Pastor's Blog

The Power of the Psalms

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Pastor Tom

I’m taking a course on the Psalms this week. Talk about a call to earnest prayer! Here’s one quote from our teacher – Bruce Waltke.

Calvin begins his Commentary on Psalm 1 thus:

“Earnest prayer springs, first, from a sense of our need, and next, from faith in the promises of God”. So it is within the Psalms that the Christian is “taught…not only how familiar access to God may be opened up to us, but how we may lawfully and freely lay bare before Him the infirmities which a sense of shame prevents our confessing to men. Nay further, here also is prescribed most exactly how we may offer acceptably the sacrifices of praises, which God declares to be most precious in His sight, and of most sweet savor.

“Nowhere are there read more evident commendations both of God’s singular bounty towards his church and of all his works; nowhere are recorded so many deliverances; nowhere are the instances of His fatherly providence and care for us set forth more gloriously; lastly, nowhere is the method of praising God delivered more fully; or are we stimulated more powerfully to render to Him this office of godliness”.

Calvin thus begins with his awareness of the doctrinal uniqueness of the Psalter.

Seek the Lord and Live

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Here’s some Scriptures I collected this past week on the value of seeking the Lord. Hope they encourage you to seek Him more!

Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 Chronicles 16:10–11
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Psalm 9:10
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 40:16
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the LORD!”

Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 70:4
May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”

Psalm 105:3–4
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!

Psalm 119:2 (Psalm 119)
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,

Psalm 119:10 (Psalm 119)
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!

Isaiah 1:17
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.

Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,
who do his just commands;1
seek righteousness; seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

John 5:44
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Acts 17:27
that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Colossians 3:1
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Name Overload!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Pastor Tom

If you’re tracking with us on Reading and Responding to God in 2012, you entered the wonderful world of 1st Chronicles this week. The first chapters of 1st Chronicles can have an interesting effect on people. Last night I heard a loud “DAD!” from my daughter’s bedroom. “Yes,” I answered. “Why do I have to read all these names?”

Good question. 1st Chronicles 1–9 is a list of names. Unless you’re a genealogy nut, it can seem pretty irrelevant. However, the Chronicler was not into wasting ink. He wrote for the Jewish exiles who returned to their devastated homeland. They began the rebuilding of their nation. It would be pretty easy to look around without much hope. They may even have wondered if God forgot about them.

But then the Chronicler reminds them of their history. The names remind them of great and sorrowful moments in their past. It would be like a Canadian Chronicler providing a list that went something like Cartier, MacDonald, Vimy, Juno, Trudeau, Mulroney, Manning, Layton, Harper. Each name brings something up in our collective memory.

The Chronicler was preparing them to revisit their history so they could learn from it and walk in light of it. He drops little reminders and snapshots through the genealogy to remind them of God’s actions throughout their history.

So as you slug through this and the names mean little or nothing, watch for his clues and hidden treasures. Then think about how God has walked with you in your life through the good times and the bad.

2 Samuel - the rise of David and his mid-life crisis

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Our readings for the next couple of weeks intersperse 2 Samuel with the Psalms. If I could summarize 2 Samuel, I might call it the rise and decline of David. We see the Lord establish David’s kingship first over Judah and then over all Israel. But when everything is settled and the kingdom is established, David loses focus. It’s like he goes through a mid-life crisis of now what? Instead of going out with the army and continuing to lead, he stays home. Then he commits adultery, deceit and murder.

It’s a reminder to us to guard against that complacency that can come when we achieve something or arrive at some goal. David suffers the consequences of this sin for the remainder of his years. The child conceived in the adultery dies. There is constant strife between his children.

But that is not the end of the story. The Lord forgives. David writes the classic Psalm of confession in Psalm 51. David is remembered as a man after God’s own heart. His story points to God’s ability to use frail and weak people to accomplish His purposes.

O Lord, let my heart not grow complacent. Give me strength to continue to fight the fight until you tell me I have finished the race.

Who killed Jesus?

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Who killed Jesus?
Tom Anderst – Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church

It’s a simple question. Who killed this person? Investigators ask this question when someone finds a body with a bruise on the head in an alleyway. They gather evidence, interview witnesses and contact the deceased’s network to answer the question.
We have a lot of that information. Jesus died publicly. There are four historical eyewitness accounts of his death. Yet the answer to the question is more difficult than we first imagine.
The Romans played a part in Jesus’ death. They were the ones who oversaw Jesus execution. Roman soldiers flogged Jesus; forced a crown of thorns on his head, forced him to carry the heavy cross beam and then nailed him to the cross. A Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear. So the Roman execution squad played a part.
Pontius Pilate played a part. He ultimately gave Jesus over to be crucified. Even though he had plenty of reservations, he wanted to appease the mob. Jesus’ execution would not go ahead without the governor’s approval. Pilate played a part.
Some of the Jewish religious leadership played a part. Caiphas, the high priest of that time, held a majority in the council of the 70. He called an illegal trial at night, in which witnesses contradicted each other. But when Jesus affirmed that He was Christ, the Messiah, the majority of the council condemned him to death. Their next step was to get Pilate to do their dirty work. So some Jewish religious leaders played a part.
Judas played a part. He led the Jewish temple guards to the spot where Jesus prayed. Judas helped those guards in a dark garden identify the one to be arrested before there were photographs and face imaging. Judas and the temple guards played a part.
All sinners played a part. Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for sin. The Holy God, creator of all, required payment for His creatures rebellion against Him. God did not require this because He was mean or jealous or short tempered. By His holy and just character, God requires sin to be punished. Just like we desire justice to be delivered on the perpetrators of crimes, God requires justice on the perpetrators of sin. So in a way, we all played a part.
But none of these were ultimately responsible for killing Jesus. It was ultimately God. The apostle Paul says God ‘set forth’ his Son as a ‘propitiation’ or sacrifice for our sins (Rom. 3:25). It was God who refused to spare his Son, but rather ‘delivered him up for us all’ (Rom. 8:32). It was God who was ‘pleased’ to ‘bruise’ the Lord Jesus and put him to ‘grief’ (Isa. 53:10).
God sovereignly predicted, planned and carried out the sacrifice of His own Son. It was out of His great love and holiness that God acted. Jesus obeyed His Father. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
So in the end the answer to the question “who killed Jesus” is simple yet profound; God the Father so that you and I might be forgiven and walk in newness of life.

Judges - Really Disturbing Stuff

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Pastor Tom

The Bible book of Judges is pretty disturbing. There’s no sugarcoating it. God’s people come out looking pretty bad by the end of it. On the one hand, this strengthens the authenticity of the Bible for me. If we really wanted to present a snow white version of the Bible, we would delete most of Judges. These are real people struggling with greed, lust, power grabbing and revenge.

But it still leads to several questions. How come God works through a wishy washy character like Gideon? Did Jepthah really sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering? Why would God use someone like Samson who seemingly had no control over his desires? What’s going on in chapters 21–25 with some pretty depraved behavior?

Well, a couple of things that I hope will help you’re read.

1) God works through imperfect people. Only Caleb, in the opening chapters comes out looking good. The rest have some major character flaw . . . just like we do. Yet God still uses them.

2) The narrator presents Israel’s slide into paganism. He shows how they go from a people faithful to God in the first chapters to a people just like the Canaanites by the end of the book. Little compromises along the way led to much bigger problems later. There’s a warning in here for us all to not let the little things slide or else we might end up in a mess.

3) God delivers when people don’t deserve it. About half way through the book, it’s getting a little tiring to read that “the people of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.” Yet God keeps delivering and showing grace. Kind of sounds like the same God we walk with today.

So Judges is not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for green meadows and still waters, you won’t find any of that in Judges. But you will find a God who perseveres with an unfaithful people and continues to rescue them. It’s an amazing message when you see how low people can go. Enjoy!

Deuteronomy - Not just law!

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Pastor Tom

When someone says to you “Deuteronomy,” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Some twisted form of astronomy? Some book in the Bible. The fifth book of the Bible? Law?
The word that serves as the English title to this book “Deuteronomy” actually means “2nd Law.” We think that it comes from Deuteronomy 17:18 which reads “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a COPY OF THIS LAW.”

So yes, Deuteronomy does contain law. But it’s not just law. It all comes within the context of a story. In fact, Dan Block, one professor I studied under stated the book could be entitled “The Gospel According to Moses.” Moses summarizes the grace of God to Israel in the first chapters. Then he summarizes the appropriate response of God’s people to the grace shown them. It’s a lot like Romans in that sense. Romans 1–8 is God’s grace to His people. Then after the Jews/Gentiles interlude in Romans 9–11, chapters 12–16 contains the appropriate response of God’s people to the grace shown.

You’ll have noticed that Moses repeats the 10 commandments in Deuteronomy 5. Some scholars point out that the following chapters, especially 12–26, kind of line up with each of the commandments. It’s like Moses explains what living out a particular commandment looks like in their world.

Another point to remember through Deuteronomy. When we think of commandments or laws, we can begin thinking of “bylaws” man-made rules imposed by some higher authority that in some way infringes on our freedom. But Dan Block invites us to think of the commandments and laws more as “principles to live by.” Now this does not mean it lessens the authority of the commandments. Yet we are more likely to have a right attitude and heart when we adopt a principle to live by rather than a commandment. A principle to live by implies its good for us and something that will bring benefit. All of God’s commandments are designed to do this. But Block points out that they were given more in this spirit of invitation to live by life-giving principles.

It may seem like a small thing, but I think he’s on to something. We are much more likely to resist “law.” Our sinful nature doesn’t like anyone telling us what to do, even when it’s God. Even though it is law or commanded by God and commandments require obedience, Block points out how skillfully Moses wove the heart of God into these words. God loved these people and wanted the best for them. So he showed them clearly what a community looked like that responded to His immeasurable grace.

I pray we will continue to discover that in our community as we soak in the life-giving principles found in Deuteronomy.

Leadership Meeting Update

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Thank you to all who lifted up the SVBC leadership in prayer last week and during the Prayer and Praise service. The Elders and Servant Team met together Wednesday evening. We had a very productive time and sense some next steps God wants us to take as a congregation. The leadership will be meeting again on Saturday, March 31 for some extensive focus on these next steps. Then we will present where we sense God leading us at the April 24th congregational meeting. Please continue to lift us up in prayer and ask for more of that James 3:17 wisdom. Thank you!

Back to the future in Numbers

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Pastor Tom

The Biblical book of Numbers moves rapidly through Israel’s history. But it doesn’t seem like it at first. There is all this talk about amount of people in this tribe and that tribe. Thus, the name of the book “Numbers.” But there is a lot more than numbers in numbers. Once you get to chapter 10 things start moving and then get a little confusing time wise. So here’s a quick guide to the time frame surrounding Numbers.

Numbers 10:11 – says “in the second year, in the second month.” The second year of what? Leaving Egypt. So the Israelites have been released from slavery and been at Mount Sinai for just over a year. Now it’s time to leave and go to the Promised Land.

Numbers 11–12 – The people complain along the way and Moses just about loses it completely (11:15)

Numbers 13–14 – The 12 spies scout out the Promised Land. They conclude it’s a good land. However 10 of them conclude they can’t take the land because of the strength of the inhabitants. Only 2, Joshua and Caleb have faith in the Lord. So the Lord sentences the entire community to wander in the wilderness for the next 38 years! The faithless generation will die out and their children will inherit the promised Land.

Numbers 15–20:14 – Events during the wilderness wanderings and some more laws.

FAST FORWARD 38 years.

Numbers 20:15 – Now the Israelites begin their final journey to the Promised Land. They end up having to approach it from the East side rather than the south.

So Numbers 20–36 could be considered the final approach to the Promised Land occurring over a period of a few months or a year. We end the book with the boundaries of the Promised Land declared. The people are just across the Jordan River and can see it in a distance.

But before they cross, Moses will have his final instruction to them in Deuteronomy for he will not cross over the land with them. Then comes Joshua and the conquest of the Land.

Hope that helps.

Key weapons in the war

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Pastor Tom

I once heard a preacher say “I think Ephesians 6:12 is the most disbelieved verse in the Bible.” What do you think? Read Ephesians 6:10–20. Notice the role God’s Word and prayer play in the battle. • Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to “take up the whole armor of God” each day.

Surviving Leviticus

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Okay, I admit it. Leviticus, at first glance, can be a tough read. It starts with regulations concerning offerings, continues with forbidden foods and then has all this stuff about leprosy. What does this have to do with our lives today?

