  We are not living in an impervious bubble.  Even if we recognize these truths we usually feel helpless to do anything about what is happening and so we pretend that it does not matter.  But how is the Christian to respond to such things?  The first thing we need to do is to remember that it is the God of heaven and earth who is ultimately in charge of all things.  He makes kingdoms rise and and He makes kingdoms fall. The second thing to do is to trust in his love for us so that we might never be anxious or fearful.  The third thing to do is to remember that God has invited his children to partner with Him in his work on earth.  Are you partnering with the Lord through prayer and through whatever doors He might open for you to do so?

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Pray for Christ Church New Zealand

It seems that the situation there may be much worse than was first reported.  Follow this link to hear and interview with the Bishop and Dean of Christ Church New Zealand.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/2/22/ACNS4800

I invite you to pray for all whose faith is challenged by the events that have happened and for all who are facing this crisis without faith.  May the Lord be with them all.

Treatment of Kairos Scary

Minister Bev Oda taking a short break after
being exhausted by fighting the forces of
liberalism in Canada

Whatever your political leanings and whatever your sentiments about the positions the group Kairos takes, the way the Federal government has handled this group is scary.  Kairos may be "left leaning" according to some but it is certainly a legitimate expression of faith that comes out of eleven Canadian Church denominations concerned about living out their faith in the world. According to their website they are "Canadian churches and religious organizations united in faithful action for justice."  Their website states their member churches and organizations as follows:  The Anglican Church of Canada; Christian Reformed Church in North America; Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; The Presbyterian Church in Canada; The United Church of Canada; The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace; Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; The Canadian Religious Conference; The Mennonite Central Committee of Canada and the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund." Now there is a scary group of people.

As mainline Canada as this group might seem, the federal government says that their goals of justice do not align with the government's goals and therefore they should be no longer funded.  Seems to me that the Canadian government is not interested in having prophetic voices in their midst unless they happen to align with the government's every wish and direction.  The time has long past when churches should rely on governments to fund their projects and the kind of behaviour that is currently taking place certainly makes that divorce final.  We would hope however, that our government could move beyond its own agenda and its political correctness to seek true justice in the world and to support those who are willing to lead the way and do the work on the ground.

Come Worship With Us Today

Soaring With the Eagles

"Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar."

William Wordsworth



How I would love to soar with the eagles.  In fact, I have had many a dream in which I simply attempt to fly and suddenly discover that I can.  I climb high to get a wide view of things, swoop down low to catch some particular detail, but most of all I go for miles and miles just drinking in the freedom.  In my real world I enjoy flying too. When things go well, when I have some great accomplishment, or just when I have a sense of well being, I enjoy the freedom and I view life from great heights.  But more often I am on the ground, caught by gravity and the weight of my flesh.  I'm not sure that I enjoy those sobering moments as much as the moments of great flight, but come to think of it I cannot remember many life lessons I have learned while flying.  Most of my life lessons were learned with my feet firmly planted on the ground and me miring around getting all dirty in the clay.
Where is God in the midst of all of this?  I don't think he sits in heaven deciding that today is the day he will zap me so that I will become a little wiser. I do believe, however, that when I get into the midst of the trials and temptations of everyday life he is anxious to be a part of that and to turn the trouble into good.  That is my faith in the midst of trial. He is there.  He will work it for good.  Some days I know that I will never understand what he is up to.  Frequently, however, I can see how he has worked good even in the midst of this "troublesome" life.


"For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  (Romans 8:28)

God's Thoughts

"I want to know all God's thoughts; all the rest are just details." 
Albert Einstein




For some it may seem that the world is a result of chance or that if there is a God he plays little role in the life of human beings.  Those who think like that become more important in their own eyes.  They are concerned with filling their own appetites and they thrive on their own wisdom.  But for the Christian life is very different.  Paul the apostle said:  "To live is Christ." He had died to the things of self and was only interested in the will of God and the fulfilment of his purposes.  It was in this that Paul found his perfect fullness.  Everything else fell away as unimportant.

