hope
Hope is a funny thing.
We hope for lots of things.
We hope for good weather on the weekend. We hope for that new job. We hope someday we’ll cure the world’s horrible diseases. We hope our friends will be healed.
But there’s so much more hope that can be offered. So much more depth in that simple word.
Hope is for something far greater. Hope that even beyond our continued failings each and every day of our lives we are still deserving of being loved. Loved by family and friends, loved ones and companions… and yes, even loved by God.
What’s so amazing about God’s love is that we can pick up the Bible and see people making huge mistakes. Jacob stole from his brother. David killed a man so that he might be with his wife. Paul killed early Christians. God loved them still. God used them to do great things in the world. And these are just 3 of many examples.
When I read these stories it fills me with hope. Hope that God still loves me. Hope that God will use me to do something meaningful. Hope that even in a world of disasters, wars, disease, hunger… God has a plan. And I am part of that plan in some small way.
Hope is a powerful thing. Without hope all is lost. Without hope what is the point?
Hope carries us forward. Hope gives us the strength to get out of bed each morning.
And God gives us this hope.
Jesus Christ, the hope of the world, showed us we can do it. Jesus showed us that all is not lost. Even in our pain and suffering, hope is still there.
The Lord is with us.
There is hope!
Robin Williams… I wasn’t going to do it…
I wasn’t going to make a post about Robin Williams. I was going to leave it for the “experts” and those who knew him personally.
But last night we watched one of my favourite all-time movies, Dead Poets Society, and I need to say something.
When you first think of Robin Williams, we all think of him first as a comedian, remembering his off the wall, frenetic, hilarious appearances in interviews or on stage. Always with a laugh. We may remember his comedic roles like Mork.
But he had a great depth to him. Whatever role you saw him in, you believed him in that role. Whether it was an overgrown child in Jack, an alien in Mork & Mindy, or an innovative, inspiring teacher in Dead Poets Society. You could not help but feel a connection with him.
He had an acting breadth that few others will ever have. Slap-stick comedy to intense drama, nothing was out of his range. A few actors have tried to do what he has done, but none come to mind who have been able to make it look as seamless as Robin could.
But we also know he struggled with a vicious illness in depression.
As a pastor I talk with people who struggle with mental illness of some sort far more often than I would like. Not because I don’t want to help these people, but because there are so many who struggle. Depression and anxiety being at the top of the list.
I am in no way trained to deal with these situations. But I care about these people and I want them to get help. I listen. I encourage them to get help. I support them in their journey as best I can.
Because these people are loved. They are loved by their families and friends. They are loved by God. They are worthy of love and support. I just want them to know it.
I want to them to know they are important. They are loved. All while they are getting the help they need.
Robin was loved by millions of people around the world. And now the world mourns.
The disease convinced him there was an easy way out. That all the love didn’t matter.
It’s not true.
It’s not true for Robin, and it’s not true for anyone else.
We are all worthy. We are all loved. We all matter.
Let us walk together. Let us journey through whatever life throws at us in love and support.
It’s what God calls us to do.
Davis Day, Miner’s Memorial Service
Today is Davis Day here in parts of Cape Breton (in the mining towns).
As part of the day (also known as Miners Memorial Day) there is a church service and wreath laying ceremony in a local community. It rotates from mining town to mining town each year.
This year it was my town’s turn to host, and even more it was my church’s turn to host.
Here is the reflection I offered in the service this morning.
Pic via Suzanne MacNeil (http://twitter.com/esooze/)
Alright, first I feel like I need to make a confession.
I come from away.
And as someone who “comes from away” I’m not entirely aware of the whole mining lifestyle and its impact on Cape Breton. read more…
Pentecost
Pentecost is a big day in the church.
It’s the day God sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples. From there they began the church.
In a way it’s the church’s birthday today. But as I think about it, I’m not sure I want to call it that. Birthdays are what? They are remembrances of births. A looking back at life. A chance to remember. A count from when things began. But things that begin, also have an end.
To have a birthday, also indicates there is a “deathday”.
With birthdays, we remember aging. We remember that our days are numbered. For some, the remaining numbers are fewer.
But that’s not what God giving His Holy Spirit is about. Sure, it may indicate the birth of the church. But it’s much more than that.
Pentecost is fulfilling a promise. Pentecost is a continuation of a story.
God’s story
At Pentecost God broke into the world and gave it life. The wind acting as God’s breath. And when God breathes in the Bible, things happen. Powerful things.
Things come to life.
Dead things live again.
God breathed and the church lived.