Well, it might seem like little at first. Yet hidden within the pages of Leviticus are all kinds of pearls and insights that reveal God’s character and inform later parts of Scripture. So here’s some pearls that might enhance your read through Leviticus.

1) The first seven chapters contain regulations for different kinds of offerings. Why would God tell them this? Because He wanted to show them how to relate to Him without killing themselves! Remember God is a holy God and cannot be in the presence of sin. So these regulations would teach them and enable them to approach Him with a right attitude. In a way, these regulations are an act of love – the Holy God lays out very specific instructions to protect His people on how to approach Him. Don’t we always want the will of God laid out to us in clear steps? Here’s an example where God actually does that.

2) Chapters 8–9 set apart Aaron and his sons for service. It could be considered the first ordination service. Chapter 10 reveals how seriously God viewed the commitment of the priests to their office.

3) Remember all of this comes within the bigger picture of the Old Testament. God is preparing a people for Himself. So don’t read this as some obscure legal code. Read it as God helping His people relate to Him.

4) Chapter 11 contains the forbidden foods chapter. But in verse 44 you find the theme verse of Leviticus – Be holy because I am holy. To be holy means to be set apart unto God. Many have speculated about why some animals were forbidden and others accepted. I think the best explanation is that God wanted to teach the people about holiness with their diet. So he prohibited animals that blurred distinct lines. If an animal parted the hoof and chewed the cud, it could be eaten. If animals did one but not the other, they couldn’t be eaten. Only those that were separated – those that were distinct from those that blurred these lines of separation – could be eaten. It’s another example of God wanting their faith to be lived out at home.

5) Chapter 18 contains God’s view on holy sexual relations. It is from this passage that we discover the heart of God on all these things.

6) Jesus quotes Leviticus 19:18 when asked about the greatest commandment. This verse contains the “second.” You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

7) The Jewish feasts are described in 23–25. How does Jesus fulfill each of these?

8) 26 contains the reality of consequences for behavior. Good consequences or bad ones.

Leviticus must be read as part of the great story of God setting apart a people for Himself. As you go through it, ask God to reveal Himself to you. You might be surprised where you’ll discover Him.

Bonhoeffer on "Reading the Bible"

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Here’s what Dietrich Bonhoeffor wrote to his brother-in-law in 1936 about reading the Bible.

“First of all, I confess quite simply – I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we need only to ask repeatedly and a little humbly, in order to receive this answer. One cannot simply ‘read’ the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will it reveal itself. Only if we expect from it the ultimate answer, shall we receive it. That is because in the Bible, God speaks to us. And one cannot simply think about God in one’s own strength, on has to enquire of him. Only if we seek him, will he answer us.

Of course it is possible to read the Bible like any other books, that is to say from the point of view of textual criticism etc. Only that that is not the method which will reveal to us the heart of the Bible, but only the surface, just as we do not grasp the words of someone we love by taking them to bits, but by simply receiving them, so that for days they go on lingering in our minds, simply because they are words from a person we love; and just as these words reveal more and more of the person who said them as we go on, like Mary ‘pondering them in her heart’ so it will be with the words of the Bible. Only if we will venture to enter into the words of the Bible, as though in them this God were speaking to us who loves and does not will to leave us along with our questions, only so shall we learn to rejoice in the Bible.”

The answer to the Exodus "redundancy."

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Pastor Tom

So why does God include Exodus 35–40 in the Bible after we’ve just gone through all this stuff in Exodus 25–30? The first chapters contained God’s commands. In the second section (chapters 35–40), the people carry out God’s commands completely. They follow His instructions and construct the tabernacle, it’s furnishings and the priest’s garments. God responds at the end of Exodus 40 by displaying His presence in the new tabernacle.

The first section – Exodus 25–31, is followed by the great apostasy – the people worship the golden calf. But God does a great work of discipline and forgiveness. So in Exodus 36–40, a redeemed people carries out His commands.

I think we can learn from this that God expects His commands to be obeyed by His people. We are not to ignore them or revise them. When His people obeyed His commands, they could clearly see His presence among them. So if you made it through all of Exodus, congratulations! But what do we do with Leviticus?

More on that tomorrow.

Why do we have to go through this again? Ending Exodus

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Doesn’t Exodus 35–40 seem a little redundant? Didn’t we just go through all this in Exodus 25–30? So here’s a couple of questions.

What is the key difference between Exodus 25–30 and Exodus 35–40?

What does it say about God that He would inspire Exodus 35–40 to be included in Scripture?

Answer coming tomorrow.

God's presence - Amazing Exodus 33-34

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Have you ever faced some difficulty and concluded “I don’t think I can do this on my own.” Then you realize you have to do it or go through it which can lead to greater fear, anxiety, turning back or despair. If you’ve ever felt like this or experienced this, you’re not alone.

Moses seemed to struggle with this too. In Exodus 33:12–23, he seeks the Lord’s presence. He desires assurance of the Lord to lead the people. The Lord promises His presence and reveals Himself to Moses in the “cleft of the rock” passage.

God is constantly present with us. Jesus said, “wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” “Surely, I am with you ALWAYS.” Life sometimes blinds us to that truth. But God demonstrated His desire to be present with us in sending Jesus to this Earth. And Jesus continues to live in us right now. (Galatians 2:20). So whatever you face that’s daunting, remember God is with you.

Changing God's Word?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Pastor Tom

One great challenge for the church today is reaching Muslims for Christ. We hear of God’s incredible work among Muslims and how He is introducing them to Jesus. He has also equipped many for proclaiming His Gospel in very sensitive regions. Yet work is being done and accomplished. One way to share Christ is to pass on a copy of the Bible to a Muslim friend.

But there is quite a controversy about translating the Scriptures into languages used by millions of Muslims. There is an effort to produce translations by Wycliffe, SIL and Frontiers that remove the terms Father, Son and Son of God to use terms that the translators consider less offensive to Muslims.

To learn more about this, I encourage you to visit the site Biblical Missiology http://biblicalmissiology.org/. There is also a petition there for you to sign to exhort these Christian agencies to stop moving ahead with this.

For further info, you can contact our own Nelson.

His latest newsletter states this:

Wycliffe, respected Bible translator, and Frontiers are producing some “Muslim idiom” translations in which the words “Father” and “Son of God” are not translated directly because they might give Muslim readers “the wrong impression” that God had sex with Mary (a common belief among Muslims). Instead, translators use other words such as “Guardian” for God and “representative” for Son of God.

This practice creates readings of Scripture that cast doubt on three critical articles of Christian faith that Muslims deny: the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus and Scripture being inspired and “without error in the original manuscripts”. There is a danger of the Gospel being seen to be Islamized.

I personally know two missionaries who have protested without result to SIL about specific translations for northern India and Pakistan.

Biblical Missiology is a consortium that tracks trends in missions. After years of trying to address Wycliffe, SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics, Wycliffe’s overseas name) and Frontiers directly on this issue, it has begun circulating a petition – not to criticize the ministries, but to “plead that Bible translations ‘testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world’ (1 John 4:14)”.

I urge you to look up the petition on the web and become informed about the issue. Read the materials provided, including the reasons for the petition, statements from Wycliffe, and letters from Christians from Muslim background.

Life without parents

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Pastor Tom

My mom died Wednesday, January 4, 2012. She had been ill for quite some time. We were surprised when it happened because she seemed to be doing better. Yet, in the end it was a blessing. She had suffered much over 2011. I have experienced grief in my Mom’s passing. Even though we were prepared, there was still the shock of not having that person to talk with anymore.
Yet the more surprising thing to me was that suddenly, I had no parents. My dad died in 2005. Yet I still had Mom to talk to and her life experience to draw from. But from January 4th on I’ve entered new territory. .
I know millions have traveled this road before. Many of you are walking it right now. But someone taught me many years ago that I don’t have to pretend that I have all the answers because I don’t. Nobody does. So I’ve learned to ask others about their life experience and what they’ve learned in living life without parents.
Here’s some comments received so far:
• That “orphan” feeling takes a long time to get used to.
• I did not ever think I would miss my mom as much as I do as time goes on.
• It’s very weird not having parents. Mom went hom last January 6th and it is lonely without her. I think I have taken over her role, being the eldest of her children. Sometimes that’s ok, but sometimes it’s too much.
• I still remember the feelings I had after both my parents were gone. Parents give us a context…we’re surrounded by those who are older and younger. After they died, my brother and I were the oldest in our family. The context was lost..you feel vulnerable and exposed because you are now on the outer perimeter. As long as our parents are alive we consider our death remote, one generation removed. When they’re gone we realize we will probably be the next to die. That requires a whole new orientation.

Yet, though I no longer have parents physically with us on Earth, I am not without a parent. This is one of the great hopes we have in Christianity. I have a Heavenly Father who never leaves me or forsakes me. He will continue to guide me and lead me until my time comes. I also have hope because both my parents trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Because of that trust, they did not fear death. They remembered that Jesus promised to go and prepare a place for them. And to die is gain because they now see Jesus face to face. And I also hope because of the coming resurrection. I know I will see my parents again when the Lord returns. He will raise the dead in Christ and give them new resurrection bodies that will never pass away.

Death certainly has some sting today. But Jesus conquered it on the cross and when He rose physically three days later. When He returns, death will be defeated forever. Until then, I walk forward under the leadership and direction of my Heavenly Father.

Guidelines for reading Job

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Pastor Tom

For this week and next, our Bible reading is directed to the book of Job (pronounced like Joe with a b on the end). The basic story goes like this. Job is a faithful follower of God and has experienced abundant blessing. God points out Job’s faithfulness to Satan. Satan responds that the only reason Job only worships God because of blessings. God allows Satan to afflict Job’s possessions, family and health. Then 3 friends come to “comfort” Job in his misery. The majority of the book focuses on these dialogues along with Job’s complaints to God. In the end, God restores Job with more than he has before.

It is important to keep the following in mind regarding Job.

1) Job’s friends spend most of their time trying to convince Job that he suffers because of his own sin. We know this isn’t true because of the opening chapters. But neither Job nor his friends know about this. The friends shared the prevailing view of the day – If you’re good – God blesses you. If you’re bad – God makes you suffer. The book of Job shatters that simplistic explanation for all suffering.

2) Job resists the invitation to confess something that he didn’t do. He also moves from initial shock and acceptance of what happened to a deep questioning of God. So we must not conclude that Job accepted what happened and just moved on with life. He struggled and the dialogues reveal that struggle.

3) When you get to the end of the book, notice that God does not explain everything that happened. In fact in chapters 38–41, God lists over 60 items that He’s involved in that remain a mystery to man. Yet, we implicitly trust God with these mysteries. The message seems to be “there are many things that are beyond us as humans. We must entrust these to God yet continue to walk with Him through that which confuses us.”

The Bible reading plan places Job here because it looks like Job lived during during the early days of civilization.

I pray God blesses you, speaks to you and comforts you through your investment in the book of Job.

Genesis - a strong case for the authenticity of the Scriptures

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Pastor Tom

As I read through the middle chapters of Genesis, I am struck again with how human these people were. By human, I’m thinking of the “to err is human” part. Abraham lied twice. Isaac and Rebekkah favored one child over another. Jacob was a master of deceit. His uncle Laban matched him scheme for scheme. Rachel took her father’s idols. Jacob’s sons misbehaved and engaged in much misconduct.

We might read these sections with shock over how the “people of God” acted. Yet, the text has a totally different focus. It points out how God was establishing a people through whom the deliverer (Jesus) would ultimately come. If it depended on these people alone to get this family going, there would be little hope. Yet God intervenes again and again despite their sins to keep advancing His plan. So remember, the text is ultimately about God and His work in spite of the failings of the people He works with.

But the other thing that really strikes me; their falleness presents real people. It testifies to the authenticity of these accounts. If Moses (the author of Genesis) wanted to “sell” faith in God, surely he could have doctored up the stories to make the people of God look better. Surely he would have left out the embarrassing episodes and hidden the grave errors. Yet he includes them because that’s what these people really did.

The Bible is not a collection of sanitized stories to get us to follow the example of some heroes. It’s the account of a Holy God who accomplishes His saving work among ordinary, fallen people who show their desperate need of Him in their lives . . . and that includes me.

Genesis 15 - How were people in the Old Testament saved?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Pastor Tom

How were people in the Old Testament saved from God’s wrath? The penalty for their sin had not yet been paid. They did not know of Jesus Christ so they could put their trust in him. Yet in Genesis 15:6 we read “Abram believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” So Abram believed or had faith in the Lord. Then God regarded him as righteous because of this faith.