Two passages of scripture come to mind:


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  (Isaiah 55:8)


"The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom."  (1 Corinthians 1:25)

Listen

"Nature has given man one tongue but two ears, that we may hear twice as much as we speak."
Epictetus


I can sure be impulsive. The trouble is when I am I usually live to regret it. One of the requirements of a good leader is the ability to listen, then to listen, and then to listen some more.  How important it can be to remember that my reality is not another person's reality.  Without remembering that simple fact anyone can be moved to judgement and hurtful words very quickly. There is nothing about that which builds up people or the community of believers.  I find it powerful to believe the best of people and of their intentions even when I might disagree with their words or actions.  Now I know that some will want to argue with me now saying that there are absolutes in this world and that my attitude is to deny that reality. Furthermore my attitude, you might say, leads to a denial of the holiness of God and our need for holiness as a Christian community.  The ultimate absolute in this life and the next is love.  To be a Christ follower is to love God with all your heart and to love people with all their warts and imperfections.  I believe that loving begins with listening.  It is only in the spirit led moments that listening should turn to speaking.

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:19-20)

Parents of the Future

"A wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future."
Herbert Spencer


These words by Herbert Spencer capture the essence of the Christian community's responsibilities beautifully.  The Christian community is the keeper of the heritage or story of God's action in the world throughout history.  The scripture is, among other things, a history book about a very important aspect of the human race's existence.  It records how God has acted and how human beings have perceived his actions all the way back to Adam and Eve.  This is important because it informs us about how we might perceive God's action and intervention in the world during our lifetime.  Additionally it gives us the hope that if God did great things in the past he will still do great things during our time.

But more than this, we are challenged with passing this history on to the next generation - of making sure that the history of God's action in the world does not end in our generation.  In particular, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a timeless message that each new generation needs to hear.  This is certainly a challenge for us in an age where churches are in decline and falling out of favour with society as a whole.  Those circumstances, however, do not relieve us of the responsibility of being the keepers of this great history and of challenging each new generation to enter into that history of relationship with the living God.  We warned, however - we need to be careful not to mix up our own traditions and pre-conceived ideas of how God works with the relationship he offers that is new every morning.

"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old - what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done."  (Psalm 78:2-4)

Are you doing your part to tell the next generation?

A Community of Grace

"Have you noticed in your past experience that your kind interpretations were almost always truer than your harsh one?"
Lawrence G. Lovasik



I once lived in a community that was vicious in its attacks on one another.  The game of survival seemed to be built one's ability to put others down.  I wondered about this for a long time and finally concluded that people were hoping to end up on top of the pile, not by elevating themselves but rather by lowering others.  Its the kind of thing that you might do when you really don't think very much of yourself.

I have made quite a few mistakes in my life. Sometimes they were nothing more than gaffs that were embarrassing. At other times they were serious mistakes with serious consequences. One of the joys of having been a part of the Trinity Church community during the past twenty years is that this is a community of grace.  They have laughed with me at my gaffs and when I have made serious mistakes they have supported me and we have all carried on together.  All this comes from love.  It comes from the realization that we are all in this together and that genuine greatness does not come at the expense of others.  It recognizes that in most situations people's intentions and motives are genuine.  Communities who understand this prosper even as they support and build one another up.  Encourage one another daily.  The gift of encouragement is a gift from God.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Part of the Body

For the last two days the coordinator in our office has been away.  Most of us seem to be able to be absent without being noticed but this lady is the glue that keeps everything running smoothly.  Its amazing how much scrambling we have to do to figure out everything...  We are all tempted to think that we are not important - that we would not be missed if we just disappeared, but the reality is that we have all been made unique with something special to offer this world.  When we are not able to make a contribution, or when we just fail to do so, the whole community has to adjust.  We are not as independent as we think we are.  We are in fact all interconnected in a multitude of ways.  That is the way God made us and intended us to be - especially in the Christian community.  No one can be a lone ranger.

