weak
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10
When I was in boy scouts I remember one time we went on a winter camping trip. On this trip we didn’t have tents. It was expected that we were going to build our own shelters for the night. We did bring sleeping bags, food, and all other necessities for the weekend, but we didn’t have tents.
We split up into groups of three and were told to build our own shelters for the night while someone else built the fire on that cold winter afternoon.
My group decided we were going to be sure we were warm. Our strategy was to build a lean-to and to make it as protected as possible. So we gathered large branches to build the frame and then proceeded to insulate it with evergreen branches. And boy did we ever insulate it. Our walls were well over a foot thick. People were very impressed with our shelter when we walked around afterwards inspecting one another’s work.
Our’s was not only well built, but it looked a whole lot warmer than some of the other groups who simply tied up some branches and wrapped it in sheets of plastic… for winter camping. January winter camping. Back 30 years ago when we used to have winter. In January. read more…
freedom
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-15
Last week we looked at 2 Corinthians 2 and we heard what Paul wrote to the church about a particular problem they were experiencing. It seems there was some sort of division in the church which Paul passionately asked them to rectify by reaching out to one another in love. Unity in the church was important for Paul, and the unity was to be in Christ Jesus and shown by love for one another.
This week we skipped over chapter 3 and moved into chapter 4. In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul writes how ministry has changed from one which, like in the Old Testament, was fulfilled by following the rules. In particular, Paul refers to the Ten Commandments written on the stone tablets. Paul writes in response to the people asking for letters of reference.
He says,
“Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 2:1-3)
Paul says to his friends that you are your own reference letters. They are representatives of Jesus Christ, which Paul helped prepare. And it is the Spirit of God within them which is their ink, their visible sign for the world to see. And this Spirit is not found on stone tablets, but rather on their hearts.
So instead of following what is written in stone, Paul is telling them to follow what is written on their heats. The Spirit of God is in them, and they need no further external confirmation of their faithfulness because they have the Spirit of God in their hearts. read more…
why forgive?
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-10
I’ve been on the internet for a very long time. It started for me back when I was a teenager around 1990 and my high school got an internet connection. As a young man interested in computers and intending to study and make a career in the industry, this new thing really caught my attention. Although, as I look back, it really wasn’t all that exciting… at all. At least compared to what the internet has become today. There weren’t even pictures back then!
One thing I learned early on though, was that you need to be careful what you say. You need to be careful because plain text can be read in many different ways. If someone chooses to read what you wrote in a totally different tone than what you intended, then things can get heated quickly.
We still have this problem today as I see people get trashed over social media for things they have said on Twitter or Facebook. What seems to be a simple statement gets completely misconstrued by someone else and the next thing you know, someone loses their job and their life is in shambles.
Believe me, it has gone that far.
Part of the problem is people don’t realize tone and body language are a huge part of how we communicate. So if all we are doing is transmitting words without tone and body movement to help get our point across, people can easily miss the point. read more…
Consoled and Encouraged
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
You know those people in your life you love a lot, but you just can’t wait until they go away for a little while? For some people that period apart could be an hour, maybe an afternoon. Sometimes we might think a week or two might be nice!
I just hope that last one isn’t your spouse.
We’d love to get along all the time with everyone, but the reality is, it’s just not possible. There are times when it’s impossible to agree on absolutely everything, and that’s is perfect fine. We are our own person, we understand the world from our own viewpoint, our experience, and others also understand the world in their own way, which may be different than our understanding. It’s all part of being who we are.
The trick is, whether or not we allow these differences to spoil our friendship. I guess it depends on how important our view of a particular situation is in our life priorities.
For some people being a fan of the Leafs is non-negotiable. For others, they might be able to tolerate some Hab fans in their life. For me, I can’t understand the affection for either team. But… I do have friends in both camps in my life. And I have no choice but to put up with it. I do my best. read more…
What do we need?
Photo by http://www.sxc.hu/profile/_cheese
As usual, today my social media timelines is peppered with links to blogs and articles about the church and it’s struggles. Stories about “Church and Millenials”, “Church and men”, “Church and growth programs”, “Church and it’s decline”. It’s all quite wearying at times to read.
And then I go to my kid’s school and talk to the staff there. I hear about kids living in poverty, kids living in homes with addiction and abuse. I hear about how the school is powerless to do anything about it due to restrictions on privacy and also it’s their voice against the parents.
I walk through this town and I see so many signs of neglect: children running free at all hours of the day, houses run down to the point where many of them should probably be condemned, loose animals everywhere.
The church and it’s decline… the decline of our neighbourhoods.
Could the two be linked?
As churches become more inwardly focused on just trying to pay the bills, have we lost sight of what it means to follow Jesus and serve those in need around us?
When I read the blogs posts mentioned above, many will ask “What programs do you offer for <name a demographic>?”
Here’s my answer. None!
I really don’t feel programs are the answer. Faithful leadership is the answer. Acting like Jesus expects us to act is the answer. Prayer is the answer.
How about instead of spending an hour a day wondering what sort of programs we should be running, we spent that hour, as church leaders (both paid ministry and laity), we sat down and prayed.
And what if instead of that prayer looking like were asking God to do a whole bunch of stuff, the time was spent with our mouths shut and our ears and hearts open to what God is asking us to do?
That’s how I’ve been spending my days lately. Sure I may miss a few here and there, but I try to sit and listen. I ask a question, and I listen.
Turns out God wants to tell me stuff about myself first. He tells me about the stuff I need to deal with first, then we get on to what I am going to do as He reveals it to me.
Our churches need pastors and leaders who are first being transformed by Him from the inside out first. If we as leaders are hearing God speak to us as we bring our broken lives to him and letting Him transform us, then our churches take notice and they too will be transformed.
Don’t believe me? Ask my church. They see how God is transforming me because I spend quality time listening to Him. And they want to be transformed too.
We don’t need programs.
We need Jesus. He’s the only one who can save your church.
So sit down and listen to what he wants to tell you. It will change your life.