But how could God ultimately declare Abram righteous or not guilty before God? The penalty would not be paid for about 1800 years until the time of Christ. Romans 3:23–25 explains it: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (all who believe) are justified by his grace, as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

A propitiation is a sacrifice that wipes away sin and satisfies God’s holy wrath. So God could look forward to the sacrifice that was coming and pass over the sins of Abram and other Old Testament believers until the cross. At the cross, the full payment for the guilt of sin would be made. God, in his mercy, passed over the sins of Old Testament believers until the price was paid. We serve a merciful God who already had salvation in mind in the earliest days of the world.

My Mom's in heaven

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Hi all: Thanks for the many thoughts of prayer, support and encouragement over the past few hours. We really appreciate it. I also appreciate how many of you connected with my Mom when she came to visit. She really loved SVBC and was thankful God called us here. Thanks again for the many who shared with us on this journey over the past 5 years. It has been difficult but we praise God for the many good times He gave us amidst the valleys. We are truly thankful that Mom’s suffering is done. I’m still trying to imagine what it’s like for her today – such joy and freedom! I received a book at Christmas from Lori called “We shall see God – Charles Spurgeon’s classic devotional thoughts on Heaven.” The first reading is “Dying is but going home.”

He writes “Love surrounds all and conquers grief. Hold your friends lovingly but be ready to yield them to Jesus. Don’t hold them back from the One to whom they belong. When they are sick, fast and pray. But when they are departed, do much as David did, who washed his face and ate and drank. You will go to them; they cannot return to you. Comfort yourselves with the double thought of their joy in Christ and Christ’s joy in them. Add the triple thought of the Father’s joy in Christ and in them.”

To that end we rejoice in Christ’s joy in Mom’s arrival. The last thing Courtney said to her grandma before we left on Sunday was “You’ve run the good race grandma.” Indeed!

Thanks again to you all and I hope to see you next Sunday if not earlier.

Who are the "sons of God" in Genesis 6?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Pastor Tom

The first 8 verses of Genesis 6 certainly contain a strange story. The purpose is to describe the depths of wickedness that had infected the world. But who are the sons of God? Thee ESV Study Bible provides these possibilities:

Gen. 6:1–8 The Wickedness of Humanity. The very specific list of descendants in ch. 5 is immediately followed by this short passage that explains why God sent a flood to punish the whole of humanity. But this passage concludes by recognizing that, in contrast to everyone else, Noah (introduced in 5:28–32) finds favor in God’s eyes.

Gen. 6:1–8:22 A flood story, included in the Epic of Gilgamesh, has been found in the Mesopotamian literature. It has many similarities to the biblical account of the flood. A certain man named Utnapishtim built an ark, loaded it with animals, and survived a torrential rain. The relationship of the two accounts, if any, is uncertain, although the appearance of a flood story in Mesopotamia gives some support and confirmation to the historicity of the biblical event. That is, the existence of such stories elsewhere indicates that the Bible indeed preserves the memory of a momentous event, as does the Mesopotamian account. There are also key differences between the biblical and Mesopotamian stories, particularly in regard to what motivated God or the gods to bring the flood.

Gen. 6:1–2 man began to multiply. The motif of multiplying is first introduced by God in 1:28, where it is presented in a very positive light and viewed as necessary to fulfill God’s plans for the earth. The present passage, however, reveals that this God-mandated task leads to increasing wickedness on the earth as the population expands. This problem is exacerbated by the coming together of the sons of God and the daughters of man (6:2). The identity of both groups is uncertain, and various solutions have been advocated, although none has gained universal support. Various scholars have proposed that the “sons of God” are (1) fallen angels (cf. Job 1:6; some, however, suggest that this contradicts Mark 12:25, though the reference in Mark is to angels in heaven; see also 2 Pet. 2:4–5; Jude 5–6); or (2) tyrannical human judges or kings (in the ungodly line of Lamech, possibly demon-possessed); or (3) followers of God among the male descendants of Seth (i.e., the godly line of Seth, but who married the ungodly daughters of Cain). Though it would be difficult to determine which of these three views may be correct, it is clear that the kind of relationship described here involved some form of grievous sexual perversion, wherein the “sons of God” saw and with impunity took any women (“daughters of man”) that they wanted. The sequence here in Gen. 6:2 (“saw … attractive [good] … took”) parallels the sequence of the fall in 3:6 (“saw … good … took”). In both cases, something good in God’s creation is used in disobedience and sinful rebellion against God, with tragic consequences. Only Noah stands apart from this sin. (See note on 1 Pet. 3:19.)

Gen. 6:3 God announces that because of the immoral nature of people, their days shall be 120 years. There are two possible interpretations of this number of years: either the lives of human beings will no longer exceed 120 years, or the coming of the flood is anticipated in 120 years. While the latter interpretation is simpler, the former interpretation is appealing, and would be true as a generalization even though some of those who live after the flood (e.g., Abraham) enjoy lives in excess of 120 years.

Gen. 6:4 Nephilim. The meaning of this term is uncertain. It occurs elsewhere in the OT only in Num. 13:33, where it denotes a group living in Canaan. If both passages refer to the same people, then the Israelite spies (Num. 13:33) are expressing their fears of the Canaanites by likening them to the ancient men of renown. Although in Hebrew Nepilim means “fallen ones,” the earliest Greek translators rendered it gigantes, “giants.” This idea may have been mistakenly deduced from Num. 13:33; one must be cautious about reading it back into the present passage. The Nephilim were mighty men or warriors and, as such, may well have contributed to the violence that filled the earth (see Gen. 6:13).

Gen. 6:5 This verse concisely describes the universal intensity and pervasiveness of human wickedness.

Gen. 6:6–7 the Lord regretted … it grieved him to his heart. The Hebrew verb rendered “regretted” (Hb. nakham) is sometimes translated “repent,” and sometimes as “feel sorrow, be grieved.” God is grieved over his creation, which he at first saw as very good (1:31) but which is now filled with sin (see notes on 1 Sam. 15:11; 15:29; Jonah 3:10). The destruction of man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens suggests that this will be a reversal of God’s creative work. The resulting flood reflects this, for the dry land is submerged under water, subsequently to reappear, as in Gen. 1:9. from the face of the land. On the extent of the flood, see note on 6:17.

Gen. 6:8 Noah is distinguished from the rest of humanity. Apart from Noah, the only other person in the OT who is described as finding favor in the eyes of the Lord is Moses, in Ex. 33:17 (and possibly Abraham; cf. Gen. 18:3). Placed on a par with Moses, Noah is rescued from the looming annihilation.

Genesis 3-5

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Pastor Tom

Today’s reading reminds me of the importance of knowing God’s Word accurately. Eve quoted God’s command to Satan. But she didn’t know it well. God said “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Eve repeated God’s command this way: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

God’s command was abundance. “Eat of every tree in the garden.” Eve left out the word “every.” God said nothing about touching the tree. But Eve added another prohibition. By lessening the emphasis on God’s abundance and increasing the emphasis on God’s limitation, Eve was ripe for Satan’s temptation.

Knowing God’s Word completely and accurately can greatly aid us in times of temptation.

Read and Respond in 2012 to taste eternal life!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Happy New Year everyone. As we sit on the dawn of a New Year, our church family has the opportunity to join together and read the Bible through in 2012. Bible Reading plans are available at the info desk or on this website under resources: http://svbc.ab.ca/media/uploads/Read_the_Bible_for_Life_2012_Schedule.pdf

But remember, I don’t want us to aim at reading the Bible through in 2012 just to check off a box on a Bible reading plan. We want 2012 to be a year to Read the Bible AND Respond to God. The purpose for this approach is to know God more intimately.

In fact, this is ultimately the essence of eternal life – knowing God – not going to a place. Jesus said” And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).

So this is much more than a reading challenge. I invite you to join together to go deeper with God. Set aside 15 minutes tomorrow and enjoy Genesis 1–2 and beyond!

Loving during the Christmas Season

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Pastor Tom

“We should be more loving at Christmas.” Have you ever heard that? Felt that? Believed that? The coming of the Christmas season brings all kinds of opportunities and PRESSURE. We’re supposed to love everybody and be kinder and generous and joyous. What if you don’t feel like doing that?

I’m reading Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas right now. I would have to say, it’s one of the best books on marriage and the motivations behind our loving that I’ve ever read. The principles he talks about in loving a spouse can be extended to other relationships. Here’s something that spoke to me today. I hope you find it encouraging in some way.

“The problem is that love must be acquired. Katherine Anne Porter writes “Love must be learned, and learned again and again; there is no end to it. Hate needs no instruction, but waits only to be provoked.”

Love is not a natural response that gushes out of us unbidden. Infatuation sometimes does that – at the beginning of a relationship at least – but hate is always ready to naturally spring forth, like the “Old Faithful” geyser at Yellowstone National Park. Christian love, on the other hand must be chased after, aspired to, and practiced.”

So maybe we can approach this Christmas from a different angle. Instead of saying “I should be more loving to everyone” we might pray: “Lord, continue to grow me in loving others. Help me to chase after, aspire to and practice love to others in my life this Christmas season wherever they are at.”

So instead of putting standards on others that they must meet before we give them love, we might look at this Christmas season as an opportunity to receive God’s teaching on how to love others, whether or not they meet our standard.

May God help us to grow in love this Christmas!

Keep Praying

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Pastor Tom

A lot of verses in the Bible disturb me. Like Ephesians 5:20 “Always give thanks to God the Father FOR everything.” Not in everything – for everything. Or 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray continually.

I don’t have time for that! I have work to do, kids to parent, bills to pay and places to go. Except I don’t think this verse is specifically talking about settling down in our prayer chair or going to a chapel and spending all our waking hours staying there in prayer.

I think he means wherever we are and whatever we’re doing, prayer can be part of it. Pray while driving (with your eyes open if you’re the one driving!). Pray while walking – before a test – in the middle of a conversation – when someone is going through surgery – just before bed – as soon as you wake up – talk to God. Talk to your constant companion Jesus. Lift up anyone and anything to the Lord; continually.

We need to keep at it folks! Please join me in that continual prayer for our church family, community and world.

Why your neighbors (in Canada) might not like your Christianity

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Pastor Tom

You invite your neighbor to church but they never come – or they get hostile. Why? Check out this possibility.

“The second noticeable challenge that religious groups face are the negative public perceptions held by many towards Christians. Recalling the negative perceptions that many marginal affiliates have of Roman Catholics and Evangelicals, religious groups should carefully heed William I. Thomas’s (1966, 301) idea that “situations
that are defined as real are real in their consequences.” The public has a justifiable negative perception of Christians because of past and present scandals by a few, the strong and offensive presence of the Christian Right in the United States (that some fear characterizes Evangelicals in Canada), and the general belief that Christians are judgmental and hypocritical, often based on personal experience. Whether or not Christians and individual congregations reflect these qualities (and some do) are irrelevant so long as the general public believes these things to be true.”

Churches Are Not Necessarily the Problem: Lessons Learned from Christmas and Easter Affiliates
by Joel Thiessen, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Ambrose University College – Calgary, Alberta
Church and Faith Trends – A Publication of The Centre for Research on Canadian Evangelicalism: An Initiative of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
December 2010, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 14

Why Pray?

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Pastor Tom

There’s a lot of people needing prayer in and connected to our church family right now. It can be at times be overwhelming to hear about the needs and try to process all that’s going on. Someone recently asked me “how do you handle all this stuff as a pastor?” Early in ministry I might have said “well you just work harder and try to be of good use.” But now I would answer “I don’t handle it all. I can’t handle it all. But I can offer it up to the Lord to handle.” Prayer is so critical when people go through stuff.

Can you think of anything more “useful” than bringing someone else before our Loving and All-powerful God with His eternal resources?

I love what Paul says to the Corinthians in his second letter:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

May God guide your prayers to who needs them the most.

Read the Bible for Life

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Hello and welcome back! I hope many of you have enjoyed some refreshing times this summer. I love it when we come back together. It’s good to see you. I am really pumped about the Read the Bible for Life initiative. Many of you have questions about how it is going to work. So here’s some answers to frequently asked questions. There will be more info as we get closer to launch – Sept. 18th! I look forward to all of us drawing closer to God through His Word.

