Take It Or Leave It

What Sparked This You May Ask

2012-02-25T13:29:00.002-04:00

I want to tackle a bit of a touchy subject and, if you wouldlike to respond negatively or positively, I would invite you to do so either publiclyor privately (and in complete confidence of confidentiality) at fasterpastor1@gmail.com .

There have been times when someone or a group of people havehurt us and we turn away from the place they are at and never show backagain. A friend of mine used to attend acoffee shop in Calgary on a fairly regular basis and made some very good connectionsand friendships but when something happened within the group, he left and founda new place to go for refreshment and fellowship. That is where I met him and we became fairlygood friends until the day that we ran into a small conflict and the next dayhe was gone.

I would like to know this; what is going on in our society? Is it so easy to fall out of love, to fallout of friendship or to fall out of step with a friend or significant other andjust walk away? Friendships or relationshipsthat take years to develop and nurture are so easily discarded like yesterday’strash without even so much as an attempt to repair. Something else that really perplexes me (andI count myself guilty on this account at times as well but am working REALLYhard to overcome) is once therelationship is over, we attempt to justify the breakup in our own minds bybashing the other person or people first in our own minds and then to thosearound us. If you have never done this,please write to me and let me know how you do it.

I came to know the person previously mentioned in the coffeeshop and we became good friends fairly quickly but in short order he began totalk of how he had been hurt and how rotten the other people were and reallystarted to bash them out and had me riding the same “how could they” bus withhim. At some point in time, I spoke upand suggested that he look at what happened and try to make amends and it wasat that point I became a part of “their side” and the next day he was gone andI can guarantee my name is mud with whomever he associates with now.

The harder road is the one of confronting difficulties and rectifyingrelational issues. As a relationalcounsellor, I have heard more often than not “I fell out of love with him/her”or “he/she was never around for me so I found someone else who would listen”. There is a time to repair a relationship or friendshipand it is at any time. There is not asingle point in time where the damage can not be repaired, it just takes a willingnessto commit to repairing rather than disposing. We have become a disposable society, even our vehicles have beendesigned to have an expiry date where, no matter what, you will not be able tokeep it going, but this is through design...human design.

God did not design us for disposability; we were created foran eternity and even for repair. He haspromised us a place in Heaven through His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believealso in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would Ihave told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, Iwill come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I amgoing." Thomas said to him,"Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No onecomes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you wouldhave known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seenhim." John 14:1-7 (ESV)

And He has promised to repair us so that this will be areality and a promise.

"For God so loved theworld, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shouldnot perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world tocondemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, butwhoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed inthe name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18 (ESV)

God did not make disposable but rather repairable. There is not a single relationship that cannot be repaired. He has forgiven SO muchin my life and we are to be His reflection on earth...so what does that mean;forgive, as our Father in Heaven has forgiven us. Forgive completely and forget. Tough concept to wrap our heads around but itis the first step in the repair process. The next step, swallow your pride and make the first move...reach out asChrist reaches out to us.

What many of us think is that we first reached out toChrist, but this is backwards, Christ has always had His had extended to us; Hewas only waiting for us to grab hold. Isit time for us to take our hands out of our pockets and extend it out tosomeone with whom we have had a falling out? Has that person we had a falling out with always been there just outsideour reach with his or her hand stretched out and we did not see it? Who will take the first step forward? I know of an incident where something thathappened decades ago drove a sedge so deep into a family that not only did itaffect the one person, but it split cousins from each other, aunts and uncles,brothers and sisters. In fact the splitis still so strong, cousins meet in secret so as not to upset the applecart. I have also seen where one personreaches out to both sides of a split and brings a family back together. The first gathering of the group was, in myopinion, an emotional release with tears being shed, hugs exchanged and pastsbeing forgiven and forgotten. This isrepair.

Now, when this all happens in the church, who wins? Satan loves a disposable culture because itcauses splits and every broken relationship within the church leads tocollateral damage. Sure, a split meansthat those affected will either start a new project or will migrate to otherchurches but there are those who are so hurt, they never return to any faithfellowship anywhere...God’s Kingdom -1, Satan +1. Are you one who has been hurt and walked awayfrom church because of something a “person” has done to you? Have you turned your back on His fellowshipbecause someone in His church has done you wrong? Remember this, none of us has scars one ourwrists and feet, we are, none of us, perfect and He did not create thesituation we are in but He has shown us the way to properly respond. He is there; His hand outstretched. Let Him be your guide to forgiveness andreturn to His fellowship community. Itis harder to remain outside the turmoil then it is to allow yourself to bedragged into the chaos, but in the end, if we focus on repair and reconciliationrather than casting it all away, then Satan loses and we win...for alleternity.

Shalom

Todd

The Wisdom of Proverbs

2012-02-05T21:20:00.001-04:00

May I invite you on a journey with me? Over the past while Ihave been reading, studying and meditating on the book of Proverbs. My devotionals in the morning have startedoff with one of the chapters of Proverbs, followed by a reading from Daily Inspirations(http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/)and then time in the New Testament.

I have been on a quest; a quest for wisdom and understandingthanks in part to the sermon messages from Rev. Craig Groeschel at www.LifeChurch.tv. Allow me to expand further. Solomon wasoffered a gift from God, any gift of his choice. Instead of wealth and power, Solomon chosewisdom above all else and was so granted. Not only was he granted great wisdom, he was also given great wealth andpower by God because of his wise choice.

Now I am not saying I am on a quest for wisdom and knowledgefor wealth and power, I am earnestly seeking as this has been a time of great joyAND great turmoil for me personally. Thejoy comes in the form of providing service for His Kingdom throughopportunities to not only witness daily to others, but also in ministry. Last month I had the great pleasure to speakat the Northumberland Veteran’s Retirement Home and in the Lower SackvilleChurch of the Nazarene and this month I have been asked to speak again in bothvenues plus the Master’s Hand Church in New Glasgow. Combine all this with our weekly NetworkChurch gathering in Trenton every Saturday night at the Dine and DashRestaurant and the Tuesday Night Bible study at a friend’s home and I am havinga great time.

On the flip side, there have been times when I havestruggled. Even though I may have todefend what I am about to say to some, it needs to be communicated – first andforemost I am a Christian and nothing, and I do mean nothing, will come beforethat calling. God provides each andevery one of us with gifts and talents and EXPECTS,underline, bold and highlight and all caps expects, each and every one of us toutilize these gifts in His service. These are not gifts like that certain sweater that Aunt Diadoris knitfor you when you were sixteen that ended up as moth bait in the back of yourcloset fifteen years ago, these are God given gifts that are to be used in Hisservice, otherwise He would not have given them to you AND they are given toall, not just a select few. To ask aChristian not to be a Christian should be like asking a person to stopbreathing.

Okay, back to the Proverbs before I get too far down arabbit trail. Here is the one thing thatreally caught my attention during my time of reading.

Proverbs 9:7-12

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

I can, at times, be a mocker. For those out there who can identify, pleaseraise your hand. Thank you for beinghonest, I see those hands. There aretimes when I hear the words of wisdom from the wise and turn on them. I have listened with false ears and haveturned my back and scoffed BUT, over time, I have tried to overcome this. During the past few weeks I have beenpraying, meditating and fasting over the book of Proverbs and this passagetruly stood out for me. There have beenquestions and thoughts put to me and while I wanted to burst out in response,God held my tongue and put in my path wise counsel to help me along. The priority and focus never shifts but thegaze does and if one chooses to follow the path of folly, one will soon findout just how steep and slippery that path can become.

The wise will choose the higher path and will avoid thefolly at all costs because it does not profit the wise to join with amocker. An old English proverb reads “It'sbetter to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt.” What I tend to find is it is really easy towander into an argument only to find out you are well entrenched. Then there is the realization that the roadout is steep as slick. Have you everfound youself at the bottom of a very steep and slippery hill? The only way I have found to scale such ahill is to get low on hands and knees and crawl or scramble up the slope.

Now, part two to this equation…if I stay out of the argumentand stay away from the folly myself, what type of example will I provide forothers around me? We never know how much we will impact those around us becausewe can only see so far. Those who witness our actions will also be a witnessfor others in their own sphere of influence and, as the old saying goes, theywill tell two friends (through their own action) and they'll tell two friends,and so on and so on…

So, for me and whom ever else is tempted to fall into follywith the unwise; ask God for wisdom and guidance and, in all cases, if you areunsure take a wander through the book of Proverbs; it will truly help, trustme.

To becontinued...

Shalom

Todd

Service for Lower Sackville COTN

2012-01-16T23:36:00.001-04:00

Today I would like to talk to you about something that willbecome very important in all of our lives. The condition is described as TEOTWAWKI. There is no known cure and wehave lived with this condition for centuries yet very few people have heard ofit. It will be with us until the end ofdays and the only thing we can do is continue to pray for those who are greatlyaffected by it. TEOTWAWKI, or “The endof the world as we know it” has once again reared its ugly head with the helpof Hollywood.

I was perusing the internet and came upon a wild website www.religioustolerance.org andwhile this is not a Christian website, the investigation into the false claimsof the end of the world is quite enlightening. Allow me to share just a few rather famous and not so famous predictionsfrom the site.

1794: Charles Wesley, one of the founders ofMethodism, thought that Doomsday would occur in this year.

1914 was one of the more important estimates of thestart of the war of Armageddon by the Jehovah's Witnesses (WatchtowerBible and Tract Society). They based their prophecy of 1914 from prophecyin the book of Daniel, Chapter 4. The writings referred to "seventimes". The WTS interpreted each "time" as equal to 360 days,giving a total of 2520 days. This was further interpreted as representing 2520years, measured from the starting date of 607 BCE. This gave 1914 as the targetdate. When 1914 passed, they changed their prediction.

The next major estimate was 1925. Watchtower magazinepredicted: "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked inthe Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would bepresumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume justwhat the Lord is going to do during that year."

The Watchtower Society selected 1975 as its next main prediction. This was based on the estimate "according to reliable Bible chronology Adam was created in the year 4026 BCE, likely in the autumn of the year, at the end of the sixth day of creation." They believed that the year 1975 a promising date for the end of the world, as it was the 6,000th anniversary of Adam's creation. Exactly 1,000 years was to pass for each day of the creation week. This prophecy also failed.

The current estimate is that the end of the world as we know it will happen precisely 6000 years after the creation of Eve. There is no way of knowing when this happened.

1997 Hale Bop/Heaven’s Gate, Marshall Applewhite and BonnieNettles. A whole group of believerswere convinced to end their lives so that they would be taken up to Heaven inthe comet Hale Bop and the earth would be destroyed.

Harold Egbert Camping is an American Christian radiobroadcaster predicted that on May 21, 2011 Jesus Christ would return to Earth,the righteous would fly up to heaven, and that there would follow five monthsof fire, brimstone and plagues on Earth, with millions of people dying eachday, culminating on October 21, 2011 with the end of the world.Hehad previously predicted judgment days on May 21, 1988, and September 6, 1994.

2012-DEC-21: Many predictions have been made aboutthis date. They are mostly based on the end of the ancient Mayan calendar whichis to reach the end of its cycle and begin another cycle on that date. Authorsdiffer as to whether there will be major devastation on Earth, the end of alllife on Earth, or merely a sudden spiritual evolution.

These were only a few of the hundreds of examples I cameacross on one single web site.

So, my question is this...why the big panic in the world?

There are hundreds of people out there who are looking forthe end of time and saying we are living in the end times and THAT scares me.

So here are my questions; Are we ready...are you ready?

Have we talked and shared the love of Christ every day? Have we helped those around us to understandthat the key to eternal life rests in our acceptance of Christ as our GraciousSaviour? Are we ready to stand in front of our Lord and hear what He has to sayto us? Frankly I am scared that I amrunning out of time to share His message...when is the end?

Matt 24

No One Knows That Day and Hour

³⁶ “But concerning that day and hourno one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. ³⁷ For aswere the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marryingand giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will bethe coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴²Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in whatpart of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and wouldnot have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must beready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Go back to bolded, underlined areas and take a close look.

This pains me to say but I fear many “Christians” may findthemselves left behind How many willforget that they need to share with the less fortunate and love the world intothe Kingdom?

Matthew 22

TheGreat Commandment

³⁴But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gatheredtogether. ³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to testhim. ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷And he said to him, “You shall lovethe Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all yourmind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shalllove your neighbour as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these twocommandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Go back to bolded, underlined areas and take a close look.

That definition shows us that we must love with our entirety! And how many would admit to saying theyknow Jesus in their learning but do not know Him in their hearts?

John 3:16

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that hegave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish buthave eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world tocondemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe iscondemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son ofGod.

This makes me realize that no matter how much I love mySaviour, He has loved me longer than I have been alive, He loves me more than Iwill ever be able to love Him in return and while my love is great, His isperfect.

With that said, please indulge me in this final illustrationtaken from the internet from an unknown author.

Forgiven

This story written by a young man who had come to understandthis incredible reality of what God had done on his behalf:

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myselfin the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wallcovered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries thatlist titles by author or subject in alphabetical order.

But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling andseemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drewnear the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read"Girls I have Liked". I opened it and began flipping through thecards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the nameswritten on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalogue system for mylife. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in adetail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror,stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring theircontent. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame andregret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone waswatching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "FriendsI have Betrayed". The titles ranged from the mundane to the outrightweird. "Books I Have Read", "Lies I Have Told","Comfort I Have Given", "Jokes I Have Laughed At". Somewere almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at MyBrothers". Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in MyAnger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents”. Inever ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimesfewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I hadlived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my short years to write eachof these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed thistruth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts", Ifelt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, notwilling to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailedcontent. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almostanimal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must eversee these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!"In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had toempty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding iton the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulledout a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot.

Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long,self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have lovedas I love myself". The handle was brighter than those around it, newer,almost unused. I pulled on it and a small box not more than three inches longfell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep.Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fellon my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of itall.

The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes.No—no one must ever, ever know of this room. I have to lock it up and hide thekey.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, pleasenot Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began toopen the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. Andin the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeperthan my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have toread every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. Helooked at me with tenderness in His eyes. I dropped my head, covered my facewith my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me.He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried withme.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began tosign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was"No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be onthese cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. Thename of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took thecard back. He smiled softly and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'llever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed Iheard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand onmy shoulder and said, "It is finished."

In closing, letme throw this out there for all of us to ponder:

Am I more fearful of the end of days or am I fearful forthose people I have yet to come alongside of, build a relationship with andshare His perfect message and His love the best I can?

Am I more fearful that I will lose everything before my timeor am I fearful that I will have left behind a friend because I did not sharethe Good News with him or her?

Am I fearful that I may be the one who needs to fallcompletely and hopelessly in love with Jesus, more than on a cerebral level butrather in complete submission to Him?

Our point of salvation is simply a point in time...ourjourney in faith starts at that point and will or at least it should, continueto grow, flourish and sprout seeds until the day when the Lord comes to take usto our perfect reward.

The end of the worldis not the final verse, we are living in the introduction to rest of oureternity with the Creator...and what a day that will be

Shalom

Todd

Unity anyone?

2011-12-26T21:53:00.001-04:00

I attended two different services at twodifferent churches in two different denominations and also watched two servicesonline from two other completely different denominations and do you know what Irealized…besides the different worship styles and the completely differentdelivery styles, the EXACT same message was preached; funny that eh?

Twice a year, all churches preach the samemessage to the masses…Jesus came to us, our Saviour was born and life foreverchanged and the second message, Jesus died for us so that all who believe inHim will never die but have life everlasting; the beginning of the Gospels andthe end of the Gospels. So here is myquestion; why is it that the church universal is so divided for the rest of theyear? Jesus preached unity; “go forthunto all nations…” He did not say go only unto those who practice certain ways,He said ALL nations.

There is a need for diversity (NOTdivisiveness) because not all people like to worship in the same manner. I like trucks yet my father likes hisMustang…we are from the same family but our tastes differ; it is not wrong,just different but I am not about to say bad things about my father because hedoes not like trucks. So my question isthis, why can we not work together to strengthen the Kingdom all year roundrather than work on ways to protect the flock we have by shooting down therest. Just an aside, if you do not thinkthis is happening, I would suggest that you look around with an honest eye becauseJesus see the honest truth in this statement and I can assure you the Spirit isgrieved by our actions.

This is truly the time to take stock of allthings church and to commit to starting the New Year off right, that is, it istime to forgive that group that split from you because of some issue thathappened and let them know that you forgive them and support them inprayer. It is time to bury the hatchetwith “those guys” and mend fences in an effort to provide a solid platform onwhich to build relationships and affect change for the better in ourcommunities. It is time to unify Hisnation and His church (and for those of you who think that it is your church,the ownership of the church is still in God’s hands) for the true fight; notamongst ourselves but against the evil that is Satan. Lucifer loves the divisions that we have madebecause it totally works to his advantage. Remember, not only is God watching our actions, but so is the Devil andall of society.

So to get the ball rolling, I would like tooffer up the following; to my brothers and sisters whom I have hurt in thepast, forgive me…there have been many and I am truly sorry. For those whom have harmed me in word ordeed, you know who you are, I completely forgive you…all debts are forgotten.(I wish my bank would forgive and forget my debts J). Let us resolve as a Christian nationto work together, to embrace our fellow Christian brothers and sisters and workin unity for His purpose, not our own selfish desires. It is time to come together under one flagjust as we do at Christmas and Easter and promote the Message throughout theworld. I pray you all will have awonderful and safe New Year and may god bless you all richly.

Shalom

Todd

Merry Christmas!!!!

2011-12-21T21:41:00.000-04:00

Friendsand family,

It ishard to believe 2011 is almost past.

Atthe beginning of this year Natalie started her new job at the Pictou-AntigonishRegional Library Headquarters and she has had a wonderful first year. She enjoys using her library skills again andworks with a great group of people. Shewas able to attend a conference in Sydney on Cape Breton Island with several co-workers and was ableto meet some folks from the other Nova Scotia Regions.

Toddalso had an employment change this year. He keeps saying that people are dying to see him! That’s right he is back in the funeralbusiness. He started there in Septemberand has been a huge help to them. Hebrings years of experience in dealing with families, counseling, funerals, andthe other stuff that we won’t get into in a Christmas letter! He is enjoying the full-time hours and thathe is home every night. He is on thespare list for Acadian but there is not much work for him with them and he doesnot have much availability.

Earlyin 2011 Todd also had some minor surgery to remove a cyst on the back of hishead. Despite his insistence that it washis massive brains oozing out he is just as smart without the lump as he waswith it!

Austin is doing well again this yearat University. As we write this he is onthe way west in a plane. He has had abusy schedule and we are so proud of his accomplishments. He and his team at the math competition wonfirst place this year! Next term looks abit less stressful for him as his courses are more his cup of tea. We love the weekend or two a month he is ableto visit here in New Glasgow and look forward to celebrating Christmas when hereturns on New Year’s Eve! He is stillthe reigning Nerdious Maximus in this family!

Thisyear we have also become home owners! Wehad been renting since June last year and everything came together for thepurchase in September. It is nice tohave a mortgage and not rent.

Wevisited several beaches numerous times and discovered Chica is a good swimmerbut it is not something she enjoys. Sheloves running on the sand and digging though, just like Todd and Austin!

Wefound a few barriers in regard to ministry but the Lord has opened doors we didnot expect and things are moving forward. Todd was not able to transfer his credentials here and so hastransferred them to another denomination that is very excited about our visionabout ministry. A local restaurant ownerhas offered us the dining room for Saturday night small group and that has beengoing for a few months with several helpers and we continue to work on reachinginto the community. We currently meet at8 p.m. which is later then we would like as many young families can not be outso late. We do have a lead on anothervenue which would allow us to start much earlier. Please keep this ministry in your prayers.

Chicahad a good year too. She has discovereda bit of freedom as she is getting better at being off leash in limited areasoutside. Her beagle brain does take overand she can easily sniff a trail she wants to follow so we have to keep herclose. She loves cookie bites and walksin the woods with Papa (and sitting on Pap’s legs on the exercise ball as youcan see!), kisses and playing with her dad, cleaning up after everyone but especiallyour great nephews and niece (Druhan, Mila and Seth). She is a huge hit with almost everyone andshe has had a few weekends with her cousin Nicole staying over here when we hadto be away. She is such a great joy tohave around.

We donot know what next year holds except that we are heading west to celebrateTodd’s folks 50^th wedding anniversary! We hope to see lots of folks while we arethere and are looking forward to the vacation and visit.

Weare so very blessed and thankful for the way God has provided for us and wepray for continued guidance.

Asour friends and family we want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayersand we hope the year to come if filled with joy and peace for each of you!

Blessings on you!

Love,Todd, Natalie, Austin & Chica

Site8C, R.R. #3

New Glasgow, NS

B2H5C6

todd_natalie@hotmail.com

Its Called "CHRISTmas" For A Reason

2011-12-13T16:44:00.001-04:00

I have recently been accused of being a scrooge and a bit of a disruptor but I have to totally disagree. For those who truly know me, I love Christmas and what it stands for, what I question is the focus of our society. I do not suggest that we get rid of the trees and decorations, the gifts and the merriment, rather I suggest that we bring to the forefront the true meaning of Christmas and that is to love one another, forgive and forget the past issues, live in peace and joy and most of all, celebrate the birthday of the Saviour.

On the day Christ was born, people gathered to witness Emanuel, God with us. The angels proclaimed His coming and their Heavenly message “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14 NKJV. Peace on earth; can we have peace on earth when we hold another idol in the King of Peace’s stead? Can there be true joy in the world in material things? Should we not be celebrating the perfect gift first and foremost? The perfect gift for you and I is in Jesus. The fulfillment of the ancient prophesy guarantees life eternal for all those who call Jesus Saviour. Do not the gifts of our finite world pale in comparison to His eternal gift?

Knowing this, that He came for you and I, how do you hold back from shouting from the rooftops that Jesus came for us and it is just as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago? Why would we allow society to tell us that we cannot celebrate His birth the way we want to? It is not happy holiday nor is it seasons greeting, it is the celebration of Christ’s coming; Christmas. Do not hold back from gathering and sharing gifts with one another but do not let this Heavenly Message take a back seat.

Recently I was challenged that this is a pagan holiday and that the church took the date in order to mess with pagan ritual and they were right, the church did. The common consensus was that Christ’s actual birth was in the spring but here is my question; does it matter? We come to celebrate His birth and the promise of a Saviour, the fulfillment of the Laws. This is a time to celebrate and rejoice, not to nitpick. It is a time to come together in brotherly and sisterly love; to bury the wrongs of the past; forgive and forget; to rejoice together and celebrate His coming.