"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.  If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.  And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?  If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is there are many parts, but one body."  (1 Corinthians 12:14-20)

Down But Not Out

St. John's Church, Sarnia

Last night I attended the "de consecration" of one of the Anglican Churches in our city.  Consecration is the act of setting something aside wholly for sacred purposes and this can be done for any number of things.  We can even consecrate ourselves to set our lives apart for sacred purposes. So the act of de consecration is the act of declaring that which was once set aside completely for sacred purposes is no longer set aside in such a way.  It was sad to see a grand old building that had been the place of worship and of sacred passages such as baptisms, marriages and funerals for so many generations be de consecrated.  It is not the only church (Anglican or otherwise) to have met such a fate in recent times.  There are, of course, some congregations that are thriving and growing, but in North America at large there is no question that the number of people attending church Sunday by Sunday is declining.
But ultimately this story is not about decline.  It is about a Christian community that has had the courage to admit the the old way of doing things is not working.  It is about a Christian community that has had the courage to let go of things they have held dear in order to find new ways to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is about a Christian community that places its hope in God to bring about a new and exciting future. In this particular instance the community I am speaking about has had the courage to amalgamate with two other congregations to create one congregation that has the critical mass to face the future in new and exciting ways.
Many Christians are facing similar situations.  In fact, even if you are a part of one of those communities that is thriving you need to learn lessons from what is happening.  If we simply sit tight, hang on to what we have and hope for the best we will die.  God is doing a new thing.  I am not disparaging for the gospel.  It has survived for two thousand years and the Christian church globally is larger than it has ever been and is expanding rapidly.  Let's not get in the way of the God's Spirit.  Let us submit ourselves to God and get on with what he is calling us to do.  May Jesus Christ be praised.

Desire for Love

"In every living thing there is the desire for love."
D. H. Lawrence



Truer words were never spoken.  Every human being I have ever met desires to be loved - whether they are willing to admit it or not.  In this I find the key to so much I am looking for in life.  I want my children to do well and I am far too often tempted to give them unsolicited advice.  I want my wife to be really devoted to me and all too often I am tempted to demand it.  I want the people I work with and live around to respect me and all too often I am tempted to resent them for not doing so.  But what I have discovered is that all these things are given to me when I simply love those I share my life with.  Just love people and you will be amazed at its power.

"Love is patient, love is kind.  it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Expectation or Security? You choose

"Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life.  Security is an insipid thing, through the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly of the chase."
William Congreve




I have observed in my life that the more things I have and the more successes I achieve the less energy I have for new ventures and risks.  As I come to enjoy the benefits of the material things I own, the positions I occupy and the worldly security I have it it tempting to spend a lot of time and energy maintaining those things and making sure that I don't lose them.  More than that I am tempted to evaluate the next mountain I might climb based on the fear that it might not be as good as the mountain I am currently sitting on.  But if I fall into that trap I loose the excitement of allowing God to bring adventure, anticipation and new accomplishments into my life.  In the end I loose everything that is important trying to hang on to what I already have.  Many years ago I had a dream. In that dream God breathed on me and I felt great joy.  Then he said:  "You will always be in the path of the breath of my Spirit."  I have remembered that dream because it gave me great joy.
Recently I was with a group of students talking about their future.  The group was teasing one of its members saying that his father was rich and that his future was secure because his father would make sure that he owned the family business and so the future was bright.  As they went around the room one girl said:  "He has a father but I have a dream."  Because of Jesus I have both a dream and a Father. My security however, does not come from the things of this world.  It is not threatened by the new ventures that the Lord puts in my way. Instead my security is enhanced.  Oh to always be in the path of the breath of His Spirit.