• WHAT is it? – RBL is a 9 session small group study with a workbook that teaches how to read the Bible. It talks about the different translations, types of literature and important keys to understanding the Bible. The workbook also contains 5 daily studies that participants do on their own. Participants then gather with a small group to discuss the daily studies, watch a session on DVD (30 minutes) and then follow that up with more discussion and prayer.

• WHY are we doing it? – I sense we need to connect more deeply with God through His Word. As I have listened and talked with people over the years, I’ve heard about the obstacles some face in understanding the Bible. I believe RBL will help us connect with God more deeply through His Word.

• WHO is doing RBL? Some small groups, the College/Career, Youth on Wednesday nights and one Ladies Morning Out study. Individual small groups can decide if they want to participate in this.

• WHERE is this happening?
o At the church – Sunday and Wednesday – Small groups can choose to meet at the church. They will meet initially as a small group at a room somewhere within the church. Then the groups will come together for the showing of the DVD in the sanctuary or fireside room. Then the groups will reassemble to debrief from the DVD.
o In homes – We have several copies of the DVD and leader’s kit available for small groups to do in homes if they choose to

• WHEN is this happening? We start the week of September 18th.
o Sunday – 7 PM at the church. Small groups meet. Then join for DVD. Then break off into their groups again.
o Wednesdays – 6:30 PM – Small Groups/ Youth Meet. Then join for DVD. Then they break off to debrief.
o Thursday AM – Ladies Morning Out.
o Thursday PM – College/Career
o Other times – with individual small groups in homes.

• HOW LONG will each session be? – Approximately 90 minutes. (But some groups may choose to go longer).

• HOW MUCH does the workbook cost? $13.

• What if I’m not part of a small group? We will be surveying current small groups to find space for new participants. We will also be forming some new small groups that you can join.

• How do I sign up? Please add your name to the sign up lists in the foyer. Also indicate if you are part of a small group. Workbooks will be available starting this Wednesday and next Sunday. Please pay with cash or cheque.

Who is like God?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Do you ever think you’ve figured out God? Do you ever think you’ve got Him nailed down?

Psalm 77:19 states “Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?”

Joni Eareckson has this to say in today’s thought:

“One of the definitions of “rare” might be valuable. Like two-carat diamonds. Or black pearls. Or a blue moon. Or Bengal tigers, dinosaur fossils, double rainbows, snow leopards, or rain on the Sahara. “Rare” speaks of that which is utterly unusual. Never to be replaced. One of a kind.

This is good to remember when we speak of the holiness of God. When we say he is holy, we mean that he is one of a kind. There is none like him. He is in a class by himself. Our God is holy in his absolute uniqueness. Dr. John Piper puts it this way: “Everything else besides God belongs to a class. We are human. Rover is a dog. The oak is a tree. The earth is a planet. The Milky Way is one of a million galaxies. Gabriel is an angel, Satan is a demon. But only God is God.” The holiness of God is synonymous with his infinite value. God is infinitely valuable because he is the rarest of all beings and cannot be made, duplicated, or even imagined in our wildest dreams. And-wonder of all wonders-he has moved heaven and earth to find a way to pay for our sins, forgive us, redeem us, and adopt us into his very family circle!

*********

Many of us try to put our God in a box, or convince ourselves we’ve got him figured out, imagining in our arrogance that he should see things and do things “our way.” Take a moment today, to remember that God is infinitely beyond our every conception of him. Let that thought lead you into awe and worship.

Holy, holy, holy…I worship you, Triune God. Truly there is no one like you. And I am in awe that because of Jesus, I now have the privilege to declare your praises along with the saints of all ages and the holy angels of heaven.”

I'm not into Bible Trivia

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Pastor Tom

I’m not into Bible trivia for a couple of reasons. One, it can breed a superiority complex for those who know more than the next person. Two, the Bible is not trivial. The Read the Bible for Life initiative this September is not about getting strong in Bible Trivia.

So Why are we looking at this “Read the Bible for Life” thing in the Fall? Read the Bible for Life is all about further connecting us with God. As your pastor, I want you to go deeper with God. I want you to discover more of God. I want you to hear from God more than you already do. One of the greatest resources God has provided for us is His Written Word.

So in September, we will begin this journey by exploring together “How to Read the Bible for Life.” The author of the material writes this:

“In his work Eat this Book, Eugene Peterson rightly notes concerning the Bible, ‘We open this book and find that page after page, it takes us off guard, surprises us, and draws us into its reality, pulls us into participation with God on his terms.’ This should be our experience of reading the Bible as we move from dry duty, beyond a checklist Christianity, slogging through the ‘reading of the day,’ to delight. If we are not being moved in heart and moved to new places in life – new levels of obedience to God – we are not really reading the Bible the way God wants us to.”

Did you catch the description of what can happen when we read the Bible to encounter God: “It takes us off guard, surprises us and draws us into its reality, pulling us into participation with God on His terms.” We’re going to Read the Bible to go deeper with God. I’m looking forward to beginning the journey with you this September.

Reflecting on a week of prayer

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Pastor Tom

“That was great. Why don’t we do that more often?” I heard that among other comments as we came together last night after a week in prayer. Nearly 40 believers gave an hour and a half on a beautiful summer evening to pray together, share and write. I will be looking over and reflecting on what was shared as we continue to seek God’s wisdom for us as a church family. Already, I see the fruit of people discovering afresh or anew that they can find time to pray just by shutting down some time wasters.

But more than that, I sensed an engagement and anticipation to what the Lord might show us next. If you’re an SVBCer who participated in prayer week but couldn’t come last night, please forward me your answers to these questions:

What did God impress upon you this week?

What Scriptures spoke most to you?

For those of you outside of our church who prayed for us through this week, thank you! I pray you can lead or initiate something similar in your fellowship.

In the meantime, here’s a couple of quotes from the week:

“I need to seek the Lord’s wisdom more and more through prayer and Bible reading. I often find myself trying to work out things before praying.”

“I yearn for signs of unity and love between believers.”

A week of prayer for SVBC - Coming Together

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Join us tonight in the Fireside Room at 7:30 PM

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 – 7:30 PM – Fireside Room

• Coming together to pray and share.
o Opening Prayer – Thanking the Lord for prayer; fellowship with Him and each other.
o Sharing Together – Did God impress anything upon you during this time?
o Continuing Prayer – Seeking the Lord for His wisdom and next steps.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 7

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 – Seeking the Lord’s Wisdom

• As we seek God’s next steps for us, many ideas have been put forward. We need His wisdom for His priorities and direction for us.
• So reflect on the wisdom of God described in 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16.
• Then ask for the Lord’s wisdom for us as a body.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 6

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Monday, June 20, 2011 – Lifting up our Unity

• One mark of the true church is its unity under Christ. God has the ability and power to bring people from incredibly diverse backgrounds together and make them one because of Christ.
• Jesus declared that our unity is testimony to the world about His coming.
• Read John 17:20–23; Ephesians 4:1–6.
• Pray for the unity of SVBC.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 5

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Sunday, June 19, 2011 – Lifting up our worship

• If there is one thing our enemy does not want us to do, it’s worship the Triune God. Yet when we engage in true worship of the Lord together, there are few things more beautiful.
• Daniel 7:13–14 gives us a picture of God in front of His messengers while the Son of Man takes a seat beside Him. This is who we worship. In John 4:21–24, Jesus describes worship. True worship is giving God glory with our minds and hearts.
• Spend some time in these passages. Then lift up our worship to the Lord.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 4

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Saturday, June 18, 2011 – Lifting up the people

• God draws people into His family from all different walks of life. We may have little in common with others in the church. Yet, we all have Christ in common. He has a role for each one of us to play.
• So spend some time in Romans 12:1–13
• Then lift up Christ’s Body, the people of SVBC.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 3

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Friday, June 17, 2011 – Lifting up the Leaders

• Christian leadership is a high calling and high responsibility. One way the enemy wages war against the Lord is by attacking church leaders and their families.
• Spend some reflecting on 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Hebrews 13:17
• Then lift up our Pastors, Elders, Servant Team and Staff.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 2

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Thursday, June 16, 2011 – Reflecting on the church

• What is the church all about? Why does it exist?
• Spend some time in Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–37.
• Then ask the Lord to continue to make us into the church He desires.
• Ask Him to expose any spiritual stagnation and buoy up any who might be discouraged.

A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 1

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 – Confessing our prayerlessness

• We are in a spiritual battle. The enemy does not want SVBC to be a church the Lord can use to advance His kingdom. He does not want us to pray.
• Read Ephesians 6:10–20 to be reminded of this reality.
• Then come clean before God – Confess any prayerlessness in your own life – Ask for strength to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

What we can learn from the first paradise lost.

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Pastor Tom

So what might we take away from Genesis 2?

We join everyone in longing for paradise lost. But Christians get to look forward to paradise version 2.0 The garden of Eden reminds us of what we have lost (Joel 2:3) but also of what will yet be renewed in the world to come (Isa. 51:3, Rev. 22:3)

We need to see again a Sovereign God who has authority over us and sets boundaries for our benefits. God did not put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden to be mean but to test the hearts of man and woman. He continues to do that today to reveal to us our need for Him. If only we can grow in seeing His boundaries as a loving limitation not some cruel restriction.

We need to see a loving compassionate God who sees our real needs and provides for them. God saw the man’s aloneness and provided the perfect helper for him. God saw our need for salvation and provided His own Son. God continues to see our deepest needs and offers His provision. We need to keep coming to Him to receive it.

We can rejoice in the beauty of marriage and all the best parts of it and the way it was meant to be. We sorrow in how tragically it has been distorted.
Husbands celebrate the wives He has brought to you. Share your delight about them with them and with others.

Children, celebrate the mothers God brought you or the people He provided to fill that role in your life. Mom’s see your high place in creation. You are the one’s specially created by the Lord God to nurture and care. You have been given one of the highest commissions on earth. There is no other for your husband.

All – we can find our way back to paradise. But only by submitting to the One who created it. He will restore paradise One Day. Though we could not get there on our own, He provided the way. He sent His Son into the fractured world that resulted from Adam and Eve’s fall. The Son lived a sinless life. He then suffered and died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead with His resurrection body. He is the firstfruits of the resurrected. Those who place their life trust in Jesus are on their way back. That means to stop thinking that you can get to paradise on your own. We have to stop thinking that our own autonomy and freedom are the most important thing. To admit that we need God to change and transform us. To submit to God’s ongoing work of change in us by praying, inviting, reflecting on His Word and responding to what God reveals. Continually opening ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

Yes the first paradise was lost. But the second one will be better and it’s possible to get there through Jesus.

Why all this nakedness?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Why did God have to include Genesis 2:25 in the Bible? “Though naked, both feel no shame towards each other or in the presence of God.” (2:25) Why is that verse included? Why does God have to embarrass us like this? Another Bible commentator gives us an amazing explaination
Given the beliefs of ancient Israel, the next comment is almost as surprising: they “were naked, but they were not ashamed.” The couple’s unself-consciousness about their lack of clothing stands in stark contrast to their later ludicrous efforts to hide themselves in the trees and to clothe themselves with fig leaves. It is also quite out of keeping with the usual attitude to nakedness attested in the Old Testament. In general, nakedness is shameful and therefore to be avoided, particularly by those approaching God in worship or other sacred duties. Yet here in the garden which is full of symbols of the divine presence, where God himself regularly comes to meet with them, they were nude but unashamed. Since the relationships between man and wife and between them and their creator are unclouded by sin, there is no need for them to cover up. The fullness of their fellowship is here most vividly expressed. Such was life in paradise. We wish we could dwell here longer. Don’t you wish that the Bible could have ended in Genesis 2? We’d still be in paradise and we’d finally reach our goal of reading through the Bible in a year. But we can’t stay in Genesis 2. The Bible’s storyline continues with the greatest tragedy in history in Genesis 3.

Next time – so what can we learn from the original paradise lost?

The first woman - the perfect complement!

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Pastor Tom

But things are not quite perfect for the man. Verse 18 – Then the Lord God said, “it is not good that man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” Here’s where we see the Lord’s loving concern. He promises to make a helper fit for (corresponding to) him. (2:18)
Fellowship, friendship and intimacy are basic needs for every human being. God will provide someone for Adam. We might think the term “helper” implies inferiority. But there is no sense of that in the text. The sense is more someone perfectly fitted to or perfectly complementing. The man is alone and he lacks. He needs help. (Ladies, I know you want to shout a huge, Yes he does). But where will this complementary partner come from? Maybe it will come from other living things. So Moses goes on a bit of review. In verse 19, he reveals that the Lord God had formed beasts of the field and birds of the air. They too were formed out of the ground like the man. They had some sort of breath of life in them. Would they be man’s companion? The Lord God reveals that no suitable helper is found in the animal kingdom even though they too came from the ground. (2:19–20) Instead, man gets to exercise authority over the animals by naming them as God’s representative. But no helper is found.

