Milestones
I worked in Ottawa for Nortel from September 1998 to April 2003. 4 years and 8 months. (Not including an internship at the company in 1997).
I’ve been in ministry since July 2009 to present (written March 2014). 4 years and 9 months.
It makes me think.
It makes me look back at how things can change, often in a blur of activity.
It makes me wonder, “What if <this happened> or <that happened>? How might things have been different?”
For the most part I enjoyed working in technology. Sure there were days when the company was in free-fall it was hard to get out of bed, but the people, the company, the city… they were good to me. They taught me an awful lot.
But there’s a difference between liking something and loving it. There’s a difference between being good at doing something and knowing you were created to do something.
I was good at technology. I was good at finding and solving problems. I was good at working in a team. I became good at leading a team while I was there.
But ministry… Once I found Jesus in my life, he showed me I was created for something different. Something greater. Something he was preparing me to do. And now I’m getting to do it. I’m still leading. I’m still solving problems. But I also hope I am helping people grow into their own understanding of God’s presence in their lives.
So yeah, there might have been some “What if…” questions.
But those don’t really matter. I embrace my past. My past has made me who I am today. God has taken all my experience, all my passion, all my life and shaped me into the man I am today.
I’m no where near perfect. I have a very long way to go.
But Jesus is perfect. Jesus is the reason why I am here today.
No regrets.
No hesitation.
No worries.
All I have been, all that I am, is because of what Jesus has done for me.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
a fan of the simpsons
Yes, I do like the show, but I also enjoy the lecture series.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been constantly tired, having trouble sleeping, all signs that I was in need of a get away for a couple days.
So I packed a bag and headed out to Wolfville. Early February, for quite a few years now, Acadia Divinity College hosts the Simpson lectures where they bring in a guest speaker to share some thoughts, experiences, insights to get us thinking. There are also some workshops which we can take in as well.
This year the speaker was presenting a paper on the “Character of Preaching” by Dr. Scott Gibson. While the presentation lacked a bit because he read more than he might have liked (he is an engaging preacher and good story teller), the content was thought provoking as we (as preachers) seek to develop and disciple our congregations.
I also took in workshops on leadership and evangelism.
So much to think about as I came home… who can I help develop as a leader? What sort of outreach can we engage in? How’s my preaching helping people grow in their faith?
I’ll continue to look over my notes, praying and seeking God’s direction in these areas. I believe God is putting things in place for some fantastic outreach and sharing of His Gospel. I look forward to being part of it, whatever it may look like!
I come home rested, refreshed, and ready to see where God may lead us. Especially though the upcoming powerful Lenten season.
“For God So Loved…”
Did you just complete the sentence?
If you grew up in the church, you probably did. You probably had to memorize, or have at least heard it often enough to remember most of it.
For those who didn’t, this is the start of the famous verse on those signs you see at sporting events.
It’s John 3:16,
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
We twist this verse all around a lot of the time. Taking it out of context, making it fit our needs. Treating it as a cute little quote from Jesus.
But it should slap us in the face.
Nicodemus (a Jewish leader, a Pharisee) has come to Jesus to understand who he is. To ask some questions.
Jesus references some obscure messianic texts, which won’t make sense for another almost 3 years, then breaks into this famous verse.
“God loves…”
Excellent! Yay! What does he love?
“God loves the world”
Wonderful! What great news! Is there a catch?
No… God loves the whole world. He loves the world that has rejected Him, run away from Him, forgotten Him, ignored Him, left Him, hated Him… He even loves the world that kills Him. Every inch of this world, every person, every thing, every cell He created He loves.
He loves it so much He sent His only Son to show us how to come back to Him.
Later in the chapter Jesus says this,
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
We like the dark. We can hide stuff in the dark where no one can find it buried in the deep dark recesses of our closets. Stuff we’re ashamed of. Stuff we’re afraid of. Stuff we cannot let go of.
But Jesus comes to bring light. To expose the things we hide, to bring it out into the open so we can deal with it and become better people. But greater than that, the light helps us see who we are as children of God, loved and welcome to join with Him.
God loves YOU.
Jesus came to make this known by showing us our faults and showing us God loves us anyway, despite them and to help us get over them.
Let’s Keep Talking
Alright. Way to go Canada! We rock!
Together we raised millions of dollars in participating in a corporate program to donate money to Mental Health initiatives.
And now, today, we must remember the problem is not solved.
We feel good that we did our part yesterday because we typed or clicked, but the journey for those who struggle with mental health issues continue today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
Let’s keep talking about it. Let’s keep the conversation going, and let people know it’s ok to struggle, it’s ok to ask for help, because we are here for them and so are many professionals who are able to help them get through the darkness and find a way out.
For more information on how you can get help, or how you can help, go to the Canadian Mental Health Association website.
Today is just the next step in making sure people get the help they need. A struggle that continues all year long.
Mental Health Issues – Let’s Talk
Today a major Canadian company is asking people to use a hashtag, retweet, share an image on FaceBook. Do so, and they will donate five cents for every one of those actions to Mental Health issues.
That’s great! Except, I have yet to see any actual talk about the issue. Mostly it looks like a promotional campaign to get this company into the heads of people.
If we really want to talk, let’s really look at the cost of mental health issues in Canada.
Who is affected?
- Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
- 20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
- Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.
- Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
- About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”).
How common is it?
- Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
- Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
- Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.
- The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.
What causes it?
- A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors causes mental illnesses.
- Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.
- Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.
- Mental illnesses can be treated effectively.
What is the economic cost?
- The economic cost of mental illnesses in Canada for the health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 – $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability and early death.
- An additional $6.3 billion was spent on uninsured mental health services and time off work for depression and distress that was not treated by the health care system.
- In 1999, 3.8% of all admissions in general hospitals (1.5 million hospital days) were due to anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, major depression, personality disorders, eating disorders and suicidal behavior.Sources: The Report on Mental Illness in Canada, October 2002. EBIC 1998 (Health Canada 2002), Stephens et al., 2001
How does it impact youth?
- It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
- Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode.
- The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
- Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.
- Mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children; with Canada’s youth suicide rate the third highest in the industrialized world.
- Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
- Schizophrenia is youth’s greatest disabler as it strikes most often in the 16 to 30 year age group, affecting an estimated one person in 100.
- Surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada.
- In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.
Source http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/
This is what we should be talking about today. So please do.
UPDATE:
I’m glad we’re raising millions of dollars today (I too am using the hashtag), but I do hope that when we get up tomorrow we remember, even with our clicks and tweets, there are still millions of people who will struggle just to get out of bed and leave the house because of their mental illnesses. This is a 24×7, 365 day a year struggle for many, many people. They need our help, our support and our friendship.