So let us, as a faith nation, stand up for our right to call this celebration “Christmas”, not X-mas, happy holidays or season’s greetings. We are a not a nation to roll over when it comes to something this important...keep Christ in Christmas and help others to understand why this is so important.

Shalom and Merry Christmas

Todd

Change

2011-11-28T12:23:00.001-04:00

When you are used to sitting in the middle of the church, sitting at the back of the church gives one a total change of perspective. I usually sit nearer to the middle of the sanctuary but this past Sunday, I started my sermon from the back. It is so different back there

At Calgary East Church of the Nazarene, the pastors and the worship team used to sit in the front row. Sometimes this was a good thing but there were times when the speaker did not enjoy his or her cohorts in the front row…

Some pastors are glued to the pulpit while others wander the platform; neither is wrong, just different. Some people carry their big, black KJV bible with them wherever they roam while some, like me, carry twenty different versions on a cell phone. Just because something or someone is different does not always make them wrong, just different, that is why we have so many different denominations out there.

Something that drives me around the bend is the phrase, “this is such and such a place, it never changes and probably never will”. I heard this about the community I live in and had to point out that there has been quite a bit of change. When I first visited, the only thing open on Sunday were fast food joints and the church. Seven short years later, just about everything is open. This is only one thing I have noticed and the change was so subtle and so quickly accepted that it is almost like it has always been “that way”. Change is all around and whether we want to admit it or not, Pictou County is changing and has been changing for some time.

Now, if you are wondering where this is going, stay with me, we are about to go there. The change has been subtle but it is most noticeable at this time of the year.

“Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays”; it used to be Merry Christmas…the celebration (mass) of Christ but if you look all around you will notice less and less about Christmas and more about the holiday season.

It has crept in, the change has been made and it was subtle. Santa Claus replaced St. Nicolas; Happy Holidays has replaced Merry Christmas; stress has replaced joy and celebration and the “perfect store bought bauble” has replaced gifts from the heart. December 25 is quickly becoming a date on a calendar; in fact West Edmonton Mall is open every day all year round.

Please don’t get me wrong, I am not going bah humbug on the world, but rather I would like to suggest that we start the movement to put Christ back into Christmas. Let us look at what the focus should be…

Christmas is a time of gathering and sharing from the heart, it is a celebration of the birth of the Messiah, our eternal hope.

Our hope does not lie in the things of mankind but rather in the promise of God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16 (NIV)

When I was young, I yearned for a certain gift, a hot wheels track I think, for Christmas and was disappointed when I did not get the perfect gift. I came to find out years later that we barely had enough money to afford groceries for the table that year but what I did get was a pair of knitted slippers…seriously, knitted slippers, for around the house…can’t even brag about that at school. Now I did get other gifts but that one stood out in my mind. The kids across from us got a new snowmobile or something foolish like that, I got slippers…

Skip ahead about ten years. I am living on my own in a strange town, Winnipeg, and I am working in retail. The place is packed and people are all scrambling for the perfect gift and some are getting quite stressed over the whole situation and that stress is being transferred to me because I am sold out of the perfect gift or the perfect accessory for their Christmas party outfit.

It was my first Christmas away from home and I was completely alone. I had my gifts at home but no family; on Christmas day I opened my gifts and besides my socks and underwear (I ask for them every year), I got a pair of knitted slippers…I have NO clue what else I got, it is irrelevant, what I received was a gift from the heart. The absolute best gift is not the “perfect gift from the store” but rather the perfect gift from the heart. My Grandma MacDonald gave me the perfect gift from the heart…she introduced me to Jesus when I was very young, in fact I still have the token of that love forty two years later. My Granddad MacDonald gave me the perfect gift from his heart; he prayed for me every single day of his life and made sure I spent time in scripture when I was at his house. My parents give me the perfect gift from their hearts every day of my life when watched over me and protected me.

But all these gifts pale in comparison to the perfect gift that God gave to me, to all of us, over two thousand years ago, He gave us His Son. His love, made perfect, sent to us, His children, in a world of sin, the perfect gift that will not wear out, break or become outdated; the Perfect Gift is infinite.

So, I spoke of change earlier; what did the coming of the Messiah mean for the people of old? For the ruling class it meant the possibility of the loss of power; the Messiah, King of Kings and where does that put me? Herrod feared the coming of Jesus so greatly that he decreed all male children under the age of two be killed; he asked for the Magi who had traveled a great distance to meet the Miracle Child, to come back to him once they found the Christ child so that he, too might go and pay tribute to the Messiah…a lie!

For the Jewish community, it meant change, I can hear them now; “This is Bethlehem, things have not changed in hundreds of years, why would we want them to change, all is good the way it is”. But they had changed, that is why God sent His Son; they needed to change

And that is the way it is today; we need change…

We need to gather as a faith community and share the Good News. Christ is the reason for the season. It is not giftmass, or shoppingmass, it is not Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings; it is Christmas! It is a time of gathering and sharing, of family and of joy and celebration! Let’s look at the example from Luke 2 (highlights are mine).

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (NIV)

Are we scared to speak out about Christ? Is that why Happy Holiday and Seasons Greetings has replaced Merry Christmas? There is nothing to be scared of, God wants us to spread the love of the Word through the land; we cannot change a heart, only He can, but we can prepare the soil for planting. Trust me, God can do it; He is bigger than we can imagine.

So share the love of God; live as a reflection of Jesus. He willingly came to us and not as a rich and powerful king but rather as the humble servant of the Father, born of flesh in a dark cave, wrapped in swaddling (rags) and laid in a stone manger. This is the gift we celebrate, the perfect, eternal gift…He changed the hearts of many, He changed my heart and it is this we celebrate!

This is our opportunity to share His message in deed and word. He has given us this opportunity; let us not be silent anymore but rather let us be like the shepherds of old who, when they saw the Messiah, went out to spread the good news singing halleluiah. This is not the time to be silent in the night, it is time to shout it from the roof tops and give praise to the King of Kings who is the Perfect gift from the Heart of the Master to His children. Let us put Christ back into Christmas!

Merry Christmas one and all and Shalom!

As an aside, take a peek at this YouTube video from Brad Stine…it is worth the watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCIeXG4kalg&feature=related

Wow, TTwo Posts In TTwo Days

2011-11-16T14:36:00.001-04:00

Lest We Forget

I write this some time after Remembrance Day (Memorial Day in the States and Armistice Day in other parts of the world) for two reasons. Reason number one is as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served, for those who died and for those who continue to serve in our armed forces throughout the world. They died so that we might have the privilege to be able to live free from tyranny.

The primary motive for me to write this article is as a reminder that the reason we are free from the bond of death is Jesus. I was watching a video on You Tube by Jesus Culture and I got to thinking that we truly need to remember what He did for us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2U3PU-E32E&feature=BFa&list=WLE21EF033BECBDC47&lf=plpp_video

He surrendered to the cross for each and every one of us. When I was in the military, I was asked if I would lay down my life for Queen and country. Being all gung-ho for the military way of life, I said of course. It was not until later that I got to thinking “would I really freely lay down my life?” I had a wife and child at home…could I do that to them? Just this past week, I was watching a show, don’t ask me which one, I have no clue, where the question was asked “if your spouse and child were in peril and you could only save one, which one would you choose?” I chose my child. Now you may think this is stupid but let me explain. My wife would willing lay down her life for my son as would I and I know that she would expect me to save my child just as I would expect her to should she have to choose.

Jesus had the choice as well. Should He turn His back on mankind and save His own hide so that He could continue on or allow himself to be killed so that His children might live? Christ willingly laid down His life for each and every one of us. Willingly…He knew why Judas was coming to Him and yet He stayed.

Luke 22:47-51

While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. (NASB)

Christ willingly allowed them to take Him away…the Son of God, able to calm the sea, able to heal the sick and the lame, infinite power yet humble in servitude to His Father in Heaven. Even on the eve of the worst day of His life, Jesus healed one of His captors. Does anyone think that at any time Christ could have stopped the pain of the flogging He took with a simple gesture or could have swayed the gathered throng of His deity with a demonstration of His incredible power? Could He have come down from the cross at any time and walked through the crowd unabated? Could the Father have made the decision right there and then to end it all and start over anew? Christ allowed Himself to be captured, abused, ridiculed, tortured and then hung to die…all for His children.

With all that said, what does He want from us? Does He want us to raise up temples in His honour or to sacrifice prize livestock upon an altar? Does He want our first born or has He asked us to lay down our own physical lives as a sacrifice to Him? All Christ has asked us to do is to follow Him, love Him as He loves us, love our neighbour as ourselves by sharing His love, His message with them whether they be our friend of foe. Christ wants us to remember what He has done for the whole of humanity by being faithful to the Father and sacrificing for His children. Is this so hard?

I have a friend/brother whom I love with all my heart and, even though he has a foul mouth and some questionable habits, I love him so much that I invite him to come to church with me at least once a month. He politely declines yet he still calls me preacher-man and when he calls, Il gladly stop what I am doing to go have coffee with him. He would give me, or anyone that asks, the shirt off his back. I would not hesitate to give him anything should he ask…but every time we gather, I make sure to share with him the love of Christ, maybe not so much in words but he does know. Is this a difficult thing to do? Not at all, in fact it is very enjoyable. Is this what Christ wants of us all, to share in lives of others? Lest we forget, Christ died so that we might live and share His message to those in need…is there any more to it than that? Jesus did not come to make this hard, we are the ones making it so difficult. Rather Jesus came to make it easier…love you neighbor, love God and keep the faith…simple and easy.

Here is the challenge, can you (and I) take faith back to the grass root level and focus on the centrality of His Message and on His sacrifice and make a promise to never forget? Can we change our outlook from life being the focus while our faith rides in the back seat to one of our faith being how we live and allowing God to take the driver’s seat?

Shalom

Todd

Pay It Forward

2011-11-15T18:13:00.000-04:00

Isaiah 1:2-17

Heaven and earth, you're the jury. Listen to God's case: "I had children and raised them well, and they turned on me. The ox knows who's boss, the mule knows the hand that feeds him, But not Israel. My people don't know up from down. Shame! Misguided God-dropouts, staggering under their guilt-baggage, Gang of miscreants, band of vandals-My people have walked out on me, their God, turned their backs on The Holy of Israel, walked off and never looked back.

"Why bother even trying to do anything with you when you just keep to your bull-headed ways? You keep beating your heads against brick walls. Everything within you protests against you. From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head, nothing's working right. Wounds and bruises and running sores-untended, unwashed, unbandaged. Your country is laid waste, your cities burned down. Your land is destroyed by outsiders while you watch, reduced to rubble by barbarians. Daughter Zion is deserted-like a tumbledown shack on a dead-end street, Like a tarpaper shanty on the wrong side of the tracks, like a sinking ship abandoned by the rats. If God-of-the-Angel-Armies hadn't left us a few survivors, we'd be as desolate as Sodom, doomed just like Gomorrah.

"Listen to my Message, you Sodom-schooled leaders. Receive God's revelation, you Gomorrah-schooled people.

"Why this frenzy of sacrifices?" God's asking. "Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices, rams and plump grain-fed calves? Don't you think I've had my fill of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats? When you come before me, who ever gave you the idea of acting like this, Running here and there, doing this and that-all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?

"Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings-meetings, meetings, meetings-I can't stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don't have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenceless. (Msg)

A bit of a read to start the day but WHAT a conviction. I have read this passage a couple dozen times over the past few weeks and just keep coming back to it. Now for those of you looking in your NIV or KJV, you won’t find this exact wording because I have taken it from The Message by Eugene Peterson (yes I know, there are some out there who are not fans but check the last paragraph and tell me how it is not as relevant today as it was back then).

There is a song, The Heart Of Worship, and it is about coming back to the true “Heart of Worship”. It is all about You, Lord, not me, not my own machinations or preferences…it is all about You.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uckjziOm520 ) I am SO sorry for what I tried to make it Lord. My will got in the way on many occasions and I was doing what I thought was important and needed to be done to make church happen. What is your will on my life and how can I best serve you instead?

Quite a few years ago now, I had a plan and I told God what my plan was and how I was going to accomplish it all. Sound familiar to anyone out there? Then I met with people who had their own plans and I did not fit into their plans and they did not fit into mine so I ended up getting frustrated. Finally I said to God “that’s it…everything I have done is for naught and I am done…what is wrong, you chose me and everything is screwing up”. In the stillness I heard Him say “It’s not about you. Yes, I chose you but you need to serve Me, not the other way around”. It was at that moment my eyes were opened and things began to change. I began to see the “church” in a different light and realized that I was not living up to my part of the bargain…I was serving the wrong master. Let me explain.

Church is the meeting of believers, gathering to praise His name, to learn from His Word and to reach out to a nation of hurt and lost. It is not about meetings and committees (a friend of mine talked today of structure …structure is important but should not supersede the need to reach out in love and compassion).We have made church into something that God never wanted it to be.I was a part of the “worship charade” and for that I apologize. The past few years has helped me to understand that the Heart of Worship is Jesus; cry out to the Lord with praise and thanksgiving. What we have made of it may be pleasing to our ears and eyes, but what does God think (read back into the Isaiah passage)?Let us commit to get back to the basics.

This past weekend, Natalie and I went to her cousin’s gathering on Sunday night. Now what I am about to say, please do not think that I am criticizing because I thought it was a wonderful service. The worship was not polished or spot on but we had fun enjoying each other’s company as we worshiped our Lord. There were four pastors there from different congregations who, at the end of the service, obeyed His call on our lives and came together at the altar to lay hands and pray with those in need and who were hurting. These were people who I had never met before but, as Pastor Helen pointed out, we are all His sons and daughters and therefore we are all family. The service was over two hours but it felt like only a few minutes and I, for one, did not want this time of worship, praise, prayer and fellowship to end. There was a reason we were there that night…Thank you Father!

Not my will but Your will be done on earth…as it is in Heaven. I say this a lot lately but it is so true…build relationship, reach out to the hurt and needy and above all else, be obedient to His will on your life and on the ministry that He has blessed you with.

Shalom

Todd

Is It Me?

2011-11-05T11:29:00.002-03:00

I have spent decades studying the operations of thosecompanies that I have either worked for or have been contracted to consult forand, in many cases, the issue has been the “Bottle Neck”. A friend of mine, Rev. Wes Gorman, once spoketo me about the “Bottle Neck”. Hesuggested that inside a bottle there is a set amount of liquid that will comeout at a particular rate depending on the size of the neck and the diameter ofthe hole. If the neck is too narrow, itwill hold back the liquid no matter what the diameter of the mouth of thebottle is (picture a pitcher with a large mouth and a narrow neck).

Now, with that in mind, imagine that the liquid in thebottle as gifts and talents and the tight neck as a person. Imagine, if you can, that person is a manageror a supervisor who needs to be in control of absolutely everything (some callthese micromanagers) and nothing can be done without going through thatperson. The gifts and talents of thoseindividuals are not fully realized or appreciated and dissention and discontenttend to creep in when this happens and that is when they usually decide toleave to explore other opportunities. Does this sound familiar? Are youa manager who is wondering why you cannot keep good staff? Are you a lay-leader in the church who feelsthat you are underutilized or are you in a relationship where you are notappreciated? There is hope.

First thing we need to realize is that the “Bottle Neck” isnot good for business, church, or life in general. In business it creates internal turmoil, lossof production, corporate stagnation, high turnover and the customers seeit. In the church, it also createsinternal turmoil, lack of involvement, departures and again, others outside thechurch see this. In relationships, it alsocreates frustration and turmoil and over time separation. This is not the Biblical model that we are toadhere to. The “Bottle Neck” is a manmade problem because, in many cases, we want to be in charge. Empowering others tends to mean we give up controland there is not a hope that anything will be successful unless there iscontrol by the one individual or if I let someone else take care of it, theywill screw it up so why even bother, I will do it myself. Ever see that happen?

Do you know the Biblical model? Jesus empowered. I know I have talked of this before but Ithink it bears repeating. Jesusempowered the disciples to go out into the world by two’s spreading theword. He instructed all mankind to goout; “Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go andmake disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and ofthe Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I havecommanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt28:18-20 NIV). Jesus is not the “BottleNeck” but we, mankind, spend too much time getting in the way of the outwardflowing of the Holy Spirit. Now don’tget me wrong, I am not saying that we just all should go out allwilly-nilly. It is good to have adirection and a focus but let us not constrict to flow so much that we becomethe dam.

Leaders, can I suggest that you take time to focus on thosewho are looking to you for direction and focus and empower them to go and usetheir gifts and talents for the betterment of the whole, whether it is inbusiness, in ministry or even in life; encourage them and help them along. Long ago, my friend and former employer, JohnForzani, once told me, “You cannot go forward unless you have trained up yourreplacement.” What this told me is thatit is more important to invest in others than it is to control others. What I invest today will benefit the whole inthe future. The lesson I learned inthis, it is selfish to be the “Bottle Neck”; release the potential of thosearound and watch how the future flows out.

Shalom all

Todd

Change Is NEVER Easy

2011-10-24T13:42:00.002-03:00

It has been an interesting past couple of weeks. While I do try and keep current on my blog and Facebook entries, the past couple of months, with the new job and all, has really put a crimp on my writing. I do enjoy the writing and the responses, both positive and negative. I should not really say negative though. Let me rephrase, I do so enjoy the positive comments and the respected opinions of those who do not share the same viewpoints that I do.

Part of my job as a pastoral counsellor is to look at both sides of a conversation or conflict and to help the participants see the other’s point of view. There are many times when people are so focused on getting their own point across that they tend to forget there are others in the conversation that also have a valid viewpoint. I find myself once in a while not listening to others because I am in the middle of formulating my next point and I am simply giving them the head nod. Does this ever happen to you?

Case in point, I was having a conversation with someone the other day and their point of view came from their experience within their own community. I am not from the same community and some of the concepts are foreign while others are very similar. We were sharing about how there are characteristics of this particular community that are very specific and will remain very specific no matter what we try to do to affect change. I was getting my hackles up because, in my opinion, any time someone says “this is the way it is and nothing is going to change it” I fear the resultant stagnation of the community and eventual death. As he continued on, the mufflers went on my ears and I zoned out while I formulated my next argument. Suddenly I realized that I was no longer listening, fine counselling skills displayed there! “Sorry, I missed that, say again” I said and I focused on what he was saying. His point was very valid and I can not affect change by formulating an argument because I know that he would not hear the point but rather be setting up his next point. All I could say was I had been in a similar circumstance where I did not think there was any way for change but over time, change came and I was quite surprised. No rebuttal…did I get through? Time will tell.

The reason I say this is twofold; our churches are in decline and those who come into the church wanting to help affect positive change are being met with some fairly strong opposition. “This is how it has always been done and it has worked in the past” or “People need to change their ways to fit the church, not the other way around”. I have heard this more than once and I have also seen the effects of the remarks. Visionaries and leaders depart because they cannot take the pressure or the backlash. If I can offer any advise it is this; many of our mainstream churches have been around for a hundred years or more and the preferences of the church have not changed much over that time. In order to affect change for the good of the Kingdom, leaders need to be patient and wise. Rome was not built in a day and neither was the Christian Kingdom. It took one Man to start the ball rolling and after only a few years, change began and the whole world has never been the same since.

For those of you who feel ready to give up because the world is beating you down, don’t give up…the fruits of the seeds you sow today may not be realized today but they will in the future. Many do not give credence to the work of a lowly cup-bearer, a group of fishermen or a simple carpenter, but the impact they have on the community around them is great. Don’t believe me? Delve into the word and find inspiration in what they were able to accomplish through their stalwartness. The race is only won when we are told so by our Father in Heaven, until that day, keep fighting.

Shalom
Todd

If I should wake before I die...Tony Campolo

2011-10-08T13:24:00.002-03:00

I am back in the funeral industry once again and absolutely lovingit. If anyone ever says this is not aministry, give your head a shake. Meeting people at their most vulnerable, being there to listen and helpthem to come to grips with their loss and finally, helping to provideclosure. This is ministry in thetrenches. Some look at it as just a job;I look at it as providing compassionate care.

On Wednesday, we had a service at the funeral home in thechapel and I do listen to the Pastor, really I do, and here is the proof...hequoted two things that really stuck in my mind, the first was the “And ThenWhat” factor and the second quote of note I would like to explore with thisblog is something Tony Campolo said in one of his books. He was thinking of an old prayer “Now I layme down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep...” but he then changed aline and it totally changed everything... “if I should wake before I die.” WOW!!!

What immediately went through my mind was the thief upon thecross, in the last moments of his life, he awoke from the misery of his lifeand realized that right there, on the cross beside him, was the answer to life’seternal struggle...the “And Then What” factor. I am not sure which book this story came from (and if anyone knows,please let me know so I can properly reference the author) but the story goessomething like this.

A young man was talking with anolder gentleman about life in general and his future plans. The young lad talked of graduating fromschool and attending a reputable college and the man smiled and nodded and said“very nice...and then what?” The lad went on about graduating college, findinga nice girl, settling down and enjoying his children.

“Very nice...and then what?”

“Well then,” he continued, “Iwould watch my kids grow up, help them to become all they could be, provide formy family’s needs and work towards my retirement.”

“Very admirable...and then what?”

“I would then look to travelaround with my wife, enjoy my grandchildren and relax in the autumn of my life.”

“That sounds great...and thenwhat?”

“Well, I guess I woulduhm...well, I guess I would pass on from this life.”

“And then what?”

Is this the point where the young lad would wake before hedies? If you have not realized the giftJesus provided by taking on ALL of our sins, not just for the people of thatperiod in time, but for ALL humanity for ALL time, then is this the time towake? The message is quite simple; inthe grand scheme of things, our finite life on earth is only a tiny portion ofthe rest of our lives. Do you ever wakein the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking of the nothingness of death? The world was before we were born and willcontinue after we die and our mark upon the earth is, in context of thetimeline of the universe, only a small dot in this chronological order. This scares the pants off some people and hascaused some to fear to even think about this situation.

However, there is good news. Jesus has promised us that we will be foreverwith Him into all eternity and we need not fear the emptiness and finality ofdeath. To believe in Christ, Hissacrifice upon the cross and to ask for His forgiveness is to assure eternity. It is that simple...the dark veil of deathremoved and when you face the “And Then What” factor you have an answer.