He makes woman from one of the man’s ribs. (2:21–22) Some have observed that this is the perfect body part to use. It’s not from man’s head so the woman is above him or from his foot so he walks all over her. It’s a rib from his side. In Sumerian, one of the languages of Mesopotamia, the word for “rib” also means “life.” Something of that concept is also intended here: The woman comes into being out of the very life of man. Life begets life. Man and woman are connected. They are related to each other as though they were blood relatives. She is the perfect provision. We know that by man’s response.
How do man and woman respond to God’s provision?

Man delights in God’s provision of woman. (2:23) Adam expresses unbounded delight. It’s not “oh, she’s pretty good God.” This is bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh. She is awesome and perfect.” Moses then puts in place God’s ordination of marriage as foundational for society. A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. Just as the first man and woman were of one flesh, the subsequent married couples become one flesh.

Next time – Why all this nakedness?

The first man gets to go into the garden.

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Pastor Tom

In Genesis 2:15 God places the first man in the garden. The Lord God commissions man to work and keep the garden. (2:15) The man doesn’t plant the garden. He is to work it and take care of it. It is like God has placed man as the garden’s guardian. So work was part of the pre-Fall world. Work is not bad. It, like everything else, has been tarnished by the fall. We will see this more in Genesis 3. But work in the resurrection life and originally in this garden was fulfilling not frustrating. It was productive and satisfying.
Then the Lord God sets the boundaries upon which man can remain in the garden. (2:16–17). Do you want to stay in this paradise man? You are welcome to eat from any tree in the garden except one. Do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When you eat of it, you will surely die.” There is only one rule to abide in this paradise. You can think, act, create, care, enjoy and explore. But don’t eat of that tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Now one commentator had a quite profound observation about this. We hear a lot of proposed solutions for all that ails mankind. One proposed solution is creating the right environment. If man is placed in the right environment, he or she will do right. But here was a man placed in a perfect environment. Here was a man not yet tainted by sin. Here was a man who gazed at the most beautiful environment ever seen. Yet man still did not choose right. The commentator writes: Beneath the surface narrative however, the story poses the crucial problem of human existence: unaided human beings cannot create paradise. Flawed and limited, they cannot oversee and ensure justice and wholeness; they cannot even tame the monster within themselves. Paradise comes at a cost. To live there, one must submit to the rule of an “other,” the owner of the garden. This is an essential feature of paradise: Do we choose to live in the garden and submit to the master? Or do we choose our own reign and face expulsion? Those willing to submit find wholeness and intimacy; those who choose otherwise echo the defiant sentiment of the fallen archangel, who in John Milton’s words proclaims, “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.” Humanity at its best, when tested, rebels even in the perfect environment.

Next time – the first woman

What's with all the trees?

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Pastor Tom

The narrative continues to describe the garden itself. The Lord God fills the garden with an abundance of trees. Verse 9 – And out of the ground, the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So first of all, notice there are many trees that are beautiful and good for food. When the trouble happens in the next chapter, it’s not like Adam and Eve had only two trees to choose from. There were all kinds of trees. Two are mentioned by name. The tree of life is beyond the original life breathed into man. Continuing to eat from the tree of life renewed life and prevented aging or death. The first man and woman had access to this tree.

Then there is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Now if we could ask God anything about the Garden in Eden, I think many would want to ask about this tree. What might we ask? God, why did you even put this tree in the garden? This is paradise. So why even put something that has knowledge of evil? We might also ask “what does knowledge of good and evil really mean?” Some suggest it is the ability to know the difference between good and evil. That would indicate that the first man and woman did not have that ability. But if that were the case, then why would they be held accountable for their sin in Genesis 3? If they had no ability to discern whether or not something was good, would God be just in sentencing them? Others suggest it is ethical knowledge. Another possible explanation is that this refers to God’s knowledge of good and evil. That knowledge in God’s mind is under control and perfectly managed. God knows things about evil that only He should know. If man and woman were to get ahold of that knowledge they would not be capable of handling appropriately.

When we were in Alaska last summer, we went to one of those lumberjack shows. They did log rolling, sawing competitions and pole climbing. But they also did chain saw carving. It was amazing to see these guys with their chain saws carve some pretty neat stuff. They were experts with the chain saw. But give that chain saw fully gassed up with motor running to an inexperienced child and that would be a very different story. It would be dangerous, damaging and maybe even tragic. That seems to describe well what man has done with the knowledge of good and evil. But we’re not in Genesis 3 yet.
Let’s spend some more time in paradise. God has created man and given him life. He provided a place – a garden in the East, in Eden. He causes all kinds of beautiful trees to grow there. He provides water for the garden from this great river in Eden.

Next time – The first man gets to go to paradise

A garden in the East named Eden

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Pastor Tom

The story moves on to describe the marvelous place God prepares. The Lord God provides a beautiful place in which man can live. Here we discover what is now referred to as the first paradise. Moses gives us a couple of initial details about this place. It is a garden which we will soon discover is an enclosed and protected area with trees and vegetables designed to produce food. It is a place where man is close to the place from which he came – the earth.

This garden is in the East. In the ancient world, the east represented life. It is the place from which the sun rises. So the North South flowing Nile river has the temples of life on the east side. The monuments of death including the pyramids, tombs and valley of the kings are on the west side. In Europe, many cathedrals were constructed on an east/west axis with the altar facing east. This garden in the east was in Eden. This place has water and moisture, a perfect place for a lush garden. In fact in verse 10 we see a river flowing from Eden. This river becomes four streams that water the entire land.

This picture of a river flowing from God occurs throughout Scripture. In keeping with the life-giving Spirit of God, the river is a life-giving supply of water. So in Ezekiel 47, a river flows from the new temple to give life. In the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22, John sees a river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the great street of the city. The original Eden had a similar great life giving river.

We also discover that the prophets understood Eden to be in or connected to some sort of mountain. In Ezekiel 28, the prophet speaks to the King of Tyre who is a type of Satan. The prophet condemns the king for his pride especially since he was once in Eden. So Ezekiel 28 gives us some more insight into Eden. In Ezekiel 28:13 the prophet speaking for the Lord says to King of Tyre, “you were in Eden, the garden of God, every precious stone adorned you. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God.”

Next time – What’s with all the trees?

How does God provide paradise?

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Pastor Tom

How does the Lord God provide paradise for the man and the woman?

He forms man out of dust and breathes life into him. (2:7) Humans give birth to other human beings. But where did the first humans come from? Contrary to a worldview that claims humans descended from other life forms, Moses describes God as the creator and life giver. Verse 7 tells us God formed man from dust of the ground. There’s a play on words we don’t see in English. Man is “adam” in Hebrew. Dust of the ground is “adama.” God used the “adama” to form “adam.” God formed “adam” from “adama.” Our origins are earthly.

Yet, the Lord God did not just form a model to look at. He breathed life into the man’s nostrils. Ultimately, God is the source of life. God’s breath and God’s Spirit give life. Even though we have had life transferred to us from our parents, it ultimately goes back to God. One commentator writes “if God were to withdraw his life-giving power from us all mankind would perish together and the man would return to dust.” As Psalm 104:29 states “when you take away their breath, they die and return to dust.” In Him we live and move and have our being. In this account, the first man is now created and living. But where will he live?

Next time – a marvelous place!

What's in a name?

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Pastor Tom

The passage begins with another title or section header. “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.” Notice, it’s not the account of man. It starts with the heavens and the earth. Verses 5 and 6 describe the state of the earth prior to the creation of this paradise. There is no shrub of the field, no plants of the field, no rain and no one to work the land. These verses anticipate a transformation.

But before we see how God provided paradise for the man and the woman, notice what Moses calls God. He does not use the same name translated “God” in Genesis 1. This is the Lord God who made the earth and the heavens. God is the Hebrew Elohim. It is the majestic name Moses gives to proclaim the mightiness and majesty of God. But Lord is Yahweh. This is the personal, intimate name of God in the Old Testament. Moses combines the two suggesting that what is about to be told will reveal both God’s character as sovereign creator and His loving concern for mankind.

Paradise

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Paradise. If I asked you to describe paradise, what would you include? Moms with young children might say “paradise occurs when everything is quiet and I have a moment to think.” Canadians in January might say paradise is “a deserted white sand beach in the Caribbean.” Project managers might say “paradise is when the project is finished or when the pieces of the project come together.” Parents might say “paradise happens for me when everyone in the family is getting along.” Seniors might say “paradise for me occurs when my kids and grandkids grow in the faith.”

For some paradise, depends on circumstances. For some paradise is some place you go to for a short time to experience. Then you have to come back to the real world. For most of us paradise is somewhere desirable but not something really attainable.
One author put it this way. “Paradise: a place without pain, without suffering; a time when love and peace flourish. Paradise has been the object of hopes and dreams for every generation. Within the bosom of every person who experiences pain, injustice or the death of a loved one, there aches the longing for a place of wholeness, a thirst for a time of healing. This is rooted in the essence of humanity: we are beings who do not accept the world as it is; something in our instinct, in our collective consciousness, tells us that the world at present is out of sync – there has to be a better time, a better place. We should assume from our experience that every human desire has an object to satisfy it. . . . People yearn for paradise, and paradise is meant for people to enjoy.”

But did you know that there once was a real paradise. This place was not some holiday destination that one could go to for a week or two. It was a place designed for permanent residence. It was a place we could have lived in. It’s described in Genesis 2:4–25. As we continue in our journey through the bible’s storyline, we come to paradise. We learned that key event #1 in the Bible’s storyline is “The One Triune God is creator of all that exists.” #2 – The life-giving God provided paradise for the first man and woman.

Next time – Notice the change in God’s name.

What does Genesis 1 say to us today?

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Pastor Tom

What does this mean for our lives?

We discover our true identity in relationship to this Creator. You are not some accident. You are not some random collection of atoms that happened to show up in the form of a person. You are a creation of the Triune God. He doesn’t make mistakes.
You are a person made in the image and likeness of the Triune God. In the Ancient Near East, to bear the image of a god meant to act on behalf of the god. But here Moses seems to expand that understating. The image of God seems to refer to the ways man is different from the other animals. Man resembles God in the areas of reason, morality, language, creativity and a capacity for relationship governed by love and commitment. So man resembles God which enables man to represent God. Notice the image of God is stamped on both male and female.

We are commissioned to rule over the earth and its creatures.
Genesis 1:26 – Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping things that creeps on the earth. We have been commissioned as God’s representatives to rule over and care for this Earth. We’ll see that more in Genesis 2 next week. But this chapter further reveals that

We are dependent on our Creator God.
We had to be given life; we were born into a family that had opportunity for survival and education; We may have survived war; sickness; trials. We had DNA and “natural” talents and abilities born into us. We received our personality. All of these were given to us.
When I think about giving this message right now, it is amazing how dependent I am on what’s been given to me. I have to have the ability to speak out words; I depend on other scholars and commentators to explain meaning and give perspective. I depend on people who can translate Hebrew into English. I depend on having a brain that can work to put together this information in a meaningful. I depend on teachers who have helped me learn how to communicate this information in hopefully helpful ways. I depend on the Holy Spirit to deliver into your hearts what He wants you to hear and understand.
All the resources we have come ultimately from God. The food we eat needed land to grow in or grow on. The space to live required a separating of the waters so we could actually settle somewhere. The plants we eat need light to grow. To inhabit this planet, we need a sun placed at exactly the right distance from the Earth so that it won’t burn us or freeze us. We depend on the Creator God.

We are accountable to our Creator God.
This is the one most people don’t like today or just don’t believe. Why do you think there is so much disbelief in Hell? Well if we’re all a product of some random natural cause, we’re not accountable to anyone. If there is confusion about the nature of the universe or doubt about the exist of a designer, then there’s no accountability. But this passage declares the supremacy and authority of God because He and He alone created the entire universe.
This is the starting point of the Bible’s story line. If we don’t get this, the rest of the Bible doesn’t make a lot of sense. The cross doesn’t make sense. Why would need a savior from a God of wrath if He didn’t create us in the first place? Why would we need to be concerned about judgment if God has no authority over us? Why would we rejoice in the redemption Jesus purchased if there is no reality beyond natural causes? But this chapter reveals that the same God who redeemed creation from a formless, empty and dark state paid the ultimate price to redeem us from emptiness and darkness. To Him alone be all glory! Amen.

