Advent Devotionals – Day 1
It’s Time To Wake Up
Scripture Reading: Romans 13:11-14
The days seem so short right now. Where I live we are down to only about 9 hours between sunrise and sunset. The night is so long, and without any snow on the ground, there is so much darkness.
It can be hard to feel hopeful this time of year. It can be hard in all this darkness to think about light. Yet here we are at the start of Advent. A time when we start to look towards the Light.
It’s a time to wake up! It’s a time to prepare ourselves.
Jesus is coming! The light of the world is coming into this darkness to make us whole and to bring us into relationship with God.
Lord, help me to see the Light that is to come in the present darkness.
Awaken my heart to Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the hope you offer. Amen.
Advent Devotionals – First Sunday
Please join me this Advent season in preparing ourselves for the birth of a Saviour.
Remembering Gramps
On Friday, October 24th, my grandfather passed away. Today I had the honour of presiding at his funeral with the help of a friend. Here are the words I shared.
Gramps with his sister Grace at his 90th birthday April 2014
A couple days ago I asked on Facebook if anyone had any stories to send me to share about Gramps. I’d like to share some of those stories now.
….
Nothing. Thanks for the help everyone.
I heard some of you say you couldn’t think of anything appropriate to share. To that I say, you clearly you had a different relationship with my grandfather than I.
So, now I’ll just start sharing my own memories, and if I feel like it, I’ll randomly add some of your names, at your risk.
There’s many stories that come to mind which I think show how Gramps impacted our lives.
He loved the outdoors. Driving with him was usually an adventure. And you could count on some mischief for sure. read more…
against the grain – part 2 – why i stay
I’ll be honest with you… because you know we’re like BFFs… aren’t we anonymous reader?
Why I stay is a question that pops into my head on an all too frequent basis, as I know it does for others in my denomination.
Recently I touched on the Growing Atheism in Clergy that I have been witnessing all too often. I promised to write why I stay… so here is my attempt.
Since I began wrestling with my call into ministry in 2003 after a very personal and powerful encounter with God in worship on January 12 of that year, there were times when I really questioned where I was to practice this ministry. In particular whether this denomination was the one for me.
I honestly can say I researched pretty much every option I could before somewhat resigning to the fact God was calling me to this denomination and no other. So the process continued to unfold. I’ve written about my experience.
Why do I stay?
Why?
It’s such a tough question to answer. And it’s not one I really expected to wrestle with so much when this journey began 11 years ago.
But when I think about it, I stay for a number of reasons. Here are a few.
First, I stay because of the people. When I passed the fifth anniversary of my ordination this past Spring, I mentioned the wonderful people I’ve met over the years who have support and prayed for me (and those are just the one’s I know about).
People are one of the major reasons I stay.
Second, I stay because I love what I do. I love working with people. I love how my work is about engaging people and building relationships. I love the freedom my vocation allows me to explore a wide variety of ministry opportunities through the urging of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, I stay because God called me to serve in the church. I could have very easily ignored this calling and continued working in technology. But the call was far too clear, God has other plans for me. I trust God to lead me as He has for some time now, as a leader in His church. God has never turned His back on me, so how could I ever turn my back on Him?
Are there times when I’ve felt far from God? Sure, but that’s usually my fault (okay, maybe it’s always my fault).
God has remained faithful to His promise to me. God has continued to reveal Himself to me in the work I have been doing and in the people I have been meeting. God has shown Himself in people coming to Jesus Christ all around me as I watch His work in action. God has sent people all over the world, continuing to do so, to heal and teach.
Some people think there are no more miracles? I have seen otherwise. They might not be as earth shattering as turning water into wine, but hearing stories of answered prayers, hearing stories of healing, hearing stories of divine encounters, hearing stories of lives changed through these Holy experiences are showing me God is still very much active in this world.
God’s Word and work are more than ample reasons. I’ve seen it. I’ve heard it. I know it.
This is why I stay.
against the grain – part 1
There is a popular movement these days it seems. Not one I really thought I’d have to deal with. Certainly not one I want to deal with. After all, I thought people had integrity of character to be honest and real with one another. Oh, and to not do harm.
But it seems it’s not always the case.
What I’ve been seeing of late is clergy renouncing their faith. “Deconverting” is the term a few of them use. That is, they become atheists.
Some of them have the integrity to leave the church. Some of them have the integrity to own up to the fact they do not believe and retire or resign. Some have the integrity to do it quietly, and walk away.
Others do not.
Some have sought to profit from their new “insights” by writing books and going on speaking tours. Some remain in the pulpit seeking to “deconvert” others. Some of them are celebrated, not just by public opinion, but also by people still in the church! This I don’t get at all.
I wish to publicly proclaim here today that I still love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength!
Those in church leadership who have chosen otherwise need to rethink their position strongly and honestly. The church is a place for people to learn about and become closer to God. If you are not enabling this experience, then you need to be elsewhere.
Being a minister is not a “job”, it is a calling from God to bring people into a deeper relationship with Him through your leadership and work with those with whom you serve. It is to proclaim God’s infinite love for all of us who are broken, and yes this still includes those who have turned away.
As one who had a powerful personal experience with the Lord which brings me to where I am today, for some out there to trivialize it as something meaningless is highly offensive to me. You are negating millions of stories people have shared of encounters with God over generations. I too have experienced the Living God personally and intimately, and He has made me into a far better man than I was before I knew Him.
This is a fact. This is not a dream. This is not something I made up. This is not meaningless.
It is real.
So go ahead, believe what you wish to believe. I’m fine with that. God allows us to change our minds. But please have the integrity to not perpetuate your position for profit or to bring down the church, especially since you are looking to receive pensions and other benefits from your years of service.
But also, do not seek to break people’s relationships with God.
Jesus had some pretty strong words for people who do that. Check out Matthew 18 and you’ll see what I mean.
Continuing reading part 2, why I stay.