When I was a child, I woke up in absolute fear ofnothingness. All this stuff happenedbefore I was born and I had absolutely NO recollection of ithappening...everything that happened before I was born was blackness...in factI have very few memories of anything up until I was about three yet it allhappened and I worried about the nothingness of afterwards. But now, I have the promise of eternity... “Igo to prepare a place for you”...red letter words, Christ’s promise.

“If I should wake before I die”...I have awakened and nolonger fear the dark...how can I help you to see the light? That is the question on my mind every momentof the day. I do not pound the Bible andI do not force you to listen to my ranting and raving, I only hope and praythat you will ask yourself these questions, “If I should die before I wake, amI ready” and “What next?” If you knowthe answer and are confident in you eternal destiny, awesome...please spread theword. If, however, you fear the end,give me a shout by email; ask the questions without fear of being made to feeldumb and I will answer them as best I can. Until then, may God bless you richly and for those of you celebrating inCanada, Happy Thanksgiving.

Shalom

Todd

And Away We Go!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-09-20T00:10:00.001-03:00

“The first service of The Gathering Point, amulti-denominational fellowship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Dineand Dash in Trenton, NS. We begin gathering between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm with a time ofmusic, a short message from the Life Church broadcast and discussion to followover coffee. All are welcome. If you have an instrument you would like tobring, please do but be advised, we are running unplugged. For more information,contact Todd at fasterpastor1@gmail.com.”

So What's Changed?

2011-09-17T11:52:00.001-03:00

I want to start off by apologizing for the length in between posts. I have no excuse...life got in the way BUT it did give me time to reflect. One of the things that really struck me last week was the departure of a friend of mine from competitive hockey. I was texting with him early last week and he confided that he really did not want to quit but the joy of the game had departed and it had become a chore for him. I truly felt for him and his situation and asked if he was still going to play recreational hockey with some of the boys back home and he told me that that did not even seem like an option at the present time.

I got reflecting on this and how it has happened in my own life and then thought of others in similar circumstances but in different venues and trust me, I hear it all the time. “I go home at night and my wife/husband is there watching the tube, not paying attention to the family and the marriage has become a real chore...I am ready to give it all up” or “I go to church and get nothing out of it...so and so wants me to do this and that and the preacher wants me to do this and that and on and on and I really feel like it has become a chore to go in to church, in fact there are days I wake up and don’t want to go in” or “I prepare to meet the congregation every Sunday with a message of relevance but I am fighting Sunday football, picnics, flea markets or any other event that takes precedent over church, it hurts to know that I put this effort into a Sunday service and very few show up...it feels like more of a burden than it’s worth and there are some Sundays I just want to call in sick or just hang up the collar all together.” (That is not me by the way).

Do you have that “church is a chore” feeling? What is causing it? Did you once have the smile that never goes away but you now feel like the smile is gone? This is not what God wants for us...really!

Luke 24:50-53

The Ascension of Jesus

When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up his hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Do you believe that God has blessed your life? If you feel that way, take a look at the first line...He blessed them...this is the same blessing He bestowed upon us when He sent the Holy Spirit to be among us all, guiding us, loving us and comforting us in our daily lives. This is not a temporary blessing...His blessing is upon us all constantly. It is when we recognize this blessing that we return to Jerusalem with great joy in our hearts and stay in His temple continually, praising God. God will not leave us or forsake us and His blessing is upon us so where has the joy gone and why is it a burden? He has not wandered from us...

I have often thought of this and have been challenged the last few days about the whole idea of leading. I was (and, truth be known, still am a little) worried about our first gathering tonight at the Dine and Dash in Trenton. We have not really planned a whole lot out and, for me, that is a bit of a stressor because I do like to have a bit of order but I said it today to a co-worker that I am relying on the Holy Spirit to guide our gathering...and I am praying that I will fully trust Him tonight. I am looking forward to something new and am actually excited for the future (and a bit scared as well...this is a huge step for our little group). It is undertaken with great joy and the message we hope comes out of this is that those attending will feel the need to stay in the temple and worship God continually and by this I am talking metaphorically. While we cannot be in the physical temple all the time, we can be living with the joy of God central in our daily lives. Praising Him is not a chore but rather it should be a passion.

He has not changed, He has not put the stop to the joy in worship, He has not made up the rules on how to properly enjoy His company...we have done that. Is it not time to examine our own lives and find out if we have made the passion a chore? I love hockey but when it becomes a burden rather than a passion, then I will look inwards to find out what changed and if there ever comes a time when worshiping my Lord and King becomes a “job” rather than a zeal then I will not look at what has changed with His relationship with me, for He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, but rather I will look at myself.

I pray that you will all have a wonderful week and may His blessing be upon you all and may you find infinite joy in Him.

Shalom

Todd

Persecuted For Faith

2011-09-02T13:39:00.003-03:00

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be lovedfor what you are not – Andre Gide

I came across this quote doing a puzzle on Jigidi and ittruly got me to thinking. There havebeen a few times that I thought I should “revisit” something because of anemail I got or a message on Facebook challenging something I said. I have no problem with taking a second lookbut if I am scripturally correct in my philosophy, I will stick by my guns.

Two things come to mind of events that happened over thepast couple weeks. The first issueconcerned something that was not only scriptural but also a part of not only mychurch’s code of ethics but also many other churches’ code as well. I won’t go into it but suffice to say it wasone of those “do I bend and kind of accept that person’s point of view eventhough it goes in the face of Biblical principle or do I stand on Solid Groundand risk causing a rift in a friendship?” moments.

The church of Laodicea was neither hot nor cold, it waslukewarm. And because they were neitherhot nor cold, but lukewarm, God will spit them out of His mouth (see Rev.3). If I were to be cold, that is, outof the Spirit of God and not on fire for Him, then I would know my place and Iwould be the one to shift easily in the wind, swaying from this direction tothat, conforming with the ever changing world. If I were on fire for God, following the Spirit where He leads andstanding firm on His Holy doctrine, then would others not know my faith by myexample. And what kind of example wouldI be if I were to walk the fence between good and evil, not stepping foot intoeither camp? Did Jesus come to earth tomuddy the waters? No, He came to be thepure water, the pure, living water. Would you allow your friends or family to drink muddy water?

This reminds me of a story. A man who claimed to be a spiritual leader prided himself on being ableto make friends anywhere he went. Hebent a little without totally breaking. He could “see the validity” of the other person’s point of view even ifit was a little outside the bounds of what is Scripturally sound but if he benta bit, he could be their friend and maybe help them to find the rightpath. It was not really right and, inhis mind, it was just a little wrong but a little wrong in the big picture wasno big thing...he knows he would be forgiven. He was challenged by friends and acquaintances at times but his greatestchallenge came when he went to a friend’s house for cake and coffee. The friend made a spectacular chocolate cakewith rich, creamy chocolate icing and even had a side dish of ice cream readyto go. The cake was perfect but thefriend said it was almost perfect. Shehad dropped the batter on the floor near the kitty litter box but said it wasall good because it was mostly good, only a small portion was affected by thelitter...so don’t worry about it.

Bending a little is like sinning a little...it does no goodto the overall and in the end it waters down the pure message with filth, itcools the temperature and causes it to become lukewarm. I risked standing my ground for a principleand thought that I lost a friend but thankfully that person respected me enoughto accept my stance. Another friend,however, has not. How do I respond tothis situation? It really hurts whensomeone decides that you have committed the ultimate evil to them by holdingfirm to Biblical principles. Itespecially hurts when you are trying to reach out, as Christ reached out to thehurting and the lost, and the other person or persons slap back your hand andturn their back on you, or worse, they attack you by spreading lies and rumours. How, oh my Lord, do I or, better yet, should we,respond to this? The answer is in theScriptures.

James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because,having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lordhas promised to those who love Him. (NIV)

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because ofrighteousness for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecuteyou and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and beglad because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way theypersecuted the prophets who were before you.

There is the answer. Rejoice!!! I say again, Rejoice!!! Are we here to please mankind with our ownmachinations? Are we here to puff up ourbrothers and sisters with the words they want to hear? Or are we here to proclaim the Truth at anycost, even our own lives? If we tellthem what they want to hear from us, what good have we done for them? Have we done them more a disservice byfeeding them falsities? Have we handedthem over to Satan by bending to the world instead of standing on the Rock andproclaiming the Truth? I would rather beshunned by the few by speaking the truth than be lifted on shoulders of manyfor speaking falsities in exchange for popularity. The truth is this...if you love God with allyour heart, soul, mind and body AND you love your neighbour as yourself, youcan not help but want the absolute best for them and the perfect “best” can befound in His word. Yes it hurts to beunfriended, but it will hurt much more if we do not hold fast to God. I, for one, would rather be persecuted bymankind for my faith than to be persecuted by my Heavenly Father for my lack offaith. The pain on earth is onlytemporary, but the consequence for bending the Truth is for eternity.

Shalom

Todd

Beat The Bushes and See What We Can Flush Out

2011-08-25T17:20:00.001-03:00

Some may think me a rebel, others may accuse me of stirring the pot but that is not who I am. I am simply a man trying to see our faith structure through the eyes of others and from outside the inner circle. As I was reading near the end of the “Heavenly Man” by Brother Yun, he made note of the state of the faith community from an outsider’s viewpoint and I was floored. If you get a chance, pick up the book and give it a read...it will truly open your eyes.

Something that was said in the discussion thread caught my attention and not because I had not heard it before but rather because it was said at the same time that I was reading about it in the book. North America is a mission field. We need to change our attitude from being a place where people just automatically come to when they hit town (in times gone by, you dropped by the church or synagogue on the way into town). That is not the case anymore. The church is becoming less and less a destination for visitors. When I was young, there was a sign at the edge of town that listed the churches in town, the clubs that were in town and the population. I remember when I was younger and my grandparents came for a visit, they would always bring their Sunday best because they would always go to church when they were in town.

Church was the central part of any community. I go to Halifax and in the middle of downtown are no less than four very large and very old churches. Coming into to New Glasgow, I see the hospital and several spires of the churches around town. St Francis Xavier University was built around the church and Antigonish was built around that. People came to the towns because they saw purpose there. Today, the purpose of the community is much different and less than 10 percent of the population attend church with any frequency. We are a nation in need of missionaries.

Here is the good news...we have them. Really we do. They are in the pews in our very own churches. We must adjust the mindset of being in the church and change it to being of the church. Let me explain. Being in the church means we are static inside the facility. That is okay for one day of the week but the other six days should be where all the static energy that we stored up in the church comes to life...we are of the church, taking His, if I can use an internet term, Message viral. Let’s take a different look at this, if God worked His behind off for six days and then took the seventh day to rest and enjoy His creation, that is be in relationship with us all, can we not look at this as a template for our own existence? We should be out there, in the community every single day, working our behinds off for the sake of His Kingdom and then on the seventh day come together in fellowship to share in not only what He has done for us but to also take time to be in relationship with God on a personal basis...worship, praise, prayer and song, meditation and the list goes on. If what I read in the book by Brother Yun is spot on, they had a passion for serving Christ and spreading the good news that superseded even their own person safety or even their earthly existence. They HAD to be missional to the nation because God commanded it and they took that command literally. They had no fear for their own lives because the reward for earthly death was eternal joy with our Creator...and they believed it with their very souls.

Miracles happened because they truly believed that God heals. This is not to say that we do not believe but I do wonder why we don’t see the kind of miracles Brother Yun talks of here in North America. Are we sceptical of God’s powers? Do we need empirical evidence to believe that it can happen? Faith is knowing there is a Mighty God without asking for evidence just like we have faith that there is air to breathe even though we can not see or touch it. Faith is embracing the infinite power of God without asking how big is infinite. Go forth unto all nations...can we also say go forth into all communities? Love your neighbour as yourself...they are right beside us, that is missional.

We continue to look for that place where God would have us set up a central point for our gathering place on Saturday nights that would also have room to house the ministry (counselling and teaching ministry). Your continued prayers that God would provide the right venue and that we are a blessing to the community around us are greatly appreciated. If you know anyone in the Pictou County area that could help us out, please ask them to get a hold of me at fasterpastor1@gmail.com

Shalom

Todd

Dare To Be Different

2011-08-15T16:33:00.002-03:00

I have been reading a book called “THE HEAVENLY MAN The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun” by Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway. It is the story of a man who experienced many great miracles in his life while faithfully serving God despite the fact that he could, at any time, could “disappear” by the hands of the Chinese government. Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to take a walk in the back country with a good friend and while we walked and talked, I wondered why we, in the west, have such difficulty fully accepting the miracles that Brother Yun wrote of.

I was talking to someone a couple weeks ago about my conversion experience and I explained that I heard God (by heard it would more be like experienced God informing me) letting me know that my lifestyle was over and it was now time to follow Him. My friend’s exact words to me; “are you sure it wasn’t something else talking to you” referring to my earlier days as an addict. I have written on this before and remember the phrase “we mock that which we do not understand”. I don’t understand it but faith in God has me believing it. Sound stupid? Maybe to some but for others, it is a truth.

Brother Yun is a man of incredible faith and relies on God’s guidance for his important mission and that is to evangelize in China. In China, people disappear for violating Chinese laws and spreading the word of God without proper government approval is illegal. Brother Yun did not have the proper approval because he would not alter the teaching of the Truth to what the officials wanted...he would not compromise so he became an outlaw. Even though this was the case, he continued to preach and teach despite the odds and many were and continue to be saved.

Are we too comfortable in our churches? Is it time to outlaw the church in North America so that we are forced to attend underground gatherings? I can walk out into the street with a placard that says “Jesus Saves, ask me how!” and no one would bother me, in fact I dare say very few would even notice me and even fewer would ask me how. In China, many in the neighbourhood would notice and they would, for fear of persecution, inform the authorities so that the Christian would be taken away and they would not have to hear the “crazy man” and that without that person, the officials would not be looking too closely at their neighbourhood or village. There is also the reward aspect. “Turn in the subversive and you will be rewarded!” George Orwell’s 1984 does exist...and don’t fool yourself, it is world wide.

We should pursue this...it has started already. You can not communicate your faith in schools, government establishments or on government grounds for example (there are many more). So let’s take it to the next level. Outlaw faith groups and gatherings...make it illegal. You can not gather together for religious purposes and if you do, you could face prosecution, torture, imprisonment (and not like the prisons we have in place, we are talking a bare concrete cell with no furniture, no heat and the only food you get is either spoiled or not nearly enough to survive) or you just disappear altogether. Would you honestly continue to claim your faith in the face of this persecution? Would you be willing to stick your neck out for your brothers and sisters?

And what would church look like if it were illegal to gather? You would be meeting at night hoping that the authorities would be more concerned with sleeping than they would be with going out to maybe capture a church leader. The lights would be dimmed, music would be acoustic for fear of alerting neighbours. Meetings would be longer than the hour and fifteen generally seen today because you don’t get the opportunity to meet as much. Preachers...you are the most wanted because you are the leaders of the subversion and would be considered enemies of the state...are you ready for that? Yet, the faith community grows in China. Could we grow in North America under such conditions?

Something I noticed about Brother Yun and his community, they don’t hope that God will protect, guide and strengthen them, they expect it. They do not fear the end but rather look forward to the day of Glorification...the day that all pain and suffering will cease. They will give up their lives for His Kingdom. They have eternity to loose if they turn away and they fully understand in their very being that Christ willingly gave up His life for them personally. This promise is more powerful than the threats of any mere man. We don’t worry about that here in North America. Miracles can be explained away, there is no urgency to meet and, in many cases, the faith community takes a back seat to life in general. What is needed to shake us from the doldrums of what we have made of our faith? I pray that we do not fall any further into complacency or that we continue to allow society to slowly take away our rights and freedoms otherwise we could one day be facing this issue. Am I a fatalist...no, I consider my self a realist. The reality is this...Brother Yun did not concentrate on denominationalism or if the pews were too uncomfortable, he was concerned for those in the world who have yet to be told of the salvation available through the sacrifice of Christ for each and everyone of us and he and those with him, are willing to risk their lives to get the Message out there. If he can do this in those conditions, are we not able to do even more where these issues do not exist? I can not answer this for you, I can only challenge myself and others to step it up.

Blessings all

Todd

PS We are currently looking for a place to meet in the Pictou County area. We would like to meet Saturday nights starting Sept. 10^th, 2011. We have a couple of leads that we are looking into but if you have a suggestion, please let us know by emailing me at fasterpastor1@gmail.com

Stick The Neck Out Just A Little Further Now...

2011-08-10T11:46:00.000-03:00

People were created to be loved, things were created to be used, the reason there is such chaos in the world is that things are being loved and people are being used...author unknown

I came across this quote doing puzzles on Jigidi the other day and it has stuck with me for almost a week now. As I read this, I took stock of my life and how I view things today as opposed to how things were only twelve years ago. Twelve years ago, people were a means to an end for me. I needed people to provide me with a comfortable living...they needed to perform on the sales floor so I could max out my bonuses. People who came into my sphere of influence had something I needed; in retail sales, it was the money in their pockets, in the security field, my clients had the contracts I needed and I did whatever I could to get them...and the list could go on. People were, for me at the time, a means for me to get what I needed.

Today, things are different. I am not saying that I am perfect. There are times when I wonder if I am using someone and have to take a long hard look at the situation. In fact many times I do tasks myself rather than hand them off and it is not because I don’t trust others, it is because I do not want to feel like I am using them. Matt: 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV) What this is saying is that we really need to take a moment and ask ourselves the question “IF I were to ask this of myself how would I feel?” If we were truly honest with ourselves I think that we could soon realize that we all, on occasion, use others.

The message of the Bible is that we should freely invest of our own time and talents for the betterment of others and community. Love your neighbour as yourself; give to those who are infirmed, incarcerated, sick, poor. Would we have people in dire straights if we recognized the needs of those around us before they became “dire”? Society today is at a point where individuals are out to get everything they can from the people so they can get more for themselves...it is a vicious cycle. The only way to stop it is to break the cycle. Let me give an example.

The IPad is the latest and greatest on the market, it is “The Thing” to own if you want to stay in the It group...everything is IPad...the apps, the programs, movies, songs...and the list goes on. The marketing is slick and the IPad is now promoted to a need rather than a want. The marketers have generated a campaign that will have everyone wanting an IPad because it is the must have and once you have one, you can dress it up with new apps and with add on accessories and pretty soon you “love” your IPad, in fact I know people who have named their IPads. They don’t leave the house without their IPad. The thing created by man is now something that we can not be without; it is the object of our affection (you can substitute anything for IPad...car, smart phone, clothes etc). But, you may ask, where is the aspect of people being used? The companies are run by people who are rewarded for generating the fervour and need the rewards so that they can purchase or own the desires of their hearts and they must use people so that they can achieve the rewards. Hence the cycle of using people to get the loves of their lives. Now I am not saying we boycott all things that are out there, I am saying that we keep the “things” in their proper place; as tools to be used not idolized.

I will never be rich with “things”. I told my wife that before we got married. I wrote an article a few weeks back about having a million dollars and saying that it would be gone before I had a chance to spend any of it...I really don’t love “things” enough to jeopardize my relationships with those around me. Money changes people...times were when people were created to love and things were created to be used. Do we use people so we can get things (money)? I go out to visit people and worry that they may think the only reason I am there is to get something from them and it is true, I am there to get something from them...their love. And I am there for one thing, to love my neighbour.

When was the last time you went to a senior’s home to visit or volunteer? How long ago since you mowed your front lawn and kept on going onto your neighbour’s lawn and did theirs as well? How long has it been since you went down the block to the widow who used to give your kids popsicles on a hot summer’s day and bring her a pie? How long has it been since you called your parents just to say hi? We can, as a community, start a trend...pay it forward in love. Reverse the trend of loving objects and using people. Love is more precious than any thing on earth. Things are temporary...and none of it will matter when we are dead and gone BUT love is eternal and will last beyond the grave.

Things were placed on the earth to be used...things are mankind’s creation for self serving desires. People were created by God, a loving Father, to be in relation with Him and others. Let us stop the chaos and get back to how it should be...how He intended it to be.

Shalom

Todd

Those Were The Days...

2011-08-02T22:00:00.002-03:00

“I am NOT religious, but my mom went to church...actually, we all got dragged to church...actually, my mom made sure we were in church whenever there was something on at the church...actually, I remember that most of the events back then were centered on the church, we used to play football in the church park and Frisbee and had meals and picnics...actually, I remember my father...he was Protestant and my mother was Catholic...actually my father’s side was Salvation Army, they were always at the church, there were some great things there but my dad never went to any of the events that I can remember...actually I did see him through the crack in the bedroom door, kneeling at the side of his bed at night saying his prayers...actually I remember my father looking in on me after I went to bed and he would be whispering over me before he went to my brother’s room.”

This is the condensed version of the hour long conversation during which I said very little and my friend said, and realized, a great deal. It all started with my friend, who is not “big on religion” in his words, asking me about my past and then how I ended up so...different. I explained a bit of the days gone by when I was not the nicest person to be around due to my “questionable” habits and actions and then he asked what changed for me. My exact words “God told me that it was now time for a change and that I had been doing things my way for so long it was now time to follow Him”. He responded “ya right, God told you that...sure it wasn’t something else like the booze or the drugs?” “nope” I said “fair certain that was God and who I am today is NOT who I was back then.” That is when the conversation started.

It really was not a two way conversation. He spoke to me of his past experiences in the church and how his mom is still very much a part of the church and how his father never showed outwardly that he was a Christian but you knew he was. He talked of community around the church, activities centered in the church and of good times long gone. I could see the longing for those times once again in his eyes and hear it in his voice as he trailed off after each story. I did not say a word, did not have to, he was doing a good enough job himself. The only thing I asked at the end was if he had ever been back to the old church...no answer but there was a far off look in his eyes.

This brought to mind a piece of scripture that was partially put to song by the Byrds in the early sixties (see Turn, Turn, Turn on You Tube).

Ecclesiastes 2:1-8

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Let me guess, you have the song going through your head now. For me this was not the time to talk, it was a time for me to listen and be silent...it was his time to speak and boy did he talk. Something had happened but I don’t know what it was that got him away from the church but maybe this is what he needed to see, maybe this was the time He needed to work on my friend’s heart. We can talk but we can be so much more of a witness by just listening and being attentive. Ever wonder how to evangelize...sometimes all it takes is to be there and be silent.