What about the length of creation days?

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Pastor Tom

But what about the length of those creation days? How do they fit or harmonize with the claims of modern science? There have been different interpretations offered by Christians committed to the divine inspiration of Scripture. These include the 24 hour interpretation where God accomplished His work in a 24 hour period. There is the day age view which basically claims that the days of creation represent ages of time. There is the literary framework view which argues that Genesis 1 is arranged in a way to that communicates God’s order and design for creation and not necessarily the time of creation.
Now the length of the creation days is an important question. A lot of good work and study has gone into the various positions held. But is the length of the creation days the most important question? As soon as I asked about this, what happened to your focus? What did you begin to think about? Some of you who have looked into this may have started to think about your own conclusions about the length of creation days. Some may have drawn up battle lines. Suddenly, we’re not thinking about this chapter in terms of the One Triune God creating everything that exists. We may think about winning an argument.
Sadly, some Christians have taken this question and used it to vilify their brothers and sisters in Christ who hold to different interpretations. Instead of the world hearing about God as the Creator of everything, they witness or read about Christians intensely fighting about this. Friends there are some people in this room who hold a different interpretation of the length of days of creation than you do. If you know of someone who holds a different interpretation than you, will that affect your view of them? Will that affect your fellowship with them?
There is a book entitled the “The Genesis Debate” which specifically deals with the length of the creation days. It contains proponents of those 3 views. They engage in fairly respectful dialogue and debate. But I think the most helpful part of that book was the forward. Christian apologist and philosopher Dr. Norman Geisler writes:
The Genesis Debate points out the need for that old saying – “In essentials unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. All participants in this debate hold a high view of Scripture, affirming both the infallibility and inerrancy of Holy Scripture. Within this context, the participants carry on a civil and scholarly interchange on topic of considerable interest: whether the Genesis creation days are 24 hours long, ages of time or merely a literary framework.
This debate teaches us several important lessons.
• The creation day debate is not over the inspiration of the Bible, but over it’s interpretation. So different interpretations do not necessarily imply false teaching.
• Second – at best the creation day debate is not one of evangelical authenticity but of evangelical consistency. That is, the maximum charge that should be leveled by one proponent against another is that his view is not consistent with Scripture or the facts of nature, not that it is unorthodox.
• Third, the time of creation is not as important as the fact of creation. That is, it is far more important to defend the biblical position that God created the universe, all basic kinds of life, and man in His image than it is to argue about how long it took God to do so.
• Fourth, the issue is not one of morality. Good and Godly people are found on all sides of the creation debate. No one should doubt or question another’s faith or character simply because he holds one of the views represented in this volume. Yet sadly, some Christians have concluded that because another Christian holds a different interpretation on creation days, they must be an immoral person or a stupid person. Neither of these conclusions is helpful or God-honoring.
• Fifth, the real opponent is the naturalistic no-God worldview. But when approaching people who hold this view, our approach must not be to win an argument but to win them.
Certainly, we must uphold the historical nature of the creation account. On it rest other important doctrines of Scripture (R 5:12, Matt 19:4–6). In addition, we must uphold the factual nature of the record as important to orthodoxy. We should reject all attempts to reduce the creation record to fable as opposed to fact, or to mythology as opposed to history. But we must also guard against the temptation of getting sarcastic, disrespectful and judgmental towards others.
I hope this little interlude points to how careful we have to be about this. I believe we can get seriously sidetracked about the primary purpose of this passage – to declare and demonstrate that the One God created everything that exists. This is the starting point of the Bible’s storyline. It lays the framework through which we must look at the rest of the Bible and through which we can look at the rest of the world.

(Next time – what does Genesis 1 and its revelation about God mean for our lives today?)

Do people today worship other "gods?"

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Pastor Tom

We have seen how each day of creation dismissed the pagan gods. But does this really speak to us today?

And we say, “oh well, that was for those people who were confused about the reality and believed in nature gods. We aren’t so deluded. We have no issue with worshipping other gods.” Well we don’t call those gods by personal names. But our culture worships other gods that come from a profoundly different worldview.

Our culture worships materialism. It believes that matter and materials make up the universe and there is nothing beyond them. So going to the mall and gathering more materials can actually be an act of pagan worship. People today believe in determinism where reality is mechanical. The origin of life and the nature of our humanity is just a result of natural causes.

Our culture worships secularism which is a philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship in the public sphere. Has anyone here heard any of the federal leaders campaigning for the election talk about God or their faith in God or their party’s platform on faith? No. Canadians expect their political leaders to keep their faith private. They would suffer immense political damage for advocating a faith or mentioning their faith. That’s how secular our society has become. You probably know people who worship the god of secular humanism. They do not acknowledge God and God’s ownership of the created order. And now we have post-modernism or new agism. The New Age was/is – old fashioned paganism with a modern twist. It incorporates Eastern religions with their multiple gods and reshapes them in some North American lingo. So we see people turning to astrology and horoscopes for guidance or Transcendental Meditation. Even post-modernism elevates personal spirituality above any objective God. So before we dismiss Moses’ concerns that God’s people not slide into pagan worship, we must seriously look at ourselves and our own culture.

Then look at Genesis 1 which flies in the face of all of today’s gods. This is a foundational chapter for the Christian worldview. It goes against worldviews that claim the universe just happened to exist or has always existed. It is contrary to a worldview that claims humans randomly came into being by some incredible chance of nature. It declares God as the creator and originator of life. It declares there is no other God.

(Next time – what about the length of creation days?)

What does Genesis 1 say about God?

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Pastor Tom

What does Genesis 1 say about God?

The One Triune God is the Creator of all that exists. Where do I get the word “One?” Where do I get “Triune?” By Triune I mean 3 in one: One God in essence composed by 3 persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Well, I certainly look back at this passage through a New Testament lens where the nature of our Triune God is fleshed out more clearly for us. But I think there are clues to the One Triune God’s essence nature in this chapter. I can see a glimpse of One and Triune or Trinity from verse 1. “In the beginning God created. The word God translates the Hebrew “Elohim” in plural form. Yet the verb is create is in singular form. So there is One God in being. But there is something more about this one God. The plural form of the name may refer to His majesty and using a plural form somehow expresses that this God is infinitely more majestic than some local pagan idol.

I also conclude that God is One by looking throughout this chapter. The same name of God appears and He is the One who creates the sun, moon, stars, water, earth and great creatures of the sea. The pagans believed that each one of those was an individual god. But Genesis 1 emphasizes that this One majestic God created all of these.

I conclude that we can say “the One Triune God created all that exists from verse 26. “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” Now some argue that this means God speaks to the heavenly council of angels in this statement. But humans are not made in the image of angels. They are made in the image of God and the plural language may indicate God in three persons talking about creating man.

This One Triune God creates. This verb create is used only of God in the Old Testament. It points to His unique ability to bring into being something that wasn’t there before. Create “bara” is reserved for God. As one commentator puts it “The finite mortal, whose understanding of the cosmos and history is like a thimble of water before the ocean, has no right to challenge the Creator’s Sovereignty. God fashions the creation, including earthly mortals according to his wisdom and good pleasure, even as a potter fashions clay vessels.

But what is going on in verse 2? Did God create the heavens and the earth and then create something formless, empty and dark? Some have speculated that God started creating in verse 1. Then there was a big gap of time between verse 1 and 2. Then we’re invited to see creation up to that moment in verse 2. Then God brings order to that creation. But verse 2 implies chaos of some sort. The descriptions of verse 2 point to things not associated with God – formless, empty, darkness, chaos.

Another explanation sheds some light on this. It argues that Genesis 1:1 is really the title for the whole section. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth – the totality of the universe.” Then verse 2 talks about this chaotic, formless, dark place. Where did this chaos come from? We don’t know. We’re not told just as we are not told how the serpent could be in the garden in Genesis 3. The origin of this chaos and reason for its existence are not revealed. But what’s interesting is the pagans of that time believed that the sea was a god. They believed that there was a great struggle between the god of the sea and the gods of order over creation and the uncovering of dry land.

With that cultural background in mind, Genesis 1 unfolds as God’s triumph and supremacy over chaos, emptiness and darkness. The creation account becomes a redemptive account. It is the triumph of light over darkness and land and sky over water. The myth of a water god is exposed. There is no water god. Water must obey the One God.

Remember, the people of Israel, the people Moses wrote for were deeply steeped in pagan religion. They constantly slipped into pagan worship. Whenever things went bad, they turned to idols and supposed gods of nature. Even at the close of the book of Joshua after they have conquered the Promised Land, Joshua declares in chapter 24:14 “Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt.” The people of Israel were still dabbling in Egyptian myths and pagan practices. So this creation account deconstructs the pagan myths and so called gods.

One commentator writes “Each day of creation dismisses and additional cluster of deities. On the first day, the gods of light and darkness are dismissed. On the second day, the gods of sky and sea. On the third day, the earth gods and gods of vegetation. On the fourth day, the sun, moon and star gods. The fifth and sixth days take away any associations of divinity or god status from the animal kingdom. And finally human existence is emptied of divinity. So the pharaohs and kings and heroes are not gods. But all people are granted the image of the One God.”

(Next time – Do people today worship other gods?)

The Bible's Storyline 1 - Part 1

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Pastor Tom

This Spring and Summer, I will try to paint the picture of the Bible’s Overall Storyline. I know many of you will miss the weekend message because of vacations. So I will post pieces of the messages on this blog so you can follow along. We start in the beginning.

“David killed the giant Goliath. Daniel spent a night in the lion’s den. Adam and Eve did something questionable and ended up blaming others for this misstep. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Esther was a courageous queen. There was a flood and a crossing of a sea and Jesus walked on water. A guy named Paul came on the scene at some point. Mary and Joseph were in there somewhere. Was that the same Joseph with the coat of many colors? The Lord is my shepherd and He’s also the guy who got mad in the temple one day. Isaiah and Jeremiah are in there but I don’t think we can find the phrase “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” in there. There are lots of angels and there’s a devil. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy but God is a jealous God. In the end, God will somehow win.

What am I doing? Well, I just described scattered parts of the Bible in no particular order. It was kind of confusing. Yet if someone asked us to put the pieces of the Bible together in a storyline, we might come up with something like I just shared. I grew up in a family that regularly attended church. I went to Sunday School. I heard the stories and the messages when I was old enough. Yet if someone asked me at the age of 20 to tell them the Bible’s basic storyline, I would likely have come up with something similar to that first paragraph. That might be your experience or your knowledge as well. You know bits and pieces of the Bible. But how it all fits together is some kind of mystery.

If we’re confused about the basic storyline of the Bible then it’s quite possible we’re confused about God. We might not understand the character of God or how He has worked through history. We might believe that the God of the Old Testament is cruel and judgmental while the God of the New Testament is love. If we don’t understand the Bible’s storyline and God’s activity through it, we can even be confused about our own identity and place in this world.

So today we begin my attempt to paint the big picture of the Bible. My hope is that by the end of this summer, you will be have about 15 key markers from the Bible that proclaim God’s activity. These will enable us to place the David and Goliath story in a bigger context. They will help us see how the Old Testament and New Testament do not describe different gods but the same God who has been and continues to be at His work in history and in our lives. They will help us know our God more deeply and enable to answer some questions people around us have about God’s Word.

We have to start at the beginning. Genesis 1 – one of the most studied and controversial chapters in the Bible. But as we go through it, I would invite you to ask yourself “what is this chapter primarily saying about God?” Then we will ask “what does this mean for our lives?” And if I’m still living and really brave, I will venture into that question –how do we respond to Christians with different interpretations of Genesis 1 than ours? I conclude that Moses wrote Genesis and was well prepared to do so through his training and experience. I believe God’s Spirit carried him along to write these words.

Next time – What does Genesis 1 say about God?

How do you deal with the greener grass syndrome?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Pastor Tom

“He has a way better working situation.” “Her husband is way more loving than mine.” “They have a much nicer house than ours.” “Their kids don’t give them any trouble.” “They always get the breaks.” “She always gets the guy’s attention.” “He always gets the girl.” Ever suffered from green grass syndrome? Check out this for some helpful perspective on contentment.

http://bit.ly/ilJTqY

A different question can change your life

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Pastor Tom

When you get up in the morning, what questions come into your mind? My mind puts out questions like “what am I going to do today? How will I do in that meeting today? Will I have enough time to get everything I want to get done today?” Then my mind and body begins to deal with the answers to those questions. “Wow, I have a lot to do today,” or “I think there’s enough time for that today.” “I better study some more for that meeting” or “I don’t know what I’ll do it that person says something.”