The wind blew through the disciples and they changed. They were hiding in a home. Afraid of what might happen if they mentioned Jesus’ name outside. They remained in secret meetings where they prayed and shared.
But then the wind blew.
And then they spoke in many languages. Languages they didn’t know.
And people heard them.
And people understood them
They were accused of being drunk. But Peter said no, it couldn’t be, it’s only 9:00 in the morning.
Peter then began to preach to the crowds. Huge crowds.
At the end of his sermon, they asked, “What do we need to do?”
“Repent and be baptized” he told them. And they did.
Thee. Thousand. People
Not 5, not 10, not 100.
Three.
Thousand.
In just a few hours the church went from a few people hiding in a house to over 3000 “members”.
Pentecost.
God’s breath.
God’s Spirit.
The church went from inside the house to the streets. Lives were changed. History was changed. The world was changed.
We don’t know a lot about our culture, not as the church. It talks in funny ways. It has funny value systems. It has treasures we don’t quite understand.
But others know the lingo: Ad agencies; Magazines; the Entertainment industry; and so on…
Each teaching their own version of the truth. And people buy into it. And oh how do they buy into it.
But the TRUE truth gets lost in the noise. The truth we try and hold on to each Sunday. Truth that is spoken freely within these walls. In the safe place we created to speak about it. The room.
It’s a truth others need to hear.
Pentecost is the fulfillment of the resurrection story. Easter is a beginning, part of the promise. Pentecost fulfills the promise. The completion of the resurrection story.
In John 14, Jesus promises when he goes he will not leave us orphaned. Jesus promises he wil senda helper, the Holy Spirit to be with us.
Pentecost is that day.
Not a birthday.
It’s a breakthrough day. A day the world changed.
Because God breathed his Spirit into the disciples.
They moved from being a hidden society to a street ministry.
They moved from being people who tell the story to people who live the story.
I wonder…
What is a problem with the church today? It’s a common refrain I hear over and over again as I go to church meetings and bump into people as they find out I’m a pastor.
No one comes.
I hear this so often.
Could it be that it’s because the church doesn’t go out?
Could it be that we just tell the story?
Imagine what might happen if we allow God’s Spirit to move in us.
Moving us from tellers of the story to people who live it. Leaving our walls behind and taking it to the streets.
What if? …
What if that’s God’s plan?
What if we’ve lost our focus a little bit?
What if we’ve lost touch with the Holy Spirit?
What if? …
What if we ask God to breathe in us?
What if? …
What … if … ?
five years
The lawn where it all happened.
Five years ago tonight I stood on an outdoor stage on a lovely spring evening in Montreal in front of hundreds of people. And in one quick moment both ended one journey and began another.
Five years ago tonight, I moved from being a candidate/ordinand/student to become Rev. Nick Phillips, minister in the United Church of Canada.
It wasn’t an easy journey to get to that point. There were 6 years of hard work, pain, tears, soul searching, and nights deep in prayer leading to that night.
And now, five years later I can say it’s all been worth it.
I love the work I have been doing in the church God has called me to serve. Never in my wildest dreams would I have predicted that I would have met the amazing people I have met. Sure I knew I would love the people in my churches, but I never expected to meet and make deep friendships with colleagues, especially those who are in Cruxifusion.
And speaking of Cruxifusion, I certainly never expected to be part of such a strong, passionate voice for Jesus Christ in this denomination. Never did I expect to find such a home with previously mentioned friends as part of a national movement. Never did I expect to find such support after years of feeling very isolated.
The past 5 years I have learned a lot. I have grown a lot. I have experienced a lot. Extremely high moments, and deeply painful moments as I’ve traveled with people on their journeys in life.
I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey from the beginning. I want to thank Parkdale United Church where it all began. The wonderful people there who formed me and supported my family in amazing ways.
To the churches I served while in school. The Sambro-Jollimore pastoral charge, Fairview United Church, Hillcrest and Sturgeon United Churches in PEI. You all helped me grow and learn in amazing ways. Thank you for your support and encouragement.
Many thanks to the friends I have made over the years who helped me see how God was calling me to serve, and for just being there as friends.
Many thanks to Carman United Church where I now serve. The wonderful people, the continued support and encouragement you give me each and every day. It is an honour and a privilege to serve with you here in Cape Breton.
To my wife, Bev. You are my love, my best friend, my rock throughout the journey. Without you, this journey would have never happened. Thank you for being in my corner all the way, and for the sacrifices you made to allow me to pursue this call. May God continue to bless our journey.
To those I have forgotten to thank, I apologize. But know I appreciate each and every person who has been with me over the last 11 years. I love you all.
God bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Rev. Nick