I also underlined four other words (actually I could do a month of sermons or more just on this passage). There was a time of scattering stones, it has been happening for far too long. Friends have wandered away from the faith and we either miss the departure or were too scared to go and ask why for fear that maybe it was us that caused the departure. My friends, it is time to gather the stones, and if you were one of the scattered, maybe it is time to allow the community to gather you back in...it may not be the same group, but they are all His groups. The fabric of the church has been torn for far too long and it needs to be mended. There is no tear that can not be mended...it only takes a little time, some perseverance, courage and a caring attitude. It is time to turn, turn, turn, turn this is the season...

Shalom

Todd

This Will Hurt Me More Than It Is Going To Hurt You

2011-07-26T12:07:00.000-03:00

My dad used corrective measures (grounding, the odd spanking etc.) on me when I was a child and it was not until I got older and had a child myself that I fully understood what he meant by "This Will Hurt Me More Than It Is Going To Hurt You". The most difficult thing I had to do was correct my child as he grew up but it had to be done...I loved him that much. With that said...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your comments on the blog site, on the Facebook page and by email...both the positive and negative. While there were a few who wrote that they did not enjoy reading of my views, only one wrote that they would no longer be following my blog. I wrote back that I was so sorry to hear that and rather disappointed to be loosing a piece of iron. Allow me to explain.

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (NIV)

I receive a magazine called Biblical Archaeological Review (BAR) http://www.bib-arch.org/ and I read it from cover to cover, including Letters to the Editors. The magazine is very informative and challenging as well. There are some things in the magazine that I do not agree with but it challenges me to think and even respond. At times it opens my mind to other thoughts and ideas and I grow in knowledge and wisdom. And when I am challenged, I research. Again, I am opening my mind and growing in wisdom and knowledge. How can we loose? We loose when we ignore.

There were a few letters that came in to the editor of the magazine two issues ago that were, in my opinion, well written and rationally talked of how one of the articles was, in their opinion, factually incorrect. My thought “awesome...I see an intellectual debate brewing...a chance to learn!!!” I read through the letter and was getting ready to read the editor’s rebuttal BUT before the letter ended, I read this; “and due to your inclusion of such trash, I will no longer be renewing my subscription” (this is a paraphrase of the three letters I read). Why, on earth, would you do that? If you think that someone is fundamentally wrong, why do you walk away? If they are wrong, you have given them carte blanche to continue leading others down the wayward path. If we are not there to ask the tough questions, who will? As iron sharpens iron...

If I am no longer getting the magazine, am I going to learn...will I be challenged? I have accountability partners and as I have said before, we hold each other accountable. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that we replace Jesus with mankind accountability as we are ultimately accountable to our Lord and Saviour but we do need people with us who will stand with us and keep us on the right path. With that said, if my accountability partner did not like what I said or did and he walked away from my, did not renew his subscription, who looses? We both do because I can go forward without worrying about anyone calling me to task and the other person looses not only an accountability partner themselves but also looses the chance to challenge and possibly learn themselves from having to research in order to confront with wisdom and love.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. We need to stay the course and be a sharpening stone to our brothers and sisters. Do not turn your back on them, but rather, be constructive and do so in love. We don’t need to argue and yell or threaten to walk away in order to be of benefit to our friends, we can debate and discuss; question and provide our input. Too often we turn away and leave our friends floundering. We discard friendships and relationships because we fall out of love with each other. Turning our backs and refusing to work with our friends and partners is very much falling out of love...think about it. Each of us needs to sharpen each other, we need to stick by and hold each other accountable. We must also be open to others to hold each of us accountable. I sometimes rub two knives together to sharpen them and when I did this, each knife sharpened the other.

Do not give up your subscription...stay the course and continue to read, learn and challenge when correction is required...we all need this. And when we are corrected, know this...if they did not care for us, they would not correct. Thank you once again for the emails and the responses, both positive and corrective...I love you all as well.

Shalom

Todd

If I Had A Million Dollars

2011-07-20T16:52:00.000-03:00

Now I am not doing this to say that “Todd is the ultimate donation king of the world” or “look how pious I am”...what I am saying is if someone came up to me right here, right now and gave me a cheque for a million dollars I would pour almost every penny into ministry (sorry family). A small to medium size ministry can operate very well on the interest alone on a million dollars as long as the priorities of the ministry are well defined and the budgets maintained. To be totally honest, I would keep out enough to buy a newer car for Natalie, pay off the mortgage and set up Austin for his final two years of University, but for the most part, my needs are met so why over do it?

Two years ago I heard of a church that could no longer afford their building. Then they could no longer afford their administrative staff and then the office equipment, then the Pastor’s full time salary, then the Pastor’s perks (car allowance, housing allowance etc) then finally...no more Pastor. A while ago someone posted on a friend’s Facebook wall that there are many churches right in our own community that have people who would like to attend but have no Pastor to which I responded that every candidate looking to become a member of the clergy should be made well aware that they need to have a second vocation because most of the churches out there can barely afford to keep the doors open much less pay for a full time minister...and besides, a bi-vocational pastor keeps in the loop of societal concerns and trends. About a year and a half ago, I offered myself up for pulpit supply for any church that needed a speaker and was taken up on the offer a fair amount...sometimes I got paid but many times did not, but that was not the issue...it was the opportunity to serve. I know there are more like minded individuals out there.

As I started to share my vision of a new start in the Pictou region, a very good friend of mine asked “what are you going to do for money?” My answer, “I have faith that these things will be taken care of.” My answer did not sit well with him and he asked further, “you need a strong base of supporters to start a new church.” I responded that the importance of the message is the driving factor, if I waited for the funds to become available, the doors would never open. We have since agreed to disagree. I have heard of some very successful churches that have come to the aid of another so that they could continue on. I think of the funds that were sent back to Israel centuries ago to assist the widowed and the poor, I think of the clergy that went from town to town sharing and supporting the local church (see Paul and his journeys throughout the Mediterranean) and I think of those who kept only enough to fulfill their needs and gave the rest back to the church so that the funds could make a difference in the community (see the life of Rev. John Wesley) and finally, I also think of those Pastors who put it all on the line to go out in faith to build a gathering with nothing more than some life savings and a vision and yet they go, many leaving behind a comfortable lifestyle.

A while ago I got to thinking of what a senior pastor could receive as remuneration for the position and PLEASE don’t get me wrong, there are not many of these scenarios still around and for those Pastors out there who may have issues with what I am about to say, feel free to write me at fasterpastor1@gmail.com . Scripture is fairly clear about the role of the clergy and how the community is to support them. Go back to Deuteronomy or Leviticus for examples. The Priests need not worry about their needs as the community was to provide the support in exchange for their spiritual leadership and guidance. Did you catch that...the needs, not wants or excess. Some churches still provide a house for the Senior Pastor along with all the expenses taken care of, car allowance or mileage, expense accounts, a salary and the list goes on. I was dreaming one day about the house thing...what if I ended up at a church that had a house yet I already had my own home...what then? It could be rented out, I could move into it and rent out mine, sell mine and move into the church house, then it dawned on me, rent the church house out to those in need like single mom’s trying to get back on their feet. These single mom’s could perform various services for the church throughout the week such as administrative duties or light caretaking services in exchange for room and board and be gaining both valuable experience and references for future endeavours. It is just a thought.

The reason I go down this road is not because I am starting a new project with no funds, but rather I am challenging those who are comfortable to look for ways to become...uncomfortable. By finding ways to shift the focus from internal wants to external needs, we can effectively make radical changes not only in our communities but also in our towns and cities because, frankly, people will be watching and wondering what is going on. A friend told me yesterday that atheists give more to charity that Christians do because atheists know that once they die, they won’t have use of it so they spread it around. That is so sad. So...is it time to evaluate where you are or are you comfortable? Do you feel like stepping out and taking a risk or is everything just fine and dandy. Is it fear of failure that keeps you from taking that first step...remember this, had Benjamin Franklin given up after his first, second, third, etc attempts and failures, we would still be reading by candlelight. Start something new, think outside the box, be the catalyst for change, get uncomfortable...do it for His Kingdom and His children.

By the way, if anyone wants to see if I am good to my word, give me a million dollars and let me prove it to you :)

Shalom all

Todd

It Is Time To Get Off Our Butts And Do It

2011-07-15T13:39:00.000-03:00

For the past year and a half I feel as though I have been spinning my wheels, running against the current and in retrospect, I have. God called me, as He calls all of us, to be faithful to His Message. True, I do try and live a Christian lifestyle in all I do and I also work to spread His example of love and compassion but am I doing everything He has gifted me to do? I am “preacher” at my work (my nickname), am counsellor to many and am involved in the church when I am there but is that enough? Do they know my faith through my actions? Am I the influence He expects me to be?

A group of us started meeting on Saturday nights to play music together and create a non-threatening environment for people to come and join in the jam session. It was, in my opinion, a success because more than two people showed up every Saturday night. Recently a friend came to me and wondered if we could add to it and, after about three hours of dreaming out loud in a coffee shop, we came to realize that our thoughts were not much different. A gathering should be inviting to all people, relevant to the community and the central message must be Scriptural, not denominational. We talked of a meeting where we come together for coffee and fellowship, take some time to share in music (jam session) and then have a discussion with regards to a predetermined passage of Scripture with regards to how we understand it and how it relates to everyday life. Sound good? There is more. The “pastor” is the facilitator and is part of the discussion rather than the guy at the pulpit preaching. Want more? We all covenant with each other that we will support, pray for and hold each other accountable. We also keep to Scripture where we are expected to go out into the community and bring His Message to a needing world. We do by word and by deed. Comfort the sick, feed the hungry, visit the incarcerated and clothe the needy; Christianity as a lifestyle and not a designation.

Do you think this sounds good? I do! Is there anyone out there who wants to come along? Some have instructed me that “you need money to do something like this”...anyone know of a home we can meet in or a space that is available in the Pictou county area? “How will you get paid?” Have I asked for money? The Kingdom Message is more important than money and if you read my earlier blogs, the church or gatherings should focus on the community and should be finding ways to spread the message of God rather than be finding ways to finance the Pastor...being bi-vocational is not a bad thing, trust me. I am getting off my behind and going forward as of Saturday Sept. 10/11. We will meet somewhere (I will post this when the time comes) for coffee and snacks, followed by a music jam and a time of Scripture discussion (passage to be revealed the week before the service). This is an open invitation for you to come and add to this event and bring an instrument if you have one. I look forward to seeing you there.

Shalom

Todd

Don't You Think Its Time To Wipe That Frown Off Your Face?

2011-07-08T14:40:00.002-03:00

I am a watcher. Don’t get me wrong, that does not mean I just sit around watching and do nothing, it means that I observe while I am doing. When I’m on the bench in hockey, I am watching for trends and weaknesses, when I am on deck in baseball, I am watching the pitches and looking for patterns and when I am on the platform in church or in the pew, I am observing. What can I tell you, well from the front of the church, I can see who is involved in the service and who is thinking “how much longer do I have to sit here?” I can tell you who is enjoying the service and who is upset by something. I can tell you who is connected and who is looking for something to dispute.

I talked to a friend about this a few years ago when we were doing an assignment for a cross cultural psychology class and I would like to share what he told me with you.

I have, in the past, attended Sudanese services, Kenyan services and Ethiopian services and they are all very similar and they are NOTHING like ours. The atmosphere is electric, the music is upbeat and everyone gets up to move and wave their hands and by the end of the worship, I was sweating. In a few cases the music lasted almost an hour with different musicians taking turns on the instruments, singers trading in and out and it was almost like everyone had permission to get up front. There were different styles, different genres but what I observed...everyone participated, everyone put their all into praising our God.

Next came the preacher, and in some cases, preachers. They started talking and sharing and people were involved. I did not see any heads nodding off; I saw no crossed arms...all I saw was rapt attention and congregational participation. Not one person at any of the services I attended checked their watch when the sermon went longer than a half hour. And when the service was over, I was invited to attend the feast after the service, which, by the way, happened after every service in most cases.

Here is what I found out from John. People in Africa will travel for days in some cases, to attend a service. They come with the whole family and expect the service to be a time of celebration lasting for more than just an hour or so. These people do not have a pot roast in the oven that needs to be checked on, they don’t have places to be right after the service...their focus in celebrating what God has done for us. They dance and sing, they worship and praise and most of all they some together to share in community and love. When the event is focused on community, relationship and praise for the King, personal desires go out the window. John explained to me that in Africa, life is a daily battle and God is VERY real in all aspects of life at all times. Church is not a once a week occasion but rather a daily lifestyle. God is not the “guy up stairs” but rather the Creator, the Father of all life...Jesus with a CAPITAL “J”. Even though in areas being a Christian can bring hardship or even death, people are passionate about their saviour and they trust in His message of eternity, they trust the Holy Spirit to protect and strengthen...all the time!

Now afterwards they share in a meal together. Why, because they are all one big family, this is how they maintain relationship with each other and support each other. I experienced inclusion whenever I went to my brother Joseph Nhial’s home. They did not have much but whatever they had, they shared it. I could not leave until I had broken bread with them. What happens when our services are over? Everyone makes a break for the door and they are gone. In every church I have attended where there is a Sunday evening service, less than a quarter of the people from the morning service attend and there may only be one or two faces who were not at the morning service. In the summer...I won’t even go there. Africans will travel for hours or days in heat that we have never experienced here in North America in order to worship together yet we see a significant drop in attendance in the summer time because there is so much out there to do and the number of “good weekends” is short. Hey, I can relate, I have been on holidays and have missed services because I am not at home but that does not mean I could not have attended a church near where I was visiting, right?

As I have said before Christianity is a passion, a lifestyle and we should all live life with that in mind. When the doors are open, we should be there no matter what because it is not about self, it is about the community of God. We need to get over ourselves, uncross our arms from our chest, wipe the frown from our face when the service is not going the way I think it should and join into the celebration. I know one thing for sure, when I get to Heaven, there will be no time for me to look for what I like or what suits me because the magnificence and beauty of being in His presence will be absolutely overwhelming and I will be a part of His community, loving, celebrating and enjoying being there. It is not about me, its about the Kingdom...thank you my brothers for showing me the difference.

Shalom

Todd

My house, my rules...you don't like it...

2011-07-04T10:48:00.002-03:00

I am going to respond to a comment from Luke that really triggered an avalanche of thoughts for me over the past few days. Luke wrote “I agree, there is a word of caution as not to conform God into what we want. Stick to the basics, lean not on tradition but on God alone, and become an active member in the Kingdom of God.”

Mankind, present company included, is truly a selfish bunch. Does anyone know why we have so many different religious views yet we all worship the same God? It is because we want the church to conform to our needs. I have seen wonderful dedicated Christian people sit in a service, stone faced and making sure that people around them know that they are NOT pleased with the way a service is going because it does not fit into their construct of what church is and, like a cancer, they spread this ill-will to others around them. I have seen people twist and manipulate the word of God to suit their purposes so that they can go forward without any guilt doing what they want. Am I the golden child who never attempts to conform His ways to my own purpose (this to answer Tim’s question)...no I am not, but that is why I have accountability partners all around me who are not afraid to tell me I am doing wrong.

There is not a box in the world that can hold God. God is the Creator and it is not up to Him to conform to us but rather for us to conform to Him. We need to let go our selfish desires and focus on what He wants from us. There are those who have studied and researched God, tried to put Him into a box and have Him justify Himself empirically to the world and when He does not, they walk away shouting at he top of their lungs that God does not exist because He does not fit their theories and can not be proven empirically to be. What has conformity done for us? Let me throw this out there.

We want the world to conform to our wants. We have invented devices that make our lives better and the more conveniences we contrive the more we want. The world now works not for the wants of the masses but rather the wants of the individual. We have become a truly selfish society where, if something is not right in our minds, it needs to change for OUR comfort. If we become tired of our spouse (or, as I have heard from many of my clients, “I fell out of love with him/her”) then we just “trade them in” for a different model. If our church does not fulfill our personal needs, we walk away and find another altar to worship at. If our BFF challenges us or make us uncomfortable because we are doing something that is not appropriate, we unfriend them on Facebook and delete them from our cells. In many cases, if something does not conform to our wants, we avoid it or simply delete it.

God challenges this and we do not like this. God wants us to live in community, not only with our friends but also with our enemies. He wants us to conform to His will. Thy Kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE on earth as it is in Heaven. Does anyone really think that when we get to Heaven, the first thing we are going to do is rearrange the furniture and change the curtains to suit our wants? Are you going to go up to God and say “Love the joy and the singing and the whole atmosphere, but can we maybe limit it to one or two days a week so we can get out and really enjoy Heaven?” This may sound stupid, but is this not what we are doing here on earth? My grandparents were in church every time the doors were open and they were church in the community when the church building was not open. What has happened? Here is my question for everyone...are you mad at me for bringing this message to light or are you upset because you feel convicted. As I was writing this, my mind wandered to how I am acting and behaving and I can admit that I still have plenty of growing to do...we all do. Is God’s will for our lives first and foremost in all we do or are we there for God when it suits our purpose?

You may ask “what can I do, I am only one person?” What I am saying is spread the message. We are guests in His realm...my father used to say “my house, my rules”, well guess what, it is His house, we need to conform to His rules and not try to manipulate the rules to suit our wants. He provides our every need; it is our selfish wants that have put us in the mess we are in now. The challenge is this...get over self and delve deeply into His word, spend time in prayer and BE His servant in His world for His creation.

Shalom

Todd

Back to the Future

2011-06-27T23:03:00.000-03:00

It is just before midnight, Friday June 24 and I am in a motel room in Saint Anne du Beaupre and I have started to calm down a bit. The trip out was not very enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, the people are fantastic. It is a group from Cape Breton Island who are taking a pilgrimage to Quebec and they are wonderful. No, the problem came when the bus broke down and I felt really bad for them...having to wait while they sent another bus from two hours away, yet all they could say “at least it is a very nice day”. Top that off with our journey into Fredericton, a place I have never been before, with a fairly good idea of where I was going only to find out that the bridge I planned to take was broken...okay, it was not broken but rather it was closed for repairs. I got them to the hotel, put the bus to bed and then fell into the sack myself.

Next morning, new day, new outlook...and it went well until I checked into my hotel room...I feel like Marty McFly and I just stepped back into time. I opened the door and all I could smell was cigarette smoke. There were more ashtrays in the room then there were drinking glasses. The room took me back to my youth...brown carpet, pastel walls and none of the furniture matched. Part two; I started up the computer and, Back to the Future, no Wifi. This all got me to thinking, the last time I saw this style of motel room, I was probably around twelve years old.

I want to take a look at where I am right now and where I would have been at twelve. I am cut off from the internet because there is no Wifi and I have been cruising around the multitude of channels on the TV (I think I found four English channels, one more than we had when I was twelve). Hold on a second, my Black Berry just let me know I have an email...brb.

That brb took a little longer than I had anticipated...three days to be precise. Allow me to continue. At the age of twelve, things were done a lot differently than they are today. Back then I walked around with a dime in my pocket to use in a payphone just in case I ran into trouble. Now I carry around my cell phone and am able to call anyone at any time and I rarely carry cash because I have a debit card so it is very rare for me to have any change in my pockets. When I was twelve, video games consisted of just one name...Atari and that only had two games on it...pong and tank battle. TV had four channels, CBC, CTV, ITV and French. My cell phone has more options in both categories and my laptop even more so. When I was twelve, a computer took up an entire floor of a building and used reel to reel magnetic tape for memory, today, my laptop goes where I go and my SD card holds more memory than those massive computers of old.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that all things new are evil nor am I saying that the old ways are laughable...what I am saying is there are things from the past that I am yearning for but I don’t think I could give up some things that I have now and I am looking forward to what future changes await. Let me expand on this thought. When my son was around sixteen, I got him his first cell phone...this was my “dime in his pocket”. I felt safer knowing that he had a means to communicate in an emergency and he felt better knowing that he was able to stay in touch with his friends (that was an expensive lesson on my part...note to self, remember to get unlimited texting). Back in the day, I had to go to the library to do my research and if the books which I required were out, I had to wait for them to be returned but today I can access books, research material and such at my leisure of which I am very grateful (note: Wikipedia is not an accepted platform on which to base your research as I found our in college but it is a great place to start).

The point of all this is change is inevitable. There are those out there who do not want things to change. Bible study has always been done this way and it will continue this way as long as I am in charge. I heard this many years ago at a church I briefly attended. The last I heard, the bible study had finally dwindled to three people but I do admire his stick to it attitude. Church has always been done this way, why mess with it? Are you getting tired of me writing about this yet? Why mess with it...because it is NOT working. We have moved to far into a system of religion that has lost its relevancy in our society. Where are the middle agers and the young adults? In the majority of churches, they have been told once too often that it has never been done that way and don’t rock the boat. Let’s get this straight people, God’s church is perfect, it is His children who have messed it all up. We have moved too far away from what He wants from us. What is that...a relationship with Him and for us to be Christ to our neighbours (Love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbour as yourself, to paraphrase).

Now, let me see if I can add this in... “what is old is new again” or “what goes around comes around” (except for platform shoes for guys and disco...please let that one die). I have been talking with the young adults and the middle agers and they all seem to agree that what is missing is the relational aspect of church. Sure we have potlucks and church events but those who usually attend are church folk...where is the community? What could a church look like? A coffee house style environment with open jams, a sharing time where the “pastor” or leader presents the gathered community a piece of passage the week before so that everyone knows what is going to be talked of and when the day comes, instead of the pastor preaching, the leader opens the discussion and everyone talks through the passage(s). No comments or questions are “stupid” or outrageous, all are treated with respect and relationships are built. This is not new, in ancient times, people met together, shared with each other and broke bread together. The “church” GREW. Christ was at the centre of everything and the need to share was a passion and not a requirement. People would risk death to share, today they conform and keep the message buried deep within their own hearts. If I asked you to open your home once a week to your neighbours so that you could share the Good News, what would you say? Please be honest. Would you be willing to take a youngster under your wing and help him/her to grow in faith and also learn from them what their needs are? Would you be willing to change your idea of what church should be in order to embrace what church needs to be in order to be relevant in today’s society? This is scary...and it should be. If you are comfortable, it means your not growing.

I know for some this may be difficult to read and you may even want to challenge me on some things...please do. Respond to this post or email me directly (like so many have and yes, I do respect those who contact me). I am more than willing to hear your opinion and love to learn how others think.

Remember, this is His church, we are His faithful servants, lets get back to the basics and start making a difference in His world.

Blessings

Todd

How Dare You!!!