But another question can totally change our perspective for the day. It’s simply this: “God, what are you doing today in and around my life? When I ask that question, my focus shifts to other questions. “God, what do you want me to be involved in today. God what do you want me to see? God, who do you want me to see?” I find that when I ask that question, I find deeper purpose and I relax. Why? I think it’s because Jesus said “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This same Jesus is at His work and will show me how to join Him in what He’s doing.

So God, what are you doing today in and around my life?

Where is God in Japan?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Pastor Tom

A colleague of mine put together these thoughts as we try to put the Japan disaster in perspective.

Where Is God? (By Pastor Torrey Robinson)

First came an almost unthinkable magnitude 10 earthquake. Then we heard news of a tsunami that wiped out whole towns. Now there are very real fears of a nuclear meltdown spreading deadly radiation to tens of millions of people. Just when it seems that things couldn’t get worse for the people of Japan, it does.

How do you believe in a loving, all-powerful God when you watch such calamity unfold before you? This is not only a question that thoughtful Christians ask. It is a question that a frightened world desperately needs us to answer. Let me summarize three helpful responses that Tim Keller details in his excellent book, The Reason for God.

1. Evil and suffering aren’t evidence against God. Just because you can’t see or imagine a good reason why God might allow something to happen doesn’t mean there can’t be one. Keller notes, “With time and perspective most of us can see good reasons for at least some of the tragedy and pain that occurs in life. Why couldn’t it be possible that, from God’s vantage point, there are good reasons for all of them?”

2. Evil and suffering provide a better argument for God’s existence than against it. How do we decide that the existence of pain and suffering is unfair? In his book, Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis, the atheist turned believer, explained the change in his own thinking. “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of “just” and “unjust”?... What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?... Of course I could have given up my idea of justice by saying it was nothing but a private idea of my own. But if I did that, then my argument against God collapsed too- for the argument depended on saying that the world was really unjust, not simply that it did not happen to please my private fancies… Consequently atheism turns out to be too simple.” In other words, these very objections to God assume an ultimate standard for fair play and justice which doesn’t exist if there is no God.

3. The truth is, the God of the Bible offers ultimate hope in tragic situations. The problem of tragedy and suffering is a problem for everyone. It is a mistake to think that if you abandon belief in God it somehow makes pain and calamity easier to handle. Christianity offers true consolation in the midst of our suffering. The philosopher, Peter Kreft, noted that the Christian God came to our world to address the problem of human suffering. In Jesus Christ, God not only experienced the greatest depths of pain, He did something about it. The message of the Bible is that Jesus not only suffered and died, but He also rose again.

People in Japan and people here in the United States need to understand that suffering and death don’t have the last word. God has entered our world, experienced our pain and conquered death. In the person of Jesus, He offers the world Resurrection hope to a new earth where there will be no more bad news, no more suffering and no more tears.

Lent

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Lent – a season unfamiliar to many protestant and evangelical Christians. Yet it can be a season of preparation for Easter. I think Joni Eareckson does a great job on a right focus during Lent. (In the next day or two, I will have some more thoughts on Japan and God’s heart for His suffering people there).

A Selfish Sacrifice

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
—Philippians 3:8

“So, what are you giving up for Lent?” That was a common question among kids as I grew up. And the answers were predictable for many of the girls: chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate!

If you’ve ever been a chocolate lover, you know what a sacrifice that can be. And that’s where our understanding of Lent and sacrifice perhaps went astray. You see, while our minds focused on the object of sacrifice, our purpose of sacrifice got lost. So it is with any sacrifice, Lenten or life-long. If we focus on the food, habit, energy, or time that we give up, we will have missed out on the gain.

“Gain?” you ask. “You’re not supposed to gain anything during Lent or from any other act of sacrifice. What kind of sacrifice gains anything?” Only the sacrifice worth making, that’s what kind. Because any sacrifice that is made for God must always focus on the gain: knowing Christ.

Paul was no stranger to sacrifice. In fact, he gave a list of his sacrifices in Philippians 3:1–7. He listed his heritage, his education, and his status and “What is more,” he adds, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)

Paul’s entire life, from the moment of conversion, was a Lenten season.

“What are you gaining for Lent?!

Lord, You know what I value. You know what I count as special in my life. Help me view everything-my achievements, people, things, and memories-as rubbish in order that I might gain You. Let Your will be done in my life that I might know You better.

(Taken from Diamonds in the Dust. Copyright © 1993 by Joni Eareckson Tada).

Help for Japan

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Pastor Tom

We’ve seen the terrible devastation from the earthquake and tsunami’s in Japan. Our church family supports 2 missionaries in Japan – Yuri Nakano and Carol Potratz. We received news today that they are safe. But there is lots of help needed. Here’s some info on ways you can you help through our denomination.

FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE

Dear NAB Pastors, Churches, and Friends,

The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history struck off the island nation’s shore on Friday according to news reports.

Our NAB Missionaries are safe! But many need in the disaster region need help!

NAB churches have a long history of responding when disaster strikes. Now, once again, we extend an opportunity for you to help.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP
PRAY – Let’s pray for the families whose lives have been changed forever by this recent disaster in Japan.
GIVE – To aid relief efforts, visit the NAB website at www.nabconference.org/give and click “Disaster Relief.”
If you prefer to mail your donation, send your check marked “Disaster Relief Fund” payable to the North American Baptist Conference to one of the following addresses:
U.S. offerings: 36578 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694–6500
Canadian offerings: P.O. Box 57235, Station A, Toronto, ON M5W 5M5

Thank you for considering this opportunity. Your generosity will make a lasting and meaningful impact on those in need!

On behalf of the Executive Team,

Tony R. Dunaway, CPA
Chief Financial Officer/VP of Ministry Support
North American Baptist Conference
1 S. 210 Summit Avenue
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
tdunaway@nabconf.org
630.495.2000 Ext. 256

*Please note: Funds received in excess of what is needed to support relief efforts in these areas will be designated for future disaster response efforts undertaken by the North American Baptist Conference.
The North American Baptist Conference and The North American Baptist Conference Foundation are registered 501©(3) nonprofit organizations. All donations are tax deductible in full or in part.

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Prayer. Burden? Joy? Guilt Producer?

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Pastor Tom

So this weekend I’m talking about prayer. I’ve had an interesting journey of prayer. Sometimes, I love it. Sometimes I struggle with it. Sometimes it feels like I’m just going through the motions. But I have to remember, prayer is not the be all and end all. It’s the One I’m praying to. He is the be all and end all. Prayer is our way to communicate with Him. So I need, we need to see prayer not as some duty to get over with but the way we connect with the Our dearest and most powerful Lord and Friend. Maybe looking at it that way can help transform prayer from some burden to something joyous. If you have any stories about your journey with prayer, please share. We all need to keep learning.

Love without hypocrisy

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Pastor Tom

It’s the Valentine’s Day season with lots of talk about love. I think it’s great to have a specific time to celebrate love and express our love in a more creative way. But Valentine’s Day can also expose a lack of love or the flawed love we give and receive.

Hypocrisy can greatly tarnish love. The term hypocrite originally referred to a play actor who projected an image of some character but hid their true identity behind a mask. Hypocrisy was a theatrical term meaning “speaking behind a mask.” But it was later applied to someone who said one thing but hid behind the mask of something else. So it referred to someone who was insincere, deceitful or projecting one image while believing or being someone else in heart.

Hypocrisy shows up when one tries to act different on the outside compared to the goings on inside of us. We may speak kindly to a person but inside we feel animosity for them. Behind their back, we tear them down. We can also love hypocritically when we draw attention to other people’s flaws so that ours don’t show up. It’s like pointing out a speck in someone else’s eye while you have a log in your own eye.

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of hypocritical love, you know how much it can hurt. No one likes to receive love that seemed genuine but is later discovered to be false. No one likes someone else pointing out their faults when that “someone” has plenty of their own faults.

Yet people love like that. Sometimes you might even love like that. Why? Sometimes we may be driven by the craving for others to make much of us. So we put ourselves forward pretending to love so others will commend us. Or we point out the faults of others so we look better. Other times we may simply want to cover up our own faults. So we loudly complain about something or someone when the real issue is something else inside of us.

Jesus exposed this one time when he healed a woman on the Sabbath. A religious ruler criticized Jesus for “working” on the Sabbath. But that wasn’t really this ruler’s issue. He himself did some “work” on the Sabbath. Jesus pointed out that if this guy’s ox got lost or a sheep fell into a well, he would certainly work to find them. He worked to protect his investments. But he didn’t care about that woman Jesus’ healed. So he covered it with a hypocritical charge.

Love without hypocrisy is profoundly different. It forgets about self and receiving praise. Instead, this love offers genuine care and concern to someone else. The inner workings in our heart agree with our outside actions. And I believe that we can receive that kind of love first from the most genuine person to ever walk the earth – Jesus. From Him, we can then offer it to others. That’s a love that I think everyone would love to receive on Valentine’s Day and every day.

God's work among us

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Pastor Tom

Do you ever wonder if God is real or is doing anything among us as a church today? I received some proof today in this note.

“I watched her die. It took six months from diagnosis and I knew all along she was going to die. However, it wasn’t until 1:05am, June 5th, 1995, I realized she was gone and wasn’t coming back. I was 16 and her funeral signified the last day for 15 years I would set foot inside a church.
I have to be quite honest and admit that I don’t know if I stopped believing in God so much as I was sure that he stopped believing in me. I was lost after my mom died, as if I wasn’t lost enough just by being 16, I had lost the one person I truly thought I would never lose. My father was a great father throughout everything but he lacked one strong characteristic, he wasn’t my mother.
The next 12 years would prove challenging. I got my first boyfriend, my first child, I graduated from Medical Radiation Technology, I lost a baby, I moved numerous times, I had another baby, I would lose my boyfriend and rush into another relationship and then in 2007 I almost died. On June 25th, 2007, I hemorrhaged, had emergency surgery and blood transfusions. I was the patient I always treated. Lying there in a hospital bed was when I knew I had to stop being a passive participant in my life and that I had to take my life back. When I got out of the hospital I ended my destructive relationship, got a dog, took my kids to Disney World and was pretty confident I didn’t need anybody.
God didn’t have a role in my life beyond a bystander for those 12 years. I have always known God existed and I prayed constantly that he was taking care of my mom but I didn’t really pray for myself because that was selfish.
In September 2008 I was given an opportunity to change careers, I did and slowly started to feel valued for what I could offer. Something I had not felt very often.
January 2010 my 3rd relationship failed and I spent a lot of time with self-pity. Little did I suspect things would get worse. April 2010 Chandra would come to my door and give me a ticket for The Big Cook night at the church. What Chandra didn’t know that day was how significantly that act would affect my life. In March, I had begun to get ill. It started slowly, first in my ankles, then it moved to my knees, then my elbows and then one day I couldn’t walk down the stairs of my 2-story house.
The first diagnosis was Rheumatoid Arthritis, the second diagnosis was Lupus but when the doctor’s found my lungs were affected, the decided diagnosis was Sarcoidosis and I was dealing with all of this when Chandra had come to the door.
The Big Cook night was the first time in 15 years I set foot inside a church and somewhat significantly Mother’s Day was the first service I attended at SVBC. I have been attending services fairly regularly since.
I have my questions and maybe I always will. I have to accept that I won’t know everything – God will tell me what I need to know in His own time.
I do know 2 things – after leading many different kinds of lives I am choosing to lead a life led by Jesus Christ and the Bible. The second thing I know is I aspire to demonstrate my faith the way I have seen the SVBC congregation do. I have been a victim of the kindness of the people here and for that I am forever changed. I know now that God exists and he cares for me.”

We exist so God can keep doing His work like this folks. Keep on keeping on!