In Christ Alone - Worship God This Sunday

The Unexpected Adventure

Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg have written a book called The Unexpected Adventure.  In this book they share their experiences of God at work when they have stepped out in faith to give testimony about their own faith journey.  The principle that they proclaim is that we should all wake up in the morning expecting God to give us some unexpected adventure in service for him during the day.  They proclaim service that is neither driven by duty or striving but rather by joyful expectation that God will work through us for the good of others and his kingdom.  It is a good principle but one that too quickly gets lost in the midst of our business and sometimes our political correctness.
During Lent of 2010 our congregation studied the book and those who went in depth took the opportunity to attempt to put its principles into practice.  Many unexpected adventures emerged from this experience and we all had fun sharing our testimonies.  If you are one of those people who got excited about the book then let me ask you if you are still enjoying unexpected adventures?  If so, I would love to hear your stories.  If not, then maybe its time to remind yourself of the wonderful things God has in store for those who are faithful to him.
If you have haven't yet done so I recommend that you read:  "The Unexpected Adventure."

The Importance of Testimony

We have a choice.  Either our faith can be of the intellectual sort that theoretically accepts all kinds of premises on which to take our stand about God and the way we live, or it can be a day by day walk with the Lord.  A day by day walk with the Lord is something that is far more exciting and dynamic than an intellectual faith.  More than that, it is a solid experience on which to draw in times of trouble.  Anyone who has that day by day walk with the Lord will have a testimony or testimonies to give.  These testimonies will be real life experiences that demonstrate that your walk with the Lord is personal and new every morning.  Testimony is not usually spectacular and full of incredible stories although it might be.  It is usually about how we have seen God at work in the every day events of life.  The importance of testimony comes in the solidifying of our faith that comes from sharing.  The importance of testimony comes in the encouragement that others receive for their faith when they hear about ours.  The importance of testimony comes in helping others find how to see God's action on their own journey.  When is the last time you gave testimony to the things that were happening in your faith walk?  Don't be shy.  Step out in faith and God will use it powerfully.

Resisting change

"People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals."
Rosabeth Moss Kanter

One of the organizations that is the most resistant to change is the church.  Perhaps that is because we are confused, or at  least inwardly conflicted about the purpose of the church.  For many, church is about their own personal needs.  For some it may be a quiet place to reflect for an hour a week.  For others it may be that it is about a hour of exuberant  praise.  For still others it may be about the friendship and fellowship that is found in the community.  There are those who will find church to be about comfort - especially in times of trouble or distress.  Many find church a place to reflect about the spiritual side of life and a place to introduce their children to spiritual things.  I could go on and on and it is true that all of these things are at least in part what the church is all about.  But all of these needs are egocentric or personally focused and they are the things that have led to the consumer attitude we have developed toward our church involvement.  In short we say:  "What is in it for me?'

The trouble is that I find all of these things to be in-congruent with the instructions that Jesus gave to his followers about the future. What I find coming from Jesus is a clear command that they become a very task oriented group of people.  "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."  (Acts 1:8)  I am learning to not ask how the changes in the church will impact me, but rather to ask how the changes in the church will impact the spread of the gospel.  Only in asking that can I align myself with the goals of the organization instead of with my own needs.  

All is Well

"He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.'

B.C. Forbes


There are those who analyse the plight of Christians and call it is proof that there is no God.  The rain falls on the godly and the  ungodly just as the sun shines on the godly and the ungodly.  Those who follow Jesus go to the grave just as those who do not follow Jesus.  All these things are true although I do not discount the power of prayer to change the outcomes in our lives.  What I do know to be different is that those of faith have hope.  In my immaturity I used to think that they had hope that God would do what they wanted him to do.  I have since learned that hope is based not on God doing what I want him to do, but rather on God doing what is right.  Hope is based on the realization that the love of God, greater than any human love can be, will always work for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.  There is nothing in this life that can separate us from that love.  Focus on that love and everything else will fall into place.

"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.  (Romans 8:38-39)