2011-06-19T10:36:00.000-03:00

The other day I was loading the bus for the valley and had just finished taking the tickets and had called in the numbers for the journey. If my timing is right, and this time I was actually a little late, I can get onto the bus and depart right on time but standing outside the bus was a passenger who was running a little late. I always suggest to passengers who are late for the bus that they try to arrive ten or fifteen minutes early as the time on the schedule is departure time. I mentioned this to him and he told me he would in the future and thanked me for the information but the two that arrived after him (these two were VERY late) were a little less thankful. As I explained to them, for their own sake, they should arrive early, they turned it around on me, the ticket agents and whatever else they could think of. “We were here, no one announced it to us” and so on. Before the tirade could go further, I told them that I did not say this to solicit and argument but rather to let you know that, in the future, arriving late could mean they miss the bus to which they tried to start another argument and I just cut them off and told them to get on the bus.

There are times that I fall into the same category and speak before I take the time to analyze what is being said to me and thank the communicator for the input. Many times people are telling us these things for our own good; they are trying to help us and not suggest that we are a fool. Yes there are those who are doing it to hurt but these people are small and are, for the most part, bullies and should be treated as bullies...ignored and their comments taken for what they are worth, shallow and worthless. In this case I am talking of those who have either experienced the negative effects of doing something wrong and want to make sure that others do not fall into the same trap or they want to provide information for the future so that we may be prepared and be less likely to become hurt.

The reason I talk of this is because I have several accountability partners with whom I count on to watch over me and be my sounding board. These are people who I trust to not only keep me accountable for my actions but also people with whom I can share anything and know that it will go no further (except where there is a chance that the person may harm self or others). These people will be brutally honest with me but are offering constructive criticism for my well-being, they are not being hurtful. My most trusted accountability partner, I will call him Rob because that is his name, asks me the tough questions and is not afraid to tell me when I am off track. I trust him with absolutely everything and he trusts me as well. We all need at least one accountability partner.

I get asked to be an accountability partner every so often and I am so honoured by the request but I want them to know that I only do so on two conditions; that they know I do not say things to be hurtful but rather do so out of brotherly love and that if I am to be their accountability partner, they must also be mine. Almost every time I have ever said this the response has been the same “but you are a pastor” and before they can say another word I cut them off and remind them that I am human and subject to the same temptations as they are. People forget that and, I dare say, some pastors/priests/religious leaders. We are all imperfect and must never forget that. We are on a journey to perfection but will not become absolutely perfect until that day when we are with our Maker and Satan has been forever locked away. Only then will temptation be eliminated and we will not need accountability partners.

Jesus said, “love your brother as yourself”. Would you allow yourself to wander down a dark road in the middle of the night wearing dark clothing? I am guessing the answer is no. So why would we let our friends do something like that? On the other side (and this is for those who get uptight when people mention things out of love rather than to be hurtful) why do we get so defensive when someone is truly trying to help us? Why do I get defensive at times? It is tough at times but, after I analyze what was said to me, I come to realize that they are trying to help me rather than hinder me and for that I am truly grateful. So, my suggestion, if someone is telling you something that is causing you discomfort, take a moment before you speak back to ask, “are they trying to help me” and if they are, take it as constructive input that will help you and be thankful.

On the other side, there is a great responsibility to being an accountability partner. We must have the courage to share with our brothers and sister for their own good but it must be done out of love and not maliciously. We must take the time to think through what we are going to say and ensure that it will build the person up in the end and not knock them to the ground. For example, if my friend has a problem with smoking, do I come to them and say “you are a disgusting person because you smoke and you are going to hell because of it” or do I come alongside my brother and share with them that I fear for their health because cigarettes can shorten their lives and that would not be good for those who want see them live a long healthy life. What we are doing is watching out for our brothers and sisters and if more people did this, many of the problems we have today would not be an issue. “I say these things because I care that much for you...if I did not care, I would let you walk that dark path and turn a blind eye so that I would not see when you fall”

Is there someone you know who needs an accountability partner (and remember, this is a life long responsibility) or are you in need of an accountability partner or two? Are you willing to accept the input? Are you willing to give it? Care enough to care for others and allow them to care for you...it is a tough world out there and we all need a little help from our friends.

Shalom

Todd

On The Outside Looking In

2011-06-14T12:14:00.002-03:00

In times of old if you were not a Jew, you were a cur...you were outside the boundaries of the chosen and were unclean and forever lost. There was a wall built up so that they would not infiltrate and sully the purity of the chosen. The gentiles were to be avoided rather than accepted. Jesus, however, came with the message of inclusiveness.

I talk to people outside the church all the time and hear the term “holy huddle” just way too often. For those who know little of the church, I rarely hear this term. It is only when I delve further into a person’s background that I begin to understand that they have either been to a church service once or twice and have felt like the uninvited guest or they have no experience with the church but have heard a dissolutioned friend use the term and they grabbed on to it.

Instead of rehashing old blogs, let us move forward. Consider the Samaritan, close relations to the Jewish population but far enough removed that they were considered the black sheep. Why is it then that Jesus would not only talk to a Samaritan woman at the well but also contract the services of this woman (one of questionable moral values) to draw His water for Him. Jesus even went so far to talk with her, something that good Jewish people did not do in those days. An why did Jesus use a Samaritan as an example of the “good guy” in the parable of the good Samaritan? Samaritans were not good, they were heathens. You did not associate with them, break bread with them and you certainly did not marry them. Yet Jesus made it a point to include them in His teachings.

Consider now the sick and disabled. They were all considered unclean and, in some cases, the reason for their condition was attributed to their lack of faith. They were not allowed into the Temple grounds because they were unclean, the priests would not minister to them for fear that they would come into contact with them causing them to become unclean and unable to perform their duties yet Jesus purposely sought them out, talked to them and touched them. All the while, the Pharisees, who were in His entourage watching and reporting on His activities, stayed on the periphery making note of His questionable practices.

Years ago I watched as a newcomer that I had brought to the church (I had only been attending a few months myself) went outside the doors of the church just before the service to have a smoke and I was asked if I “really should be hanging around with people like that...they can be a bad influence you know”. He was not made to feel real welcome and that was his one and only time to attend. I did not say a word because I did not want to find myself on the outside looking in so I did the cowardly thing...I kept my mouth shut. Bad move on my part. He was a class mate at the college I was attending and shortly afterwards he dropped out. I tried to contact him but he would not return my calls and he all but disappeared. I wish I could talk to him now...apologize...what was I thinking?

My question is this...what side of the wall do I sit on? Am I as inviting as Jesus? Am I inclusive? My question...what do you think of this? I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings

Todd

It Has Been A Tough Week

2011-06-09T13:54:00.000-03:00

It has not been a tough week physically, emotionally or spiritually...it has been a tough week for blogging. I have gone to prayer and nothing seems to be coming to mind. There have been a few issues that have troubled me personally that I could go on a rant about but these issues, if aired in public, would certainly brand me as a heretic. These issues are being dealt with one on one and will remain so. It is too easy to try and make a person or persons feel great shame by letting it out to the public and get others up in arms. It also lends to driving in wedges that quickly develop into huge walls.

I am watching the news and the top story is the report from the auditor general. There are some things that really stood out for me. First of all, the auditor general presented the news to the public by way of the media, which is to be expected but what came next was rather disturbing, the media jumped all over the story and utilized their power to raise the ire of the country and this was followed by the interim leader of another party to come on TV and do the exact same thing. My question is this...what would a better and more productive way to approach this issue be? Could the leader have said, yes there were some issues but we are going to work with the leadership so that the issue can be resolved OR the issue does not occur again?

There are so many things that we do in life that could be done differently. Instead of internalizing issues with others, we really need to approach the other person and let them know how we feel and work together to improve the situation. Many times we end up internalizing the problem, work it over in our minds and get more worked up about it all until we can no longer take it and we let it out, usually in the wrong setting and to the wrong people. Once this happens, the whole thing snowballs. They tell two people and they tell two people and so on and so on. Then at some point, the other person finds out (usually a blind side hit) and they react and start the process all over from their point of view. Now people start to end up in “camps”, battle lines are drawn and you are either “with me or against me”...there is no middle ground.

I have watched so many relationships end because of this exact scenario. Churches have split, companies have folded, marriages torn apart all because “you are either with me or against me”. What does it take to change things around? Biblically, if a brother (or sister) wrongs you, go directly to them and if they still do not repent, take another with you. Taking another is not to beat the person up but rather, I would suggest, to act as counsel for both. If the two can not come to an amicable position, an unbiased third party to act as impartial counsel could help both sides to see each other’s position and help to bring resolution. This is much better than letting it all play out in the open air where no one wins, there is not even an opportunity for a 50/50 agreement...everyone looses.

My question is this, have I aired dirty laundry lately...that is going to take some thinking but I am sure I have. Do I need to do some apologizing? I am sure that I have not acted as I should in all matters and I have to make some calls. Is there an issue or issues that you have been caught up in that you need to revisit and make amends? That is a question for you to ponder and deal with but if you chose to move forward I can guarantee you this, you will feel so much better in the end.

Blessings

Todd

Is This of God

2011-06-02T18:05:00.000-03:00

A friend of mine and I were talking the other day of some decisions that had to be made and I made a statement that stopped us both in our tracks...God opens doors, but so does the Devil, is this of God or is it of Satan? David’s words...that’ll preach.

There are so many times that I stop and ask for directions on life’s journeys (not on the road though, but that is a different story for later). I will ask for the Lord’s guidance and watch (or listen) for His directives. There are times when I strike out on my own and find out later I have to back track but there are also other times when I second guess and then question the direction I am going...it is then that I have let myself fall into that non-trusting trap and off on the wrong road I go again.

So how do I tell when I am letting self get in the way of God’s directions? The easiest way for me is putting it up to the test...if it really seems too good to be true and I am going to benefit greatly, then it probably is of self and not of God. Yes, good things happen but I believe that good things happen for the whole community and not just the self. There needs to be balance and I have found that if the benefit is very one sided, flags pop up. Some enticements are very subtle however. We have an opportunity to work with a group but the process has been very laborious. Meeting after meeting, people missing, more meetings, more prayer and right now some of us are in a place where we are questioning if this is what God wants. Now we go back to prayer and ask “is this of you Father?”

I travel for a living, in fact I am writing this while sitting in the bus in Quebec in the middle of the back woods somewhere. To get here, I needed a guide...I would have never found this place on my own...go down the road about five minutes and turn right at the corner after the third stop sign and go until you see the turn around for the snowploughs. Google map that one! Charles did a great job getting us here but had it been someone else who did not have my best intentions in mind and did not care for the students on board, that person could have taken us anywhere and we would have been thoroughly lost. It does not take much. Coming back to the pick up point was a little easier because I had already been there and could handle the return journey but I had his map with me just in case.

How do I know if I am on the right road, I go back to the map. How do I know if I am on the right path personally, I go to the Message. How do I know if I am on the right path in my daily life, I go to prayer and I am learning not to leap without thoroughly investigating. Natalie and I have been working through some things, not personal or marriage, but rather ministerial, and we took our time. We investigated the choices, researched the possibilities and in all things looked to God for direction. As doors opened and closed, we looked to why some doors closed and realized the door was not there by God’s hand...He closed it for us to keep us from the wrong path. It has been a two year journey that is about to come to fruition but it is only another beginning.

There are two keys here...we took our time and God showed us His way and secondly, this is only the beginning, it will mark a start to new things that will benefit community and Kingdom. This was the litmus test for us. There were many times that I wondered why things were not going the way I had planned and the answer stood right there for me...the way I had planned. I even uttered those words, “God, why have you turned your back on me, why have you forsaken me, if you don’t give me an answer soon, I will give up”. When I say or think those things, Satan gets a big ol’ smile on his face. I can here him now, “One more push and not only is he mine but those he will influence will also me mine! Let’s see what he does when I throw him a penny!” Times like this scare the number two out of me. It is really that easy...ministry opportunities are looming, throw a really good job at him, a friend is in need right now, throw free tickets to the game his way, an opportunity comes along to minister to not only a new family in the congregation but also to their extended family, throw in a busy schedule...see how easy it is?

Satan has the power to through things in our path and dress it up like a gift from God. We need to be diligent and question. Take it back to the basics...is this good for me or for all those around me and for the Kingdom? Ask Him if this is the path. Over the past two years I felt that I knew what God had in store for me but now, hindsight being 20/20, I can see where Satan has been playing. It has been quite the eye opener looking back at what worked and what did not and taking it back to basics...was it good for me or the community? The last big decision that I made is for Kingdom, this I know and the proof will come, not tomorrow, not the next day but it will come. Thank you David for the coffee break, God bless you.

Shalom

Todd

Church is like a hockey game...

2011-05-25T15:53:00.000-03:00

When I played hockey for Ambrose University College, we came together every Monday morning to talk strategy, learn new skills and prepare for the upcoming game. I will say there were times when I really did not look forward to practice (burpies and skating drills) but for the most part I came away feeling ready to go out for the game. Once we were playing and things got rolling, the things we practiced came into play and we could see the fruits of our labours two or three days previous. When we did not succeed, we took the time at the next practice to go over those things again so that we were better prepared for the “enemy” the next time.

I want to thank my buddy Rob who gave me this analogy (although he used football as the example and I am not as good with that sport). We were talking today about how church should not be the game but rather the huddle or, in this case, the practice. We need to come together with a central focus in mind, ensure that all within the group have a good understanding of this focus and what their role is and set up a strategy for the next game or day. When we come together corporately, it is a time to learn, understand, refocus and support each other for the coming days. I have said it before and I will say it again, church is not a once a week thing, we are to be the church every single day, every single hour of the day, every minute of the hour...and so on. Christian attitude is all the time. Sundays (or Saturdays if you meet then) are the day when we are able to come together and celebrate the moments from the past week and prepare for the next.

“So, what’s my role coach?” Every team needs a wide range of personnel. There are the equipment managers, those in charge of the travel arrangements, the coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, players, black aces, farm clubs and the list goes on and on. They all attend practices and in the end all have a hand in the final product...going out and taking it to the opposition. Our strength lies in how connected we are to the whole. Every man and woman has a stake in the “game”.

Something that came to mind while I was writing this was the fact that not only are we taking on the “enemy” but there are a vast number of people who are looking on to see the results. There are those in the stands who cheer vehemently for their team and in the end, they can turn if they see that their team is not working together and, as in the case of the Flames fans a few years back, toss their jerseys over the boards and turn their backs on the team and their subsequent message. This happens far too often in our churches, we don’t give our best, people see this and they turn their back on it all and walk away. We must take the time to examine the game tapes, see what they see and correct it. This is not a battle we can stand to loose; the costs are too great. It is written that though there are many who profess their faith, many will be left behind because they knew not the King. There are some in our locker rooms who speak of team effort and giving there all but in reality they have more to give and they are not only hurting themselves, but also the team and those who are looking to them in the stands.

It is time to take charge, get to the practice and learn, hold your teammates accountable and expect them to hold you accountable and be prepared to give your all for the whole. Ask yourself this; are you willing to die for what you believe in...if not, you need to rethink your position because Christ believed in you...so much that He gave His life for you. The team analogies are over, the truth is this...we need to do better...lives depend on it. Your neighbour needs you, your family needs you, your friends need you...are you there for them beyond the one day a week. Remember, the life you save just might be your own. Keep your stick on the ice.

Shalom

Todd

Thoughts For A Gathering Plant Part Three

2011-05-25T15:14:00.002-03:00

This is the administration aspect of the plant that I wish to discuss. If this is to run as a small group scenario, then I would suggest that the pastors and leaders be prepared to operate bi-vocationally because I can assure you this process will not lead itself to very many full time possibilities especially if the foundational values are adhered to. Allow me to expand.

I read somewhere a while ago that if a church truly wants to see where its priorities lie, open the books. Where is the majority of the money spent? Is it on the church mortgage, church salaries, pastoral perks, the parsonage, etc or is it spent on the community? Do we budget the majority of our funds for such things as community outreach, food hampers for the needy, a warm lunch program at our local schools, a family meal night for those in need within our community, a winter jacket program, shoes for schools...and the list goes on, or do we focus on things within the church? I sent in a proposal to my church regarding my ideas for a church plant and what I asked for in compensation was small part time salary and some of my expenses (fuel and communications) covered but the main thing was support for the plant...some financial start up capital and then after that we would be fine. Money is NOT the focus and should not be...community focus has to be priority.

I look out in the world today and ask myself “Is there anyone in this world today worth six figures a year?” How about seven figures a year? Can I take any of this with me when I go? The answer to that one is yes, we can...we can take all those that we had the privilege to introduce to the Saviour...other than that, the rest stays behind, so why stress over making stupid amounts of money? The Lord provides for our needs and that should be what we look for. Yes it is good to have some wants, but when the wants become the focus, does not our faith suffer for it? Anyways, I am on a rabbit trail...all that to say, this model is designed on meeting the needs of the community first, the church needs (administratively) second.

Each group would be expected to sign off on this core value (community first) and all administrative work would be handled by the leadership. I do respect that we need to provide for our pastors but it should be basic needs. I find that I am much more relevant and connected when I am working in the community (I am called preacher at my job as a bus driver). My biggest fear is to become complacent in a church job and find myself either becoming ineffectual to the outside community or I start to get comfortable. The worst thing anyone could say is “this the place I want to retire” because this starts the retirement process for many. We need to continue the growth...keep forging head...our end is when we begin anew...that is when our job has been completed and we can retire...when we are with the Master.

So, our group forms, all take ownership in the group and sign off on the core values and we all chip in to promote the Kingdom message. The group grows and gets to a new chapter, they birth a new group and support the group until they are able to run free. These groups continue to meet together once every month or two so they can keep in touch (giant potluck every two months) and there they can share celebration stories, support each other and maintain contact as a community. As these groups grow and train up new leaders, they are continuing to support the whole administratively thus maintaining the focus on outreach and alleviating the stress of having the resources go to the wrong focus.

Now I do expect to hear from some pastors and leaders who may feel that this is not healthy or that we may loose good pastors and leaders to those higher paying churches and to this I say, your right, we will...there will always be churches that need fulltime staff. There are some who feel they are called to this type of ministry but there are also many who feel they are called to part time bi-vocational ministry...I am one of them. A great man once said that good managers know how to delegate...great leaders know how to motivate. If we can motivate others to take hold of this movement, they can, in turn, motivate others to take hold and step up and the whole process moves forward. Over the next few months we will put this theory to the test. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Blessings all

Shalom

Todd

Thoughts For A Gathering Plant Part Two

2011-05-19T15:27:00.000-03:00

Comments from last week's blog:

Here's a thought... Rather than inviting the disenfranchised to join a broken church model ... Perhaps we might respond to their invitation to bring Jesus to this their broken world. In other words ... Perhaps we have the flow direction reversed. Instead of inviting the world to join our isolation from it, we might consider flowing as a church back into the world as Jesus commanded. As it stands we are in violation of most of the core values of the early church as described in Acts 2 where 'the Lord added daily to those who were being saved'. Just a thought based on the fruit of our work... How much longer do we stay this course of killing the North American church, all the while stoning those calling for change? (Anonymous)

I would agree somewhat with this previous comment, but let me say this: the church is still a gathering. Gathering together flows out of our common mission. We are supposed to go, no doubt about it! But as we go, we need to invite these sojourners to participate in something different. Does the church need revitalizing? Yes, but let's not forget how we ourselves came to Christ. Many of us came by way of the old forms. Also, being connected to others, keeps our theology on track as well. Just a thought or two :). (Mark N)

This is a good place to start. These are two very good comments that go in the direction of part two. I could not agree more...the church is still a gathering but I also believe that it is the mission of the church to flow out from itself...let me explain. If a gathering is focused on growing the Kingdom and they are successful then it will grow but if all that comes out of this growth is a larger church, then the church will reach maximum saturation and it will cease to grow unless there is a reverse flow, that is take the Message to the streets...take the church to the community, be relevant in the community. The flow should be both ways and should always be a living flow, by this I mean growing and adjusting while still having a foundation of the Truth as the central focus.

There are mega churches, there are mid-size churches, house churches and the list goes on and on. What I am proposing is this...a small intimate gathering where people learn to not only His message but also acquire the means to share this message in their own neighbourhoods or, eventually, their own gathering places. There are some who like the larger churches but there are also those who avoid them like the plague. Everyone has their preferences. What I am outlining here is a relational church built around the premise of the small group. We start with a small group of like minded individuals who have a heart for reaching into a community, building relationships and inviting. We gather in a house or hall, enjoy some music together, break bread, share in Scripture and take time to reflect on how the Gospels are relevant in everyday life. As the group grows and the leaders become more confident and mature in this methodology, we look to celebrate the birth of another gathering and rally to support a new group. What is the magic number for birthing a new gathering? It could be twelve or it could be thirty or more...it all depends on the group but right from the get go there has to be an understanding that the group will focus on outreach and multiplication (the Lord added to their numbers daily...this is not a hope but should be an expectation).

The key is this, while we grow, birth, grow and birth we still maintain the family whole by meeting together as a grand community once every couple months. Families grow and the children go off to do their own things but they still come back together for visits, right? We grow through building relationship and we should be focused on that aspect...isn’t that how Jesus rolled? How will the individual gathering look? No clue, it is dependant on the people involved and how they want it to look...what will be consistent is the foundation...the Gospel Truth, the core values and the missional focus. All the groups will sign off, as it were, on these foundational keys and will work together to forward the Kingdom message to the public while still maintaining the flexibility to reach into the community where they are. We will not sacrifice principles in order to satisfy preferences but we will work to meet people’s needs where they are.

I know there are a few pastors out there wondering where the paycheque is going to come from (just trying to be honest here) because the group would never get big enough to support a fulltime pastor and they are right. This is not for those who want to make a living from one income source; this is for the pastor who has no problem in being bi-vocational. When the groups grow to the point where there needs to be a central administration team, that is where things will change dramatically but until then, the focus needs to be on growing and nurturing the whole rather than worrying about the self, so that means the leadership needs to be prepared to paint walls or sell hardware while serving the Kingdom. This is a good thing, however, as it helps to keep the leadership in touch with the community he or she is serving. It is, in my opinion, a win-win situation.

Next week I will go into the administrative aspects and invite your comments with regards to not only this week’s instalment but also invite your input for next weeks as well.

Blessings all

Todd

Thoughts For A New Faith Gathering Part One

2011-05-14T12:37:00.000-03:00

As we go forward into a world of scepticism and cautious intrigue with a new idea in what could be considered a fairly conservative and fundamental faith community, we come up against not only the walls of a rather closed secular community but also the scrutiny of a very established faith community.

Before I go any further, I do not want anyone to think that I am anti-establishment but rather, as one can surmise from previous posts, open to innovative ideas that will help the faith community to make inroads in a largely untouched segment of disenfranchised or sceptical portion of our society. Many have suggested that I am trying to reach into a community that has yet to heal from past tussles and may still harbour that “rebellious” (as one person put it to me) and disruptive mentality and I very may well be but are these not the people we need to reach, help, support and invite in?

While some may suggest that this will not work (again, this is reflective of emails and conversations from the past many months), I have been able to show where this concept has proliferated. Once again, it has been pointed out that these ideas are either ancient thoughts or are “American-style thinking” but what intrigues me is the same people who point this out are the some ones who are comfortable in how things are going in their own churches. To these I can only say one thing...thank you for your input and concerns; it has helped me to see challenges that may come in the future.

Okay, this will be presented in a series of posts because I would not only love to hear from you but it is also a topic that is just too big to explore in one post. Part one will examine the populace that we are trying to reach and what steps we may need to take in order to reach this community with relevance.

Over the past few years I have been examining the dynamics of our churches and have noticed that there is, in the majority of our churches, a fairly large segment of a certain group missing from our churches. This group, ranging in age from twenty to forty, are not represented proportionally within our church populace. I rarely see them on our church boards or in leadership within the church (again, your church may be the odd one out, these are simply my observations and conclusions based on years of research on the health of our churches). With older congregations and older leadership (again, this is not age discrimination, it is a reality) comes a call for “mature” leadership and, in many cases, the younger leaders are often overlooked. I want to call this group of younger adults something different so that we can loose the younger moniker...how about the social network generation or SNG for short. If anyone has an alternate idea, please let me know. I am at the top end of this group age wise (some may say I am outside that age category) but I would rather identify the SNG as a group of like minded individuals rather than pigeon hole this group with an age classification, I know some very forward thinking, outside the box type people who fit into this category and they are well into their later years.

The SNG is a curious group...they are very social and stays very connected to their community through various forms of communication platforms and seem very community orientated yet are still very individualistic as well. They have that clan mentality but still have that need to be an individual within the clan. The Asian community is more focused on the community as a whole and the needs of the society are held in higher regard than the needs of one. In many cases, an individual will sacrifice self for the whole (see the recent crisis in Japan for examples). Western culture is more geared to self...keeping up with the Jones’, “you want the best for...”, you want more examples, watch TV commercials and see how many focus on self over community. What I am noticing, however, with the SNG is a blending of these two cultures. This group still wants but they also covet the social network...the inclusiveness of this clan. Relationship is key.

When we ran the Alpha Program in our church, we focused on relationship, gathering and caring for the group. We came together for a time of fellowship, took time to eat together, presented a message to the group and then took the time to interact with each other afterwards so that we could ask the questions that oftentimes perplexed us but we had no place to comfortably ask what some may call the “stupid questions”. When I first came to faith, I had a TON of those questions and never knew who I could go to...in many cases it was my grandparents who fielded my inquiries. Just as I was writing this, it hit me...I trusted my grandparents so much that I could ask anything...interesting. Can we build a model around this Alpha experience? Why not, it is thousands of years old and has proven effective.

The early church was very clan oriented as was the culture of the day. They came together in a small setting, sang together, read Scripture, and talked through not only what they just read but also how it was relevant in their lives. They came together, people of varying levels of understanding, to share, learn and care for each other. Many call this a small group or a house church but I say that this can happen in our churches today no matter the size and this is what I am proposing for a gathering model with the focus being that category of people who are either not attending because they became frustrated or those who just kind of faded away without much notice or fanfare. A house gathering that utilizes modern technology so that those who are unable to make it on a prescribed day can still feel included by means of podcasts or online presentations (see the variety of online churches for examples). I also feel that this could work on a variety of scales but I will explore this at a later date.

I am now at three pages and feel this is a good place to break. My challenge to those of you reading this, mull over what has been said already, pass it around to your friends, churched or not, encourage them to respond either publicly or to my email address, I do promise anonymity in responses, and I also encourage you to respond. How do you see your community...is it inclusive and clan orientated or is it more exclusive? How would you like to see faith gatherings done? What would these gatherings have to look like in order for you to feel comfortable inviting your friends? Would you follow a virtual format of church (realizing that it is not a substitute for physically gathering but rather a way to stay in touch when there is occasion that you are not able to physically attend...there is something to be said for breaking bread together)?

Just for the record, this gathering is going to happen sooner than later...I will keep you all updated as things go forward.

Shalom

Todd

Uninvited Guest Part Four

2011-05-11T16:56:00.002-03:00

So, the question...how do we go forward? This is probably the toughest thing that we will have to do BUT it should be the easiest. If we all agree that being a Christian means being followers of Christ and we all agree that Jesus provided the example for proper living, we need to look carefully at His example in the Gospels. This must be a core value of our church family, not only our singular church but also the faith community worldwide as a whole. We are all His children and are, by that relationship, all brothers and sisters are we not?

I have been researching the Stone-Campbell Movement of the 19^th century and appreciate what they were trying to accomplish...Unity of His children. We are so caught up in our denominational differences that we forget one thing...we all worship the same God...that is the message we need to have in our church. The Gospel message is what we truly need to embrace and focus on in this time of change. Does what we are doing in our church match up with what is in the Gospels? Can I say that our focus, my focus, is parallel to the Gospels? If I/we are going to do anything, what would Jesus comment on? If my mentor, Jesus, was right there beside me and I was able to bounce ideas off Him, would He ask me what I was trying to accomplish or who will this benefit or would He smile and give me His support and blessings? Guess what, He is here, right now and as real as ever He was. The answer is in the Gospels and the guidance is in the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Okay, problem...so many times things screw up and we get right back to where we were or we can not get out of the funk we are in. Answer, get over yourself...seriously, leave yourself out of the equation...challenge others to leave themselves out of the equation...go to prayer, go to Scripture...let the Spirit lead. Next, take the leaders of your faith community away from the church and go on a retreat. Focus on what the Gospel has to say about the church, focus on Christ’s ministry. Lay out a set of core values that will reflect His ministry while He was with us. We value... These values should reflect community rather than individualism. Look at the community with eyes from two thousand years ago. The community of old focused on the whole and the individuals watched out for the community just as the community watched out for the individuals. Does our congregational community reflect this? Do I reflect this in my daily dealings?

Next, these core values need to be brought forward to the congregational family and presented as the “focus”. All can say “yes, great idea, let’s do this” but what needs to happen is the faith community needs to take ownership and pledge to make the changes required...this may mean that a separate faith community running in parallel may need to be started. This may sound like a church split but I would suggest that it is not. We are simply taking a different group who are focused on a different paradigm to start something new that will touch the lives of those who, honestly, would never step foot in the church as it is. I know of almost twenty people right now who have come to me or emailed me and said that they will not attend a church unless it can be shown that the church is more outward focused than it is focused on what motif should be in the washroom (and the quarrels that ensue because of it...their words, not mine). If we put the same energy into coming up with ideas to get people in AND implementing them as we do in walking on eggshells, solving arguments, dealing with personal issues and being the perfect lukewarm church, then where would we be today. Really, think about it...what is the majority of the leadership’s time spent doing in the church...and be honest.

So, take the leadership out, set up the core values based on the values found in the Gospels, communicate the core values to the community...both inside the church and outside the church, create an inviting atmosphere (this means you have to honestly look at your church and take stock of what is working and what is not) and expect full buy in from all the members, young and old...new and not so new. Remember, if in doubt, think “what would Jesus say if He were right here in person and I could ask Him?”

Shalom

Todd

The Uninvited Guest Part Three

2011-05-07T14:03:00.002-03:00

So last week I ended with this question “how do start to make this change...how do we invite?” The first shift for most churches is a shift in paradigm. The shift has to be in how we look at and approach “church”. I fully support that we need to take ownership of the church but ownership does not mean the church becomes the individual but rather the individual become the church. Let me explain.

In societies where the focus is on the community rather than the individual (the Asian community is a great example), people will focus on what is best for the community and self takes a back seat. The recent events in Japan are a prime example where on several occasions people sacrificed their own needs for the needs of the greater populace. Unfortunately our western culture has become very “self” centred where the philosophy is “how will this help me?” This adage goes back through the centuries. The people demanded a king, God gave them Saul. There are records that many of the kings wanted more for themselves and they went for it at any cost, including going against God’s standards. The people wanted the King to come on a white horse to wipe out their oppressors and restore them to their rightful place but instead they got the Prince of Peace.

For us to go forward we must change our mindset...a thought that just came to mind, all for one and one for all. Instead of thinking that “the music is not right” or “the message does not speak to me” or any of the other many complaints, we should be thinking “how can we be more effective as a loving body to our community” or “what do we need to change to be more inviting?” Okay, maybe we are as scared of the new people as they are of us. We have our rules and rituals, in some cases we have our own terms and procedures that new people have no clue about. The other day a new person came to our church and sat in the same row as myself and when it came time to stand to sing, he did not and he was the only one in the row who didn’t so to make him feel a little less awkward, I stayed sitting as well. It may not seem like much but it was an attempt not to make him feel singled out. Years ago when I was a kid, they used to ask “if you are hear for the first time, please stand up”. I stood up every time because I got a book mark...but let us think, how would this go over now?

Here is a thought...find a friend that no one really knows in your church. Ask them to help you in an experiment. Tell them to dress however they want (within reason) and attend your church undercover as a newbie. Have a list of question that they will respond to with regards to how they felt about the atmosphere such as did they feel welcome, invited, uncomfortable (and if so, how), what they remembered that was good, what could have been done differently to make them WANT to come back and any other thoughts that could benefit the church community and the surrounding community as well. Once it is all done, go sit down and go over it all. The big thing...be honest with yourself as a congregation.

Jesus was inclusive...as the children were being hurried away, Jesus said no, bring them to me. Jesus sat in the same room with tax collectors, prostitutes, His disciples and priests...all at the same time. Does our congregation reflect our neighbourhood? Do we invite not only by mouth but also by our atmosphere?

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)

To have a faith community that is based on this, “love one another as I have loved you”, how could one not be drawn to such a wonderful family? The community would look to the church once again as a place of comfort and security. This would be a place where children would play in the park beside the church, it would be a place where people in trouble could come for counsel or for comfort, it would be a place where self takes a back seat to the needs of others. I came to serve, not to be served...I am a Christian, a follower of Christ, I want to serve Him on His terms, not my own, I want to pass this message along to others so that they can have the opportunity to live in His community. Sure, we all need to be served on occasion as well but that does not negate the fact that we also need to serve as well.

This is a time of change and the people of our community are looking for answers, they are asking questions and they are watching... Before we can address their needs properly, we have to be courageous enough to look at ourselves and ask “how are we doing and being inviting?”

Next week, how do we go forward?

Blessings all

Todd

The Uninvited Guest Part 2

2011-05-03T13:33:00.000-03:00

I was talking with a very good friend and fellow pastor with regards to how things were going at the church. He was commenting about how they had a problem due to a storm and no one came out for church save a few stalwarts but what really turned the day around for him was the newcomer in the congregation. Her granddaughter had been coming for a short time and one day asked her grandma to come with her...and she did. The little girl said to the pastor that grandma would do anything that the granddaughter asked...and she will come as long as she wants her to.

I talked last week of feeling like the uninvited guest and then my friend conveyed this story to me today...thank you God for Your messenger and for his faithfulness to communicate it to me. We tend to think that the church is ours and that those coming in need to work their way into the group, the Holy Huddle. The opposite is true however, we need to be inviting these people into the fold, ask how we can help them where they are and get down on our knees to wash their feet...they are the guest in His house...we are the servants. Don’t feel this is right...go look at the scriptures. We can not afford to be a closed group...a closed group leads to closed doors and this not only affects our own Christian walk but also the role of His church in the community. So what do we do?

I started out by talking of a child who asked her grandma to come to church...and a child shall lead them. Let’s look at small children at play...first, the new child comes to the sandbox and stands to the side for a short while. Fairly soon that child is in the sandbox and is slowly starting to play in the sand next to the other kids. Before long, all the kids have integrated the new kid into the group and it has been as if they had always been friends for a lifetime and when its time to go home, the child has to be, in many cases, dragged kicking and screaming to go home. Let’s convert that to an adult situation in the church.

Manny is brought to the church by his parents one day. Manny is a 35 year old in upper management and is looking for something more than work. He just wants to get away from the backstabbing and stressors of his job, even if just for a few hours...he wants to find a way to cope with life and answer the questions related to life. He sits with his parents for the service but there is a fellowship after the service and Manny reluctantly heads down to the basement to have a quick snack then leave. He is on the periphery quietly eating a sandwich when another person about his age comes in and introduces himself and they strike up a conversation about the up coming hockey playoffs, the future prospects of the Jays this year and after a while a group has formed and they are having a great time. Manny has forgotten about the stressors of life and is enjoying himself. This group meets every Sunday night to break bread together and ask those tough questions about life, God and how it all relates in today’s society and they invite him to come and see what he thinks. In the end, Manny did not want to leave but he was looking forward to meeting again with this group that evening.

Now there will be many who say “that is what we already do” but lets be honest with ourselves, do we all do it...all the time...every time? I can honestly say that I do not and it is something I have to consciously work on. I sometimes wear the church blinders that narrow my field of vision so that I only have to do it when I want to but God wants us to take off the blinders and look past our narrowness and explore the vastness He has set before us. Go forth unto ALL nations, that meant out there, beyond our own fence line. The church is no longer the centre of the community, we must invite and for those precious few who do wander in off the street, we need to invite them in as well...just because they are there does not mean they feel welcome. At some point they will leave if they are not welcomed and invited in and when that does happen, and it will, do we notice?

How many have come through the doors, have been there for a few Sunday’s (or even just the one) and never returned? Do we ever wonder why? Wouldn’t it be great if we had a questionnaire that went out automatically when a new comer stopped coming asking why they are no longer there so we could change things? Actually, the thought of knowing what is wrong might not be what we want...sometimes it is easier to go along oblivious what we are doing wrong then it is to face the problems and correct them. I can still get defensive if someone points out my deficiencies and I have to remind myself that the criticism is constructive...the people who point out my errors love me enough to let me know so I need to heed their advice and wisdom.

So here is my two cents worth...the church in North America is in decline both in numbers and in relevance...you want to argue the point with me on this, the real stats are out there that back this statement. Do you want to know why, call up those people on your membership role who have not attended for months or even years and ask them what went wrong, why don’t they attend? The key here, be genuine, write it all down verbatim and compile the list. Do you want to know how to affect change? Respond to the list not only to the ones who left but also communicate this to the church, don’t assign names or blame but rather use it as the tool to affect positive change for not only those who left but also for those have yet to come to your church as it will affect the future.

I was watching the final comments for the federal elections here in Canada and I think what Justin Trudeau said last night works for what we are looking at. When asked what went wrong, Mr. Trudeau noted what went right in his campaign. He said that they hit the ground and went out into the neighbourhoods to get to know the people, to understand where they are at and what they really need. They wanted to be relational in community and be there for the community when they were needed and for the community to know that he was there for them. It was an open invitation to the community and they invited him in by voting him in.

Next week, how do start to make this change...how do we invite?

Blessings all

Todd

The Uninvited Guest Part One

2011-04-27T14:38:00.000-03:00

I walked into Metro Wesleyan in Halifax for a service on Sunday with my good friends Mike and Emily Savary to attend the Easter Service. Already feeling a bit bummed because I was not at home with my wife attending services where I feel most comfortable, surrounded by friends and family, I prepared to settle in for the service. I do have to admit that I was looking for the disappointment of being the “outsider” and having people awkwardly come up and share a handshake and a quick welcome before they ran off but was I wrong...really wrong.

I was met at the front by the Youth Pastor, Zach, who took the time to stop and chat. A little while later a lady with a name tag (sorry to forget your name) came up and welcomed me, asked me if I was going to join them in breakfast (I told her that I was just waiting for Mike to finish worship practice) and, seeing I was in good hands, she excused herself to go welcome others. They were just about to finish the practice and the Lead Pastor, Kevin, who was rushing about getting things ready for the Easter Celebration, took time out to come over and introduce himself and welcome me. I would later chat to both Pastors after the service...what a great day. Top it all off, they had a HUGE breakfast at the Celebration and the entire worship experience was truly enjoyable.

So, what does this have to do with the uninvited guest? Have you ever taken time out to look at how you do things, and by this I mean all things in life...not just church, and asked yourself “how inviting am I” or “how inviting is our organization”? Do people go away feeling they have been included or do they just go away? I can think of occasions where I have come into a new situation only to go away feeling rather like I have come into the situation and, while people may put on a smile, behind the smile is an attitude of indifference or even dismissiveness. Let me expand on that for a moment with an example. Jacob, a man with considerable theological training and experience comes into a new city and, after finding a wonderful church to join, settles in and asks to start “something new”. His enthusiasm is contagious but his ideas are not what anyone is really used to so he is half encouraged, not really supported by the leadership and in the end he seeks out other options. Does this sound familiar?

I see and hear of this situation on a very regular basis and the story is almost word for word exactly like the story of Jacob. What I commonly hear is this, “as long as I come in and transform my ways to that of the group, I am good but the second I try something new, I am the outcast...the uninvited guest.” Just last month a friend emailed me about the difficulties that the person had with regards to their “unique” ministry (it is a scriptural based ministry, nothing outlandish) and how they suddenly felt like the uninvited guest in their own home. Incredible! What is the cause of this? Glad you asked...I have a few thoughts.

First thought...some people come in thinking outside the box and those who are happy with the status quo sometimes tend to think that this will rock the boat, make things uncomfortable for them. Jesus came to the world to serve not to be served...how would this message rock the world of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? If this message was to get out there and people started to demand that the Rabbinical order come down from their high horses and serve the people, what then? Jesus said that He was the fulfillment of the Law...He spoke to how the interpretations and additions to the Law was not the Message of God...love your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbour as yourself...but what of the Sabbath rules, what of the rules about the pagans, what about all these other rules???? YOU ARE MAKING THIS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US!!! Christ came to get mankind out from under all this yet we still find ways to put ourselves right back into the bureaucracy...funny that.

If you think I am directing this at you (and I know there will be some...you email me your complaints and I keep emailing the same thing back...if you feel that I am convicting you...its not me) then please take some time and prayerfully reflect on where you stand...are you looking to be a servant or are you wanting to be served? There was a time when I looked at anyone who came into my sphere of influence as a potential threat. I would make sure that person knew their place and who the boss was...that was me...the boss...what a joke I was. A great man, John Forzani, once told me that if I wanted to be promoted in this life, I had to train up my replacement...I have never forgotten those words of wisdom. A servant’s attitude has no room for pride.

Another thought came to mind...I didn’t ask you to come...if I need you, I will call. Wow, where have I heard that one before...maybe every single playground in the world? I want to throw this out there for comment. The Rabbinical order was always on the look out for the Messiah. He was to come to the world on a white stallion and was to take His place on the throne of the Temple and the ruling priests would take their place ruling at His side. Jesus came, from a virgin birth, grew up a carpenter’s son, He came with a message of peace, love and servitude...NOT what the Pharisees and Sadducees were looking for...so they basically said to Him “we don’t need you...we did not invite you, we were expecting someone else who would do what we want”. Jesus did no come to fulfill their wishes so they had no need of His Message or His presence, in fact they tried to get rid of Him by running Him out of town and up to a cliff so they could toss God off the cliff...BIG hint there eh? There are times when God sends His messengers and He watches how they are received...I do NOT want to be the one that says no to His message and I certainly don’t want to be the one that misses any opportunity that God presents.

So the question is this...how do you deal with people or groups who are very closed and want to remain closed? I will explore this next time in part two. Your comments and input on this are, as always, greatly appreciated...even the negative comments J.

Blessings all

Todd

PS take a look at the link to my friend Marnie’s poetry blog...she is incredibly talented! The link is on the left side of the page.

Easter

2011-04-23T18:43:00.002-03:00

I was all set to prepare a sermon for this week but I woke up Friday morning with my head feeling like it weighed two hundred pounds. Thank goodness the voice held out long enough for me to be able to sing with Natalie that morning it has all deteriorated since then. Today, my ears are plugged, my sinuses feel like they have been filled with concrete and I feel like a bobble head doll. So that said, no sermon for the sermon net but I would like to share a thought or two regarding Easter.

Let us take a moment to consider the message of the season. One man, a Perfect Man, allowed Himself to be wrongly accused, did not provide any kind of defence to avoid being found guilty (to a crime which He was not guilty of) and did not set up an appeal. Jesus took the beatings, the whippings, the humiliation and the torture. He took the nails and He took our sins upon Himself and in the end, He died. Sounds like a brutal story if you don’t know the outcome...if I was trying to tell this to someone who had never heard the reason for the celebration, I would wonder what they were thinking...

“Okay, so let me get this straight...Jesus is the Son of God”

“Right”

“And He came to earth to be with His creation?”

“Yes”

“And His message was of love, peace, compassion and unity”

“Exactly”

“And people got mad, told lies about Him, had Him arrested, tortured and finally they nailed Him to a cross where He basically drowned in His own body fluids?”

“Uhm...ya...that’s about right”

“What kind of religion is that?”

“Okay well there is more...”

The more is, the account of Christ’s ministry on earth was not yet done. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy; He arose on the third day. The fact of the matter, He allowed Himself to die on the cross...it was the sinners death, a death reserved for only the worst criminals. Jesus was perfect in every way and by allowing Himself to die on the cross, He became the Perfect Sacrifice for all His children...“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. Another piece of Scripture, John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

Now one may argue that the sacrifice was meant only for those of the day but it was not...the promise was for all eternity because Jesus overcame death and arose from the grave. He lives today with the Father and the promise is for those who believe in His sacrifice. There are also some who argue that the disciples removed Jesus from the grave; a guarded grave. If this were the case, they would have to deal with the guards who would be crucified themselves if they allowed this to happen and they would have had to move a rock that weighed several tons silently out of the way...good luck with that. The fact of the matter is this, Easter is a celebration of a new life...our new life. Death does not hold rule over our Saviour and because of His promise, His sacrifice and His resurrection, death does NOT hold rule over those who believe...those who have faith in what Christ has done for each of us. Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf and we are saved.

Our God loves us SO much that He allowed our sins to hold Him on the cross and because of this we will be with our Saviour in Heaven for all eternity and all He asks of us, the only sacrifice He calls for, is that we die to self and follow Him. Today is a good day to say to Jesus (if you have not already) that I am a sinner, I believe that you died on the cross for my sins...please forgive me...it is just that easy. God loves you where you are and as you are...allow Him in and He will cleanse you of your sins...Celebrate the day...God is so good!

Blessings all and Happy Easter

Todd

The Easter Conundrum

2011-04-21T16:00:00.000-03:00

This is going to be not only a post but I am also going to put it up on the Sermon page tomorrow.

I was working through the ideas for a post yesterday when I feel God laid a message on my heart...I love you more than you will ever realize while you are on earth. I want to focus a little on Luke 4:1-30. This is where Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness and there, for forty days, He ate no food and was tempted by the Devil. At the end Christ was very hungry and Satan tempted the Lord with food...turn this food into bread and feed yourself yet He said that man does not live by bread alone. He was tempted to reign on high by bowing down to the Devil yet He did not and finally He was tempted to show His true power but Jesus said do not put the Lord your God to the test (interesting that he said the Lord YOUR God to Satan).

So, for forty days Jesus was tempted but at no time did He leave for that would have given over the power to Satan and his enticements. Jesus staid the course and, in the end, was victorious over the evil temptations of the devil. I am not sure that I could have held out...I get a little edgy if I have not eaten for 24 hours much less 40 days. Promise me a Kit Kat and I think I may falter after a day or two of fasting.

Now just after the temptation of Christ by Satan, Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth and spoke to the assembled but was shunned there as well...in fact after He spoke Jesus was driven out of town and they were going to take Him up to the cliffs to hurl Him off to His death but Jesus walked through the crowd and went on His way. This is the Messiah, God on Earth, the Promised One, the Son of God who was here to save all mankind and what happens...He is tempted by Satan and succeeds in thwarting his efforts and with this memory still fresh in His mind, He is chastised and driven out by the very people He was there to save...His own children. My question...why did Jesus just not pull up stakes and leave right there and then? It is because He was fully obedient to His Father. He did not come to be served but rather to serve...He came to be the Perfect Offering for us...His children.

Now question...what did we do? We, for the most part, turned our backs on Him when things got tense or we were coerced and we left Him to hang...literally. In fact I would suggest that we have done this exact same thing today...turned our backs on the Master to varying degrees. Even His trusted disciples turned from the Messiah when the masses were out to kill Jesus...and yet He stayed. The illegal trial of the Messiah took place and what did Jesus do...He stayed. The sentence was pronounced (an illegal verdict) and yet, He stayed. Jesus was brutally mutilated with a whip of leather, bone fragments and metal bits and yet, He stayed. He was forced to carry the weapon of his own death on His back to Golgotha and yet, He stayed. Rough spikes were pounded through His arms and feet yet still, He stayed. Finally, He was raised up into the air, jeered at, hung among the criminals of the day and, as He struggled to breath while hanging on the cross, He still found the strength to ask His Father to forgive them, for they know not what they do...He stayed on the cross for me...He stayed there for you.

As the day goes along, take the time to remember this and when you have the chance to share this incredible story, remember that He did this for us all and He did not turn His back on us...

My question for all of us to consider, will we be like His disciples who, on the day of His betrayal, blended away into the shadows, turned their back on Him and even denied Him or will we be Christ followers...Christians...and boldly proclaim that today is not about Easter bunnies and chocolate but rather it is about the Perfect Gift given to us all...our salvation through Jesus Christ’s voluntary gift for us all...“It Is Done”.

Peace be with you all...Lord Bless you all richly

Todd

A Conversation of Forgiveness

2011-04-19T15:32:00.000-03:00

Once again I would like to broach the subject of forgiveness and considering the time of year, I think it very appropriate.

I was talking with a friend, I will call him Mr. G, last night regarding the practice of greeting each other in the church with a handshake of peace. His question to me was this...why should I turn around to the guy behind me and shake his or her hand if I have issues with that person? My question back was this...what is the preacher/priest trying to convey by asking everyone to greet their neighbour with a symbol of peace? His answer...forgiveness.

We talked further and discussed pure forgiveness and what it looked like. “I have a tough time forgiving those who do harm to me”. I went straight to Scripture for examples. “First question, do you believe Christ died on the Cross at Calvary for your sins?”

His response “Yes”

“So your sins are forgiven, never to be held against you ever again...correct?”

Mr. G “Yes”

“Let’s go to the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6) – forgive me my sins, as I forgive those who trespass against me...so if I forgive in word alone, then God is to forgive me in word alone and my transgressions are still on the books so to say, correct”

Mr. G “I suppose so”

“So we are to use this opportunity to turn to our neighbour in church and hold out our hand but if we have issues with that person we should first forgive them and then ask them for forgiveness in return. If we have held something against our brother or sister and have been angry with them and thought badly of them, then we have also sinned against them so we must ask forgiveness”

Mr. G “I would rather give them a hug...a handshake seems so impersonal”

I began to tell him how people met in ancient times...the sharing of the Holy Kiss and of embracing...we are vulnerable when we are in close quarters...also it is hard to share an embrace with someone you have issues with, one can tell sincerity in the action.

We also talked of church and going to church and how difficult it is to go when there are so many scandals within the church. Bishops, priests, ministers, leaders all getting caught up in scandals (I really don’t need to mention them here) or even the back stabbing and conflict within the church between members. His question, “how do I continue attending when all this garbage happens? I feel like I am making excuses in order not to attend”

“Here is the thing, ALL people are human and are subject to the temptations laid out by Satan...it does not matter the denomination nor does it matter position, all people are vulnerable. What does matter is that we forgive them for their transgressions and come alongside and help. Luke 17 “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.”

Mr. G “But their sins are great”

So again I went to Scripture (it is so easy because it is all throughout the Gospels)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6)”

“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matt 6)”

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (Mark 11)”

“So what I am trying to say here is that it is not up to us to judge...the final judgement comes in Heaven, our responsibility is to forgive so that we can go on with a deep peace in our hearts”

As I say this I think of an issue going on in just about every church out there where two people in the church have claimed to have buried the hatched but only in words and not in heart...I pray for them continually along with all others (including myself) who have not fully forgiven their brothers and sisters for transgressions against themselves or others. How many times have I watched the news and become angry with what someone has done to another or one country has done to another...and the list goes on...this is not what God wants me to do...

It is hard to realize that everyday we are bombarded with opportunities to forgive yet we chose not to or we do so only in word. This is the Devil’s playground. We walked of this last night as well. Isn’t it funny how Satan can use one person to affect hundreds? One of God's ordained, for example, is found guilty of inappropriate actions and hundreds leave the church saying if we can’t trust the leadership, why should I continue to go...why did God not do something before this happened? The truth is like I said before; we are all human and subject to temptations. One act can affect hundreds and thousands and if we chose to walk away and not forgive, the Devil wins. If we chose to judge instead of forgive, the Message of the Cross is lost. No one is so dirty with sins that God can not wash them clean...the thief on the cross, the Samaritan woman, the Roman Centurion, me...

At any time, Christ could have gone up to Heaven and not had to suffer the humiliation of the trial, the pain of the whip, the disappointment of seeing His children jeer Him, spit on Him and ridicule Him on the way to Golgotha and finally endure the slow and painful death on the Cross...but He did, so that we, all of us, may be forgiven.

Let me close with this:

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ...

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23)

Have a blessed Easter all.

Todd

(all scripture references NIV 2011)

Mission

2011-04-15T14:54:00.002-03:00

Okay let’s define Christian Mission

Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups (called "missionaries"), to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization (in order to expand Christianity through the conversion of new members), but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged. Missionaries have the authority to preach the Christian faith (and sometimes to administer sacraments), and provide humanitarian work to improve economic development, literacy, education, health care, and orphanages. Christian doctrines (such as the "Doctrine of Love" professed by many missions) permit the provision of aid without requiring religious conversion. (Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_(Christianity) )

Now before anyone decides to extol upon us all the fallibility of Wikipedia, this definition is fairly spot on. There is only one thing I question and that is not about the definition but rather how we treat the term. Notice that it says “...sending individuals and groups...to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland”.

There was once a time (and I can remember it so it is not that long ago) when one could go up to the doors of a church and low and behold, they were open. I know this because when I was being chased down by bullies in junior high, I ran for the safety of the church and not only were the doors open but there was a minister just inside the door who sat with me while we waited for the gang to disperse. Even then those who would do harm to another were fearful of desecrating the sanctity of the church. Are your doors open? Is there someone there ready to speak to the needs of the hurting or the scared? Is the alter open at any time so that those wishing to commune with God in His house at the foot of the cross?

Okay this may seem like a HUGE endeavour but it is doable...at least in my mind it is. It used to be that the church doors could stay open 24/7 and it was a safe haven at all hours. It used to be that a person fleeing terrifying circumstances could find sanctuary in the His halls. It was not long ago that one could find a shoulder to cry on during the day. There is a church I know of in Alberta where the parsonage is attached to the back of the church. This conjures up images of a kindly pastor ready at a moments notice to meet the needs of the community (by the way the pastor of this church is a very kind and compassionate man). Now I am not saying that your local pastor needs to be ready and available 24/7 but I am saying that the faith community needs to be. What I am saying is that the “doors” that I mentioned earlier are YOUR doors. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (NIV 2011). According to the IVP commentary of this, where two or three come together to study His word, He will be there also. The church door is open 24/7! Our hearts should be geared in such a way that we are all “open” at all times to share in and study His Word with whomever is in need. Let me explain.

It is ten o’clock at night and Sally just ran from her home after another fearful night with her common law. He had been drinking again and threatened to punch her lights out if she mentioned money one more time (this is purely fictional...any similarity to real events is purely coincidental). She ran to the only person she knows she can trust and it just happens to be your door. After a time she finally calms down and starts to ask the why questions...why me, why can’t we be happy, why can’t I be happy. You come alongside and share that she is loved and cared for, there are many who want to help, stay the night, can I pray for you? You may not be sharing in His word by opening a book but you are sharing in His Message of caring for your neighbour as yourself. Can you see this exploding in the future if we change our concept of church?

Some have written to me and said that they view this weekly blog as their “church” and that is very flattering but I do have to say in response, church is where you are and how you honour God in your obedience to His calling on your life. If you use this blog (and the sermon attached at a later date) as a platform for study with friends...wonderful but please remember, we are not called to be stagnant with our faith, He wants us to be available at all times, the doors to our hearts open to receive those He sends to us so that we may be the church and share with those in need...in need of caring, in need of love, in need of His Glorious Message. The physical doors of the church may need to be closed at certain times due to budgetary constraints and lack of people available to be there at all times (which is, in my opinion, a terrible shame) but His church is open always. Where two or three are gathered, there I am also...Jesus does not put a time limit on this...He does not say nine to five Monday through Thursday, Sundays eight to one...it is wide open.

Is the altar ready and open? My question is this, do we need to be at the altar at the front of the church to speak to God or to be saved? Of course not! I had a friend show up at my door step at two o’clock in the morning, after driving almost twelve hours, to ask me about Jesus and in my living room that morning, he gave his life to Christ. Is the altar open...ALWAYS!!...as long as we are willing. I love my sleep but I love my brother more and my God even more than that. Do you ever get that niggling feeling that you need to call someone or be open to someone...could it be God trying to talk to you? Are your doors open? Are you open? By the way, this is mission, right here, right now...welcome to the mission field.

Blessings all and remember, add some comments or email me your thoughts so that I might expand this blog for the sermon that will be out sometime Sunday night.

Todd

BTW: I would ask for your prayers as we go forward...there have been a few very promising developments for the future of our ministry and we are looking for His guidance and support going forward. I will let you know how things develop more as I am able to share.

New Sermon on the E-Sermon Page

2011-04-11T22:29:00.000-03:00

I have posted a new sermon on the E-Sermon page and would like your input. I would like to start posting a blog, gathering your responses and expanding the post into a sermon by responding to these responses such as I did with the last two posts. Let me know what you think.
Blessings
Todd

Single Voice Screaming in the Dark

2011-04-07T13:56:00.002-03:00

There are times when I feel like I am in a very dark room and I holler out as loud as I can but I hear no response...ever feel like that? There are also times when I listen to inspirational music on the radio, read through Scripture, talk with friends about the good things in life and generally work at seeing the good in life only to have it all crash down around me when I turn on the television . This is my scream in the dark...will you answer me?

We are in the midst of a federal election here in Canada and the one thing that really stands out for me is the mud slinging that is going on. What ever happened to the old adage “if you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all”? My wife and I are sitting in front of the TV the other day and saw a commercial by one of the parties and they spoke of their accomplishments and of the future but not three commercials later the same party was lambasting one of the other parties. I had just finished commenting on how refreshing it was to see a positive advertisement and then this happens.

Too often I watch people deflect from themselves to others by pointing out their flaws...“I screwed up but look at that guy over there...he is a real mess”. I often wonder if that is why we watch so many violent shows on TV. It may do the heart good to see others getting hurt or getting into binds...at least it is not us. And do you ever notice that most of these shows have closure at the end? CSI...all the cases are solved by the end of the show (for the most part), cop shows, the bad guys end up either dead or in jail, and everyone seems to hit exactly what they are aiming for when it most counts (usually a few moments before the commercial). Could it be that society is living life in 22 minute intervals?

Before I get too far off topic, let me ask this...are we, as a faith community, living life as we should? Are we holding society accountable for its actions? Are we examining our own behaviour and attempting to emulate the Son by our lifestyle? Are we setting the example for our families, our friends and our neighbours? If we, as a faith community, spoke up and said “enough is enough, we will not allow this type of behaviour”, would we start to affect change for the positive? We used to be the moral majority...what happened to silence that? The faith community represented community and relationship. Central to the neighbourhood was the church, the kids played in the field out back, families came together for various events either at the church or with that community and we invited people in. Politicians sought out this community for input and guidance, the lost and homeless found open arms there, families in trouble went first to the church...where does the faith community stand today?

Here is my question, what will it take for our faith community, that is ALL denominations, to set aside their man-made differences and once again become the light in the world, shining into all places to eliminate the darkness? What is our common motivator? Christ? The Gospels? The love of God? And what are the primary obstacles? Fear...fear of being the only one standing up? Fear of screaming out in the darkness and having no one answer? Well guess what, you and I are not alone.

Life is not played out in 22 minute intervals interspersed with annoying commercials...it is ongoing and real. Cops do not always get the bad guy, CSI cases are not always solved and the quarter back does not always get the homecoming queen BUT the love of Christ is ALWAYS there...you can count on that. The strength needed to call out in the darkness is ALWAYS there...the Holy Spirit is with us and will strengthen us if we let Him. The world is ready for His message now, we just need to come together as a UNIFIED faith community and show them all, one person at a time. But you may ask how do we do this...take a lesson from our leaders during this election period...on what NOT to do.

Do not speak unkindly of your brothers from another congregation, this is not how God wants us to act. If you are going to point out the flaws of other congregations, take a close look at your own or even at yourself, and pull the plank out of your own eye. By the way, if you shoot down the other group look around to see who is watching or listening...what is the message they are getting, especially if they are not of faith? “They speak of loving their neighbours and all the world and blah, blah, blah...but they act no differently than the gossipers at my work, what a bunch of hypocrites”. Here is another thought, your church may have thirty, fifty, a hundred, three hundred or more attending but a faith community united in His Kingdom cause in a city of 40,000 could have THOUSANDS of loving and caring Christian who can make a very significant difference right in their own city...what is holding us back? We are all His children, not first cousins or second cousin twice removed related by marriage, but rather brothers and sisters in Christ. I am not saying that we physically unite all churches under one roof because we all worship and serve in various manners, rather I am saying that we stop bickering amongst ourselves and present a united message to our communities, our cities, our countries that we are the loving, caring and compassionate servants of our Lord and Saviour and we are not going to allow the darkness to rule the world...His world. I have heard some say that this world is going to hell but we have to remember, Satan does not rule here, he is allowed on this earth but in the end he looses. However, if we remain fragmented, we make Satan’s job so much easier.

So here is the challenge, Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music (Ps 98:4 NIV)...How great is God—beyond our understanding! (Job 36:26 NIV).

Ps 133

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (NIV)

Be blessed all

Todd

A New Sermonette on the E-sermon Page

2011-04-04T23:59:00.000-03:00

Take a look on the E-sermon page and let me know what you think.
Blessings
Todd

Correct Me If I Am Wrong

2011-04-01T14:30:00.000-03:00

Correct me if I am wrong but are we supposed to NOT be static in this world? The term static conjures up thoughts of stagnancy. Are we comfortable in our skins (in our church, in our lives etc.)? I was told a while ago “Todd, you are a go getter, you come up with the ideas and you run with them, I am just not geared that way.” Being a go getter is one thing, attracting people to jump on board and keeping the motivation up is purely another. Many years ago I was told that you can not motivate a person, it is like herding cats, but you can provide the atmosphere that is conducive to promote self-motivation. Is that what we are missing? And where exactly does it start? Is it a grass roots movement or is it to be facilitated from the top down?

God is not static, He is always on the go. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus went throughout the land preaching and teaching, healing, and caring. Jesus did not come to earth and sit in the Temple and wait for people to come to Him, He went out into the streets and walked among those who did not know Him. He shared the message of love and caring for others over all else. Leviticus , Matthew, Mark, Luke, Romans, Galatians, James...Love your neighbours as yourself. This is a command throughout the Bible to do...and it is huge. Now don’t get me wrong, this is not a message from the sixties (free love and all that), it is a message for all times and from the beginning. Now stay with me on this, I am going to try and bring it all together.

If I love my neighbour as myself, as God loves me, then I can expect my neighbour to love me in return. My question, do we need to be in a relationship (and by this I mean a platonic relationship) in order for the other person to love me as I should love them? Some may say yes but I say that we should change our mindset and take a look at the story of the Good Samaritan. Who is my neighbour...is it a stranger; a naked, dirty, hurting stranger or the person next door? I say both. Too often we overlook our neighbour, that person right there in front of us at work, on the bus, a complaining customer, a nasty neighbour and the list goes on. Everyday I am confronted with negative situations where I could either play into the negativity and stroll down the path that Satan has prepared (I work at this every day and have yet to perfect it) or I can take the high road and set it in my mind that they are my neighbour and ask myself “how can I make this better?”

I love that commercial on TV where they show one person helping another and someone witnesses the help and pays it forward and they follow the sequence of events forward. No one motivated that person to pay it forward but there has been an atmosphere created that is conducive to self-motivation. This example is wonderful, you and I do not know what our actions will promote nor do we know who is watching and how this will affect them going forward. In all our actions, either negative or positive, we are creating an atmosphere. It is up to the individual as to what type of atmosphere that person will promote.

So here is my question, are you in accord with me, as I am with you? If so, give me your hand. (see 2 Kings 10:15) In other words do believe that God commands us to bring the Light into the darkness and do you believe in your heart that we need to step out of our comfort zone and bring the love of Christ to the world? Do you hold fast to His great commandment:

Matt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV 2011)

We can, if we are deliberate to do so, create an atmosphere that will promote others to self-motivate and come alongside their neighbour and put legs to their faith and even if they have not given their hearts to Christ (yet) we are building a foundation for the future. The movement is not bottom up or top down, it is a movement that we must all embrace and promote regardless of what your business card says. Meet your neighbour where THEY are, love them, care for them and share His message...if you have to, use words.

Be blessed

Todd

New Sermon

2011-03-30T13:02:00.000-03:00

I have put a new sermon on the E Sermon page. It is a little rough as this is the first time trying this and the sound could be a bit better (as could my reading). I will try to do one a week and hope that things get better (I will hunt for a new microphone). The jangling you hear at the end is my dog getting up and shaking (her dog collar).

You can also see the sermon notes by going to the PDF button right beside the play button. As always I appreciate your comments and feedback.

This sermon was about the Universal Spirit or Catholic Spirit. Rev. Wesley was trying to get people to understand that we are all brothers, regardless of our denominational views. There are no boundaries in Heaven, no fences or borders...God has but one Kingdom of believers...it is us that put up the fences and drive in the wedges. A church divided is fodder for Satan's plans and the devil loves to see us squabble. With division comes weakness and strife. We can be separate twigs but have to remember that alone we are easily broken but if we are bound together (in His love) we are strong and unbreakable.

We have begun a Saturday Night Jam session in the basement of one of our local churches. It is open to all every Saturday night from 7-9 in New Glasgow NS (First United Baptist). People bring their own instruments (all are of varying degrees of experience) and those who do not play, come to sing and fellowship. As I looked out over the gathering, I could not tell what denominations were represented (there were at least five I knew of). They did not clap differently or sing differently. Their style of music did not differ and we all played and sang the same songs, in fact we all prayed together to the same God at the end of the night. This is Kingdom...this is Kingdom building.

I ask that you keep us in prayer as we reach out to not only those in the faith community but also those who have yet to come to know His love, that we may be effective witness to all who come in.

Shalom

Todd

Shout To The Lord, All The Earth Let Us Sing

2011-03-26T12:27:00.000-03:00

I am not sure what you think of Street Church minister Artur Pawlowski; you may think he is a crack pot (I heard that from a few people when I lived in Calgary) or a courageous servant of Christ, the point is this...the city was spending a fortune to stifle the Message of God, at least that is the way I see it. Sixty five thousand dollars to collect on a $100.00 fine...come on!

I admire Pastor Artur and his courage to present the Gospel at any cost, including fines and possible incarceration. This sounds like many from the past who stood tall and proclaimed despite the odds...how many of the disciples proudly and loudly proclaimed His Message with the threat of incarceration (and in those days it was not three square and a cot) or even death by some rather nasty methods of which crucifixion was the most vicious and cruel. Pastor Artur is not facing physical crucifixion but it does seem the city is trying to hang him.

When did we loose the right to freely proclaim God’s Message to the world? Actually the question should really be when did we give up the right to? Just after the horrible crucifixion of Christ, Peter, filled with the power and courage of the Holy Spirit, boldly stood up in front of thousands, including, I dare say, members of the Sanhedrin and proudly and boldly proclaimed the Good News. The twelve went out into the world where not only the Jewish ruling body watched carefully, but also those pagan kings, rulers, religious leaders watched with close scrutiny. They went into a land where people zealously held on to their particular religious views and would viciously react to anyone who preached an alternate message (see Paul in Damascus Acts 9). Did they stop preaching the Good News...no. Did they promote and empower others to go out into the world...yes! His Message and the power of the Holy Spirit are too much to contain. Had the Spirit not been strong and the voices of those in power suppressed the Message, where would we be today? Had John Wesley not questioned the norm and not gone out into the English countryside, what would the Christian landscape look like? John Wesley did not face physical persecution but he did face religious persecution.

The time is now...let us stand up and be heard not just in our church, but in our communities, spheres of influence and in our nation. I am not ready to pay a hundred dollar fine for what I feel is my God given right. To pay the fine is to admit that what is being done is wrong. To pay the fine is to say that the voice of the people of Damascus can drown out the real Message. The idol makers, priests of the Artemis Temple and the devout of Grecian mythology had much at stake. A God whose message is one of peace and love, of brotherhood and community, of worship to the one and only God and not to man made idols...a God who asks only that you embrace the Message of Christ instead of buying salvation by paying alms for sins.

Life is short...opportunities to share His love are finite while we are here. As followers of Christ, we have to ask what would Jesus do? He lived the life 24/7, He prayed daily, He healed the sick, comforted the hurting, shared lessons with all who would listen and, most importantly, was obedient to the Father. Go forth unto ALL nations proclaiming the Message of God loudly and proudly and if you have to, use words.

Shalom

Todd

Next week I will have a new message available on Sermon.net (see the sermon tab under the picture at the top of the page). I welcome your comments and input.

Article From Calgary With Regards to the Last Blog

2011-03-25T20:05:00.001-03:00

Street Church minister Artur Pawlowski, right, argues with a city bylaw enforcement officer after four tickets were issued to the minister in 2007. The legal case is ongoing. Photograph by: Tim Fraser, Calgary Herald

By Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald February 28, 2011

CALGARY - The prosecution of street preacher Artur Pawlowski and his church over the use of loudspeakers to spread his message hasn't come cheap - costing the city's legal department more than $65,000.

Last week, the five-year saga involving the church leader hit a new note as a Court of Queen's Bench judge overturned the acquittal of Pawlowski on two charges under the Parks and Pathways Bylaw.

He has now been ordered to pay a $100 penalty, although the preacher vows to fight on and appeal this decision, arguing the bylaw violates freedom of expression and religion.

But city lawyer Ola Malik said the legal costs associated with the prosecutions against Pawlowski are justified, given the preacher was challenging the constitutionality of the bylaws, which the city believes are fair.

On top of that, the lawyer said the city had received numerous complaints about the noise the church group was generating when it used the speakers.

"It's not just all about the financial aspect of it," Malik said.

"There are times when we do have to prosecute and make those decisions in the public interest."

This case, he said, has broader implications when it comes to balancing the rights of a group against the rights of the general public not be disturbed by the behaviour.

Malik adds the city never had an issue with the content of Pawlowski's message or his brand of Christianity.

Pawlowski's alleged infractions relate to the spring of 2007 at a handful of locations in the downtown, including a park near City Hall.

The church preaches to the homeless and drug dealers.

The accusations deal with both city bylaws and two provincial traffic safety violations. At the heart of the issue was the use of amplification.

In December 2009, Pawlowski was acquitted of all charges, but last week a judge overturned the verdict on two of the infractions after an appeal by the Crown.

In a separate case involving similar complaints, Pawlowski was acquitted of bylaw infractions this fall after a judge ruled his freedom of expression had been violated.

One spending watchdog said this is a bit of a freedom of speech case and finding out the limits of that freedom through the courts is instructive. But Scott Hennig, with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said while the city is not in an easy position, tens of thousands is a lot to spend on this type of prosecution.

"It seems like a lot of money to spend to find out whether or not a street preacher can use a megaphone or not, or speakers."

More than 200 bylaw complaints have been filed against Pawlowski and his church, according to the city; 176 from the public and another 48 generated by bylaw officers.

But Pawlowski believes it is "ridiculous" the city is spending so much time and money prosecuting him, even more so because he's not used amplification in three years.

He said he never wanted this fight with the city and said he was successful helping the drug dealers and sex workers when stationed at park near the drop-in centre.

"The city came in big force, started to attack us," Pawlowski said. "I had two choices: either hire lawyers and start defending ourselves or pack the shop and go home."

Still, even one alderman sympathetic to the street church's work says the city legal department is within their rights to prosecute him.

"They do great work for the homeless people and the needy and I support the work they do. But our legal department has a job to do," Ald. Jim Stevenson said.

With files from Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald

Once More Into The Breach Dear Friends hold on where is my flak vest?

2011-03-17T12:14:00.005-03:00

First of all, thank you for the great feedback. I do agree that the church has put itself into this difficult position (see comments from my last post) but I still have to say that the world has contributed as well. It is like the old saying goes, it takes two to tango. The church has allowed this to happen and has reacted to the ways of the world by securing itself within the confines of the building. The world has contributed by confining where we, the faith community, are allowed to freely and openly worship and preach the good news. I think of John Wesley who, in his days, preached on street corners and in any open field that he could regardless of what others thought. The Message is too important not to share

There was a group in Calgary who set up a church in the park and were given cease and desist orders. If I am not mistaken, one of the organizers was charged for continuing to gather for worship in that particular park. What this is telling me is that society is telling the church where it can proclaim and worship and the church has allowed this to happen and even accepts this to be the norm. If I were to suggest that you go to your leadership and ask to have church service in the local park four times this summer regardless of what the consequences might be, what would be the reaction? If you were to suggest that the congregation meet in back yards on a Saturday night with bar-b-ques, fellowship, music and invitations to the neighbours to come and join instead of meeting on Sunday morning, would that be met with great enthusiasm?

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Sunday service is not important, I am only promoting outside the box thinking. I recall many, many years ago that the suggestion was made to cancel the Sunday service in the church in favour of an outdoor concert/service in the park. There were some grumblings and a few who made it known that this was not proper, but in the end they attended and became some of the biggest supporters of doing it again the following year. This same church, a few years later, took one Sunday and cancelled the traditional service in favour of going into the world and putting legs to their faith by going into the community and doing little projects such as cleaning yards, repairing fences (in some cases mending fences) and collecting garbage. This was followed by a huge bar-b-que and a time of worship and praise later that evening where the community was welcomed with open arms. Speaking from the pulpit that night were two pastors from different faith communities and our MLA Manmeet Bhullar from the Sikh community. Outside the box...

Have we stereotyped church? Does it need to look a certain way in order to be a proper place to save souls? Where His children are gathered, there my Lord and Saviour is...Jesus did not define what that gathering was to look like, He simply said gather. Again, I say, the church building is a very important place to gather in corporate worship and should not be discarded, what I am saying is that church can be so much more. A meeting in a local coffee shop at 9:30 am on Mondays with a group in fellowship, a gathering of teens on a Friday night, sharing and having fun together or a family gathered around the table sharing a meal together and sharing in love with each other. At our meetings, we always leave an open seat as not only an invitation to others but also as a reminder...the open chair represented Christ there with us in our time of fellowship.

I have been receiving a plethora of emails over the past few weeks concerning the church, how we do church, asking me what should it look like (please remember, I am not an expert, just a man with a viewpoint and a blog site), even a few telling me that I am causing issues by stirring up the hornets nest; one even suggested that I stop writing (sorry but that is not going to happen any time soon). Church is wherever you are able to share the love of Christ with friend and foe. “What does it look like” is not the important thing...what is important is that we step out of our comfort zone and put legs on our faith. I can not count the number of times I have been told no by man (and I am not suggesting we defy authority but I believe we have a responsibility to respectfully question it...as steel sharpens steel) but have felt His hand on my back urging me forward. Am I going to stand before a man at the gates of Heaven or will it be my God standing there? If I ruffle a few feathers here on earth doing His calling on my life, then so be it (and for those I have upset here, sorry, but in self-defence, maybe take a look at yourself as well...I am not the only one with a sliver in my eye) but to tell the truth, I would rather hear my Father say “well done oh faithful servant” then hear Him say “I am so disappointed”.

All this to say this...live everyday as if it were your last, love the Lord God with all your heart soul and mind, share this same love of Christ with all you meet, be aware of His calling on your life and if He puts it on your heart to do something, Just Do It...the world needs His message more now than ever so go out into all nations and share.

Be blessed all.

Todd

p.s. please remember to pray for those in Libya stuck in a tragic rebellion, with all those in the middle east as tensions rise, with those in New Zealand as they dig out from their earthquake and with those in Japan as they deal with the devastation and loss over there.

Mark's Meanderings: Organic Church cont'd

2011-03-14T17:10:00.000-03:00

Mark's Meanderings: Organic Church cont'd: "Good morning! It's a very blustery day in Lethbridge, with winds gusting up to 90 km/hour. No better day than today to talk about Organic Ch..."

Found My Soap Box

2011-03-09T14:09:00.004-04:00

I have a feeling that I am about to shake a tree that has a huge wasp nest in it but I can no longer hold back. IF anyone has an issue with what I am about to say, I invite you to comment on the forum rather than respond to me via email as this will invite conversation and dialogue...respond anonymously if you wish, no one will be able to identify you.

Church is not the building, its not politics, it is NOT treading carefully and safely into the world and it is definitely not to be defined as status quo. Church is a way of life, it is people meeting together to share the love of Christ with ALL those around them, it is a person kneeling down beside a crack addict, sharing in their misery and offering hope (along with food, clothing and support), it is not counting the number of bums in the pews. Church is a movement of the body of Christ boldly going out into the nations and making a difference in the world rather than sitting safely behind the walls of a building hoping beyond all hope that the world leaves them alone. Church is more than experts coming in telling you how to do church, it is the zealots of faith reaching out into a hurting society trying to affect change through compassion and love in a different way. Experts built the Titanic, the faithful built the Ark.

I would rather ten men and women of faith focused on being their faith in the community, loving their neighbours, caring for their community, sharing the Message of God in word and deed and risking it all, their social status and possibly position, for the Kingdom of God. Once again I must point out that I am not condemning the physical church and if you feel that I am, maybe it is a conviction you are feeling...I am, however, trying to insight a rebellion just as the zealots of old tried. Zealots, by definition, were members of an ancient Jewish sect in Judea in the first century who fought to the death against the Romans and those who killed or persecuted Jews and collaborated with the Romans.

We are fighting a war here, a war against the world. The world has convinced us that the physical church is the only place where we are able to worship and proclaim the good news. Political correctness has removed prayer from our schools, the nativity scenes from all government facilities and the word Christmas from the “holiday season”. Are we being persecuted...we certainly are. Is it time to take back our right to proclaim...it truly is. I did a talk once in a school for a Christian mission that served the homeless in Calgary and was informed that we were not allowed to talk about the faith side of the drop in shelter. That is the FOUNDATION of what we were doing...Christ told us to love our neighbours...He healed the sick and ate with the “fringe” of society” and we need to do the same.

A group of us are moving forward with our plans for a faith centre in Pictou County...how it will look is in God’s hands but He has brought together some very wonderful leaders to do His will. Please pray for us as we move forward. This all started out as something else but with the delays, it has transformed and we move forward. This faith centre will be for the community, of the community and the focus will be the Kingdom, not the building or numbers. My buddy, Pastor Mark, noted in his blog about organic church that “Organic means natural of course, but it also has a reproductive quality to it. Organic multiplies, look at Mark 4 for more on this. And when we talk about church, at least in North America we have this strange idea that it's about a building. But church is really meant to be defined this way: The Church is the People of God empowered by the Spirit of God on the Mission of Jesus in His world (taken from Darrell MacLearn). So when we have a more complete understanding of why we are here, it changes the game.” (http://noonanmark.blogspot.com/2011/03/organic-church.html?spref=bl)

It is time to rethink “church”. In a response to one of my articles, an anonymous contributor said “Take your own church annual report, and determine the four top categories of spending. Now realize that this is what defines the actual (lived out) church mission as opposed to the pretty mission/vision statements on our walls. "Follow the money" is the expression and expect results to include - we exist to pay off our mortgage... or we exist to keep the heat and lights on ... or we exist to pay 3-5 staff positions... to name just a few favourites.” What is the top category in your church? What should it be? Should we maybe tell someone how we feel?

If we wait to let someone tell us that we can or can’t do church or what it will look like, then society has won, but if we boldly go into the world, wrapped in the Spirit and do what He would have us do for the Kingdom, then none can stop us. The authority, the ULTIMATE authority is God’s alone. Are you ready to get out of your comfort zone? Are you ready to put legs on your faith? Are you ready to challenge the status quo and reach out creating a new and vibrant faith community right where you live and work? God is ready for you and me...He has given us the strength to do so by the Holy Spirit. Go forth into the world and spread the Good News and experience “church” in a whole new way.

Shalom

Todd

Mark's Meanderings: Organic Church

2011-03-08T11:25:00.000-04:00

Mark's Meanderings: Organic Church: "Alright, I have been put in my place and I am going to try a little harder in resuming my blog. I have also changed some of the settings so ..."

RED IS THE BEST COLOUR>>>NO BLUE IS>>>NO RED>>>BLUE>>>RED....

2011-03-04T15:16:00.001-04:00

I was watching our illustrious government all last night on all the news channels arguing over such inane things as spending conflicts during an election FIVE years ago and whether an MP is truly Canadian and I got to thinking why? Then I switched channels to cpac and watched grown men and women fight and argue like a bunch of four year olds feuding over a red crayon, trying to out-shout the next person. Come on people, grow up!!! Why can we not look at the positive instead of point out the negatives...remember, don’t point out the sliver in your brother’s eyes when you have a plank in your own!!!

This is a time of deflective behaviours. If I point out the issues of others, people will not look too closely at my own defects. Why can we not look at this from a different perspective? If you truly believe in what you stand for, present the positives of your position, allow for “professional” constructive criticism, make adjustments if needed and go forward. This should be the FIRST thing we do rather than come out of the gate attacking the other side, point out all the negatives and hope that no one looks too closely at your own deficiencies. Our government ALL came together yesterday for the first time in recent memory but it was because a news reporter respected by all sides had died...how tragic is that? I have yet to hear anyone from the opposition ever stand up and say that a decision made by their counterpart was well thought out and correct, they always have to look for something to niggle at.

Now you may be asking why am I going at the government on a site dedicated to the advancement of Christian community...well the answer is this; at the same time I was channel surfing, I came upon a show where there were three people from three different faith groups arguing about who’s perspective was correct and they were attacking each other’s basic doctrinal stance...nice testimony guys. I was once asked to defend my faith and my response was “why”. Why should I defend what I know to be true and it was at that time the person started to attack my faith. It was at this point that I ask the person to stop....there was no need of this attack. If asked, I will share my faith with others but I will NOT promote my stance by attacking another and I ask others to respect that stance by not attacking in return. I will listen out of respect to a person’s view, will take in what they have to say and offer, respectfully, some constructive criticism but I will not attack.

John Wesley wrote a sermon in the mid 1700’s called Catholic Spirit where he defaulted to the translation of Catholic which is universal. For those of us claiming to be followers of Christ, we are of one faith and should ask each other this...

¹⁵ After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, “Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?”

“I am,” Jehonadab answered.

“If so,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot.

I know this for a fact, my God does not want me looking for ways to fight with my brothers and sisters, He wants me/us to extend our hands out to each other, regardless of denomination and help each other in the furtherance of His Kingdom. If my heart, my love of Christ, is as yours, than we are in one accord, let us work together and support one another rather than bicker and fight like a bunch of school children trying to convince each other which coloured crayon is the best...we should leave that up to the MP’s in Ottawa. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the work they do and the responsibility they have, I do not, however, support their methods in the House of Commons. Life is too short to make enemies...be blessed and spread the word, His word.

Shalom

Todd

Just In Case You Want To Take A Listen

2011-03-02T21:07:00.003-04:00

The first part of the sermon is a skit...it starts out with me sitting at a desk, closing my book after a long day and preparing for a time of prayer. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Blessings all

Todd

http://sermon.net/trentonchurch/sermonid/2612742

Of World Events

2011-02-25T15:30:00.002-04:00

I am sitting in Sydney NS watching the events unfold in Lybia and my heart and prayers go out to them. The persecution of ones own people just to remain in power is incomprehensible for me. How can one man who the media is now calling "mentally unstable" order his military to open fire on his own people AND how can those in the military possibly carry out those orders? Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Greece, Israel, Iran and Iraq just to name a few all falling or have fallen into chaos and what for...what is at the root of the calamity? Might I suggest power, greed, wealth and pride? Those in power will do anything to stay in power because that is where the wealth is. They stay there by ensuring that those around them who can help them to maintain this seat of power are richly rewarded and thus will follow the power/money until they have a better offer (many times they take it upon themselves to usurp and take control in order to be seen as the hero). There is no winner in this.
Now the people are gathering the courage to speak out against the corruption and are making a difference, although too kmany have or are paying with their lives. I pray that those who are gathering and trying to promote a peaceful change will be safe and that those who mourn for their loved ones are comforted. It has been said that money is the root of all evil. Those that have (80 percent of the worlds wealth is controlled by 20 percent of the population...scary). Those who have always want more and those without just want enough to survive on. There is a breaking point and in this time of world market instability, we are seeing more and more people reach that point either in peaceful demonstrations such as we saw in Egypt or by the Kentucky win two months ago that saw the Tea Party elected a Senate seat, or in violence like we see in Greece.
So, where am I going with this? It is my prayer to my Lord, my Creator and Father that He will burden those who have the wealth, those who have the means, to soften their hearts and release even a tenth of their wealth DIRECTLY into the world compassionate organizations so that the NEEDS (not the wants) of the world can be addressed. I see banks posting profits in the millions every quarter while people in our own back yards are suffering to survive on handouts from the local food bank. I hear where Bombardier is straining to keep up with the orders of executive jets while a single mother with two children calls around for an hour trying to locate a ride to get her family into town for doctors appointments. I see those in power cajole and finagle those around them paying bribes, justifying their practices and talking out both sides of their mouths while the people that voted them into power find themselves with no representation (and that is evident right here in Canada...try getting a meeting with your MP). What you do for the LEAST of these My children you have also done for ME...not my words but words I try to live by. If the nations forgave a tenth of the debt owed to them and the corporations and the people (the 20 percent) freed up 10 percent to compassionate endeavors just think where we would be today.
I was talking to a guy about a month ago on a tour and he said if just one of his students struck it rich and decided to contribute ten percent to him he would be happy. I asked what figure would make a difference and he said a million. I have calculated that with a tenth of that, $100000.00, we could create a centre in our county that would see to the physical, mental and spiritual needs of those in our community for years to come. If Bill Gates donated 0.1 percent of his wealth to the homeless shelters in all of North America, they would not face closure due to lack of funding (recent news of a meal program having to close down due to lack of funds in New Glasgow at the Life Centre). Does this not scare anyone? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In the Muslim faith, if a person, regardless of their faith, asks for food, they are bound to provide them a meal. My God, our Creator did not have this in mind for us...He did not want us to have kings over us...we demanded that of Him. He did not want money to be the controlling factor (give unto Caesar that which is his) but rather love of God and love of your neighbour...the two most important laws as per Jesus Christ. If we were to heed this in our daily lives throughout the world, would this not be a different world.
Something to think about.
Be blessed all
Shalom
Todd

Oh My That Last Post Stirred Up The Hornets Nest...Let's Try This Again

2011-02-16T23:27:00.000-04:00

Okay, let’s first comment on the last post before we start. I don’t want people to think that I am anti-technology, in fact I am a little over the line on the side of technology and am working to reel myself in a bit. I am on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs (X2) and I keep up with my emails and world events on my BlackBerry. I know some who would be lost without their devices and I also know that there are others out there who avoid technology like the plague. The point I was trying to make is this, all things in moderation. There is something special about meeting with friends in person, watching their expression when you say something totally outlandish or having them there to wrap a caring arm around your shoulders when things are just not going right. If any of you think I am beyond reproach regarding this, I catch myself sitting in front of the computer for too long at times and have to remind myself to take a break and spend some time with others or with my Creator.

Now, on with the blog.

Over the past five years I have been researching church growth and the societies where the greatest growth is taking place. Something that I have come to realize is that many of the areas where the biggest Kingdom growth is occurring, those are the areas where the family/community is central, the secular world is a dream, the struggles of life and the possibility death are a daily reality and faith in God is very prevalent and central. In Africa I am told, whole communities would walk for hours, even days, to attend a church service and would be very put off if the preacher got up, delivered a forty minute sermon and ended it there. Church is an all day event with music, speakers, baptisms, Holy Communion, fellowship, prayer, more music, more speakers and when it’s all over they pack up and travel all the way home until the next time.

For these people, Christianity is not one or two days a week. For them, God is a part of their life every single day. He is their protection from evil, their comforter in times of distress and their promise of a peaceful and glorious forever. Christianity is not a word but rather a way of life. Ask yourself this, if you had to walk for a day, packing your meals, supply and shelter for a two way trip on your back to attend a service that will occur in all kinds of weather, would you honestly attend? Add to this the fact that you could be robbed or accosted along the way and when you do get there, you could face persecution, incarceration or even death just for attending a service, would you still attend? Combine that with the fact that when you get there, the chances of the service being held in a heated/air conditioned facility with indoor plumbing and a kickin’ sound system is slim to none, would you still attend? If you come to find out that the Bible you carry has been outlawed and having it in your possession would meant that you, your family and your relatives would be persecuted or incarcerated, would you still profess to being a Christian or would you deny your Saviour?

In a land where family and community are central and everyone looks out for the needs of the whole, where the dangers are very real and life is daily struggle, God’s message is very relevant...love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbour as yourself. God is the Great Provider and Protector and these people rely on that. In a land where His Message is opposed by the powers that be and is suppressed because it is a threat to their self-serving and greedy needs, the faith community find comfort knowing that He is there for them. How do we get that deep faith, that reliance on Him rather than self?

PLEASE, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you do not have that depth of faith; all I am saying is this, have you really examined yourself with this regard? I am in a time of self-examination and will be for the rest of my life because there is always room for improvement. The standard by which we should exam ourselves is the Bible...all that I hold to be true is right there in black, white and red.

I look forward to hearing your views on this. If you can’t reply to this blog in the comments section, you can always try me via email, on Twitter, Facebook, BBM, Skype or just phone me J. I am trying, really I am. If you are in the Pictou County area, give a holler and we’ll go for coffee at Skokes.

Shalom

Todd