The Peril of New Year's Resolutions

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Pastor Tom

How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Some of you made it a day. Some might have lasted a week. Some of you are still going strong. What makes or breaks our ability to carry out a New Year’s resolution?
Let’s think about the process of making a resolution. First, we have to admit reality. We’ve gained weight. We eat or drink too much. We watch a lot of TV or fight with our in-laws. We’re not having enough fun. We’re not spending enough time with someone important. Then we decide what needs to change. We will eat less; drink less; watch less TV or fight less. Or we will have more fun or make more time. Good start.
But now comes the hard part – keeping the resolution. How do we do that? Some of us turn to our inner strength and discipline. Some ask friends to join with so there is built in encouragement. Some hire personal trainers. Some succeed maybe for a month or two or even longer. Some fail or give up.
Why did some succeed and some fail? There are many factors but I think one of the greatest is the R word – Resolve. If a resolution is “a declaration or decision to do something,” resolve is “determination, decision, tenacity and doggedness” to fulfill a resolution. Resolve is great when we’re strong. But what about when we’re weak? That’s when the resolve to carry out resolutions can fail. When that happens, we have another decision to make. Do we give up or get up? Do we live with the freedom to fall down and get back up or do we hold ourselves to some standard that declares we can only fulfill the resolution if we never fail?
Some of my fellow Christians might present themselves as better than you (even though they’re not). Some might claim that you just need to try harder. But I think people who really get Christianity start by admitting they need help to get up.
The whole Christian message is wrapped around God sending Jesus to help the fallen. When God “helps us up” we don’t just go walking off in our own steam never to turn to God again. Christians who get the Bible understand that our life is one of constant dependence on God. That might sound weak and crutch-like. But it’s real. I think New Year’s resolutions and our inability to carry them out consistently exposes in us the reality of our fallen nature.
The great thing about walking with God is that we live in grace. Yes we fall down. But He gives us grace and strength to get back up again. So by the end of 2011, we might have broken a New Year’s resolution 20 times. But we might have kept it 200 times. That’s progress. So whether or not you made some resolutions; whether or not you’ve already broken them, I want to know that there is Someone who can walk with you to make progress on them and the whole of life. If you want to know more about Him, please contact me – pastortom@svbc.ab.ca or 780–458-3777.

Having trouble getting "into" Christmas?

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Sometimes it’s challenging to get into the Christmas spirit – (whatever that means). Does it mean excitement about the Christmas holidays? Does it mean joy in buying gifts, special gatherings and baking cookies? Whatever “the Christmas spirit” means, we likely have different attitudes towards it and our need to get into “it.” So maybe we could try a different approach.

Instead of getting into the Christmas spirit, how about focusing on the celebration of Advent? To celebrate this, we need to know Advent means coming and refers to the coming of God to us in baby Jesus. So how can we enter into this celebration. German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffor has some great words to help.

“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, who look forward to something greater to come. For these, it is enough to wait in humble fear until the Holy One himself comes down to us, God in the child in the manger. God comes. The Lord Jesus comes. Christmas comes. Christians rejoice!”

Instead of trying to get into the Christmas spirit, I’m going admit my spiritual poverty and imperfection and then watch to see how God will come to me with His sufficiency and perfection. That’s something to look forward to and celebrate!

Why do you or don't you trust the Christmas story?

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Is the Christmas story about the arrival of baby Jesus a true historical account or something that belongs beside Santa Claus? If someone asked “do you believe the Christmas story to be true,” you would likely answer “Yes; No or I don’t know.” But why do you believe or conclude that?

Those who don’t trust the history might back their case with the argument, “I only trust or agree with facts supported by convincing evidence.” This approach certainly has value. But do people come to their convictions solely based on facts? Might other factors also play a role?

I recently listened to a talk where Australian historian John Dixon brought up Aristotle’s 4th century BC book on the art of persuasion entitled “The Art of Rhetoric.” Basically, Dixon summarizes Aristotle’s thought like this. Three factors influence decisions about belief. One is “logos” or the intellectual side. The logos factor in us searches for evidence and facts. If the intellectual questions receive satisfactory answers, then our “logos” side says “yes” to a particular claim.

Next is “pathos” or the emotional and passionate factor. Here Aristotle talks about our feelings about a particular issue or claim. People could look at the same set of facts about the Oil Sands and come to different conclusions about belief. So person A comes along and looks at a set of facts detailing environmental impact of the Oil Sands. After considering these and remembering the oil sands employs their son which provides for their grandchildren, they conclude “the Oil Sands are good.” Person B comes along and looks at the same set of facts about the oil sands. Then they look at pictures of the dead ducks from that tailing pond or the pictures in National Geographic that describe an “environmental disaster.” They conclude “the Oil Sands are bad.” Same facts plus a different emotional trigger can lead to a different belief.

Finally, Aristotle comes to “ethos,” the social/psychological factor. Friends, family and social circles can influence our beliefs. So if we work with or regularly socialize with oil sands executives, they’re influence can play a part in our decision about the oil sands. If we hang out with Greenpeace members and folks with a “nature first” mentality, their opinions can influence our beliefs.

Australian historian John Dixon quotes Aristotle as saying “He is a fool who thinks he makes up his mind only based on logos.” Or if we think that we base our convictions solely on the “facts,” we’re deceiving ourselves.

This brings me back to the Christmas story. If you don’t trust the Christmas story because of “lack of evidence,” would you consider Aristotle’s quote? What emotions or social factors might also influence your decision? Then if you’d like to look at the Christmas story anew, contact me at pastortom@svbc.ab.ca and we’ll get you a copy of “The Case for Christmas.” It could make for a very different holiday season. Merry Christmas!

(For more on John Dixon and his research visit http://johndickson.org/)

Why might the younger generation lack urgency in the pursuit of personal holiness?

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Is there a lack of urgency in the pursuit of personal holiness among the younger generation? Justin Taylor points us to Kevin De Young’s article about this.

You can read Kevin’s whole post here http://bit.ly/pursuitofholiness

The Pursuit of Personal Holiness
Posted: 24 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PST
Kevin DeYoung has a good post here, expressing some concern about a relative lack of urgency in pursuing personal holiness among the younger generation.
You can read the whole post, but here is an excerpt where he explores the various reasons this might be the case:

1. It was too common in the past to equate holiness with abstaining from a few taboo practices like drinking, smoking, and dancing. In a previous generation godliness meant you didn’t do these things. Younger generations have little patience for these sorts of rules. They either don’t agree with the rules or they figure they’ve got those bases covered so there’s not much else to worry about.

2. Related to the first reason is the fear that a passion for holiness makes you some kind of weird holdover from a bygone era. As soon as you talk about swearing or movies or music or modesty or sexual purity or self-control or just plain godliness people get nervous that others will call them legalistic, or worse, a fundamentalist.

3. We live in a culture of cool, and to be cool means you differentiate yourself from others. That has often meant pushing the boundaries with language, with entertainment, with alcohol, and with fashion. Of course, holiness is much more than these things, but in an effort to be hip many Christians have figured holiness has nothing to do with these things. They’ve willingly embraced Christian freedom, but they’ve not earnestly pursued Christian virtue.

4. Among more liberal Christians a radical pursuit of holiness if often suspect because any talk of right and wrong behaviors feels judgmental and intolerant. If we are to be “without spot or blemish” it necessitates we distinguish between what sort of attitudes, actions, and habits are pure and what sort are impure. This sort of sorting gets you in trouble with the pluralism police.

5. Among conservative Christians there is sometimes the mistaken notion that if we are truly gospel-centered we won’t talk about rules or imperatives or exhort Christians to moral exertion. To be sure, there is a rash of moralistic teaching out there, but sometimes we go to the other extreme and act as if the Bible shouldn’t advise our morals at all. We are so eager not to confuse indicatives and imperatives (a point I’ve made many times) that if we’re not careful we’ll drop the imperatives altogether. We’ve been afraid of words like diligence, effort, and obedience. We’ve downplayed verses that call us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), or command us to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit (2 Cor. 7:1), or warn against even a hint of immorality among the saints (Eph. 5:3).

The blessing of waiting in line

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Winter has hit the Prairies this week with much snow and a -21 welcome to this morning. During the past two days of storming, everything slowed down. You have to shovel to get out of your driveway. Traffic moves slower as people cautiously approach intersections and go up and down hills. School buses might arrive a little later. Add to that the onset of Christmas season, with mall insanity, school programs and the rush to get gifts mailed on time. You get the picture.

This time of year presents many opportunities to be standing or waiting in line. Now I used to get extremely frustrated waiting in line. I had very important things to do and the people in front of me were getting in the way. But I’ve been learning lately that waiting in line can provide a wonderful opportunity – to pray for others.

Simply by paying attention to others around me, I see and hear lots that I can pray about. There’s many situations I can’t do much about. But I can pray and bring them before the One with eternal resources to make a significant different. So sometimes while I’m in line, I remember to pray.

It’s amazing the difference this makes in me. When I get to the front of the line, I’m not exasperated or giving the clerk dirty looks because they didn’t work hard enough. I’m thankful I had time to bring some friend or situation before the Lord. I always have more to pray about than I have time to pray.

So maybe the next time you’re in line, you can use it to pray for someone. What a blessing!

A Parable of Freedom

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Here’s a helpful picture from John Stott to think about Fundamentalists, Liberals and Evangelicals.

Let me develop a little parable. It uses flight as a picture of freedom (memories of Jonathan Livingstone Seagull!) and seeks to characterize (not, I hope, caricature) the essential difference between the fundamentalist, the liberal and the evangelical. The fundamentalist seems to me to resemble a caged bird, which possesses the capacity for flight, but lacks the freedom to use it. For the fundamentalist mind is confined or caged by an over-literal interpretation of Scripture, and by the strict traditions and conventions into which this has led him. He is not at liberty to question these, or to explore alternative, equally faithful ways of applying Scripture to the modern world, for he cannot escape from his cage. The liberal seems to me to resemble (no offence meant!) a gas-filled balloon, which takes off and rises into the air, buoyant, free, directed only by its own built-in navigational responses to wind and pressure, but entirely unrestrained from earth. For the liberal mind has no anchorage; it is accountable only to itself. The evangelical seems to me to resemble a kite, which can also take off, fly great distances and soar to great heights, while all the time being tethered to earth. For the evangelical mind is held by revelation. Without doubt it often needs a longer string, for we are not renowned for creative thinking. Nevertheless, at least in the ideal, I see evangelicals as finding true freedom under the authority of revealed truth, and combining a radical mindset and lifestyle with a conservative commitment to Scripture.

—From “Essentials”, by David L. Edwards and John Stott (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1988), p. 106.

——————————————————————————
—Excerpted from “Authentic Christianity”, p. 103, by permission of InterVarsity Press.

Lessons for the Teacher

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Pastor Tom

I came here with lessons prepared for the students of Bicol Center for Christian Leadership. But I expected that they would also have things to teach me. Well, my Filipino brothers and sisters have already taught me plenty.

They are living examples of Philippians 4:11–13. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

I have been learning more about the students over these days, listening to their stories. As they describe the reality of their lives, my North American perspective wants to jump in an point out all the reasons they have to be discontent. But when I look over this group, I don’t see discontent. I don’t see complaining or moping around. I see people persevering in the the Lord’s strength. I see joy. I hear lots of laughter.

They aren’t living in denial. They see the reality and the difficulties of their lives. But they seem to have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I often here the phrase “Praise God” as they describe their reality and the grace they have seen from Him in their lives. I tend to say “Please God” more than “Praise God.” I’ll need to change that. Thanks for the lesson friends!

You know you're not in Canada when . . .

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Pastor Tom

You know you’re not in Canada when . . .

1) You’re completely soaked in sweat . . in October.

2) Ants crawl across the floor of your living quarters and you get used to it.

3) You leave an empty juice glass on the counter and return later to find it crawling with ants.

4) Your dishes are kept inside a plastic storage bin to keep the ants out.

5) People stare at you on the street because you have white skin.

6) A mosquito net is available in one of your wardrobe drawers.

7) You only have cold water for your shower – and you don’t mind!

8) Lizards crawl on the walls while you teach.

9) Strangers treat you with respect, not suspicion, when they find out you’re a pastor.

10) You can’t find a reference to hockey anywhere in the papers.

Security everywhere and employee overload.

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Well, it’s day 2 in the Philippines. Impression #1 – Security. Everywhere. There are security guards on street corners, outside hotels with dogs; at the entrance way to malls and in almost every store in the mall. There are no garbage cans in public places in the malls so bombs can’t be placed there. Even at church this morning, there were separate male and female entrances with guards to examine your bags. On one hand, it’s reassuring to see a lot of security. On another hand, it’s sad. But it’s reality here. And these security guards have guns!

Impression #2 – Employee overload. It’s not unusual to go into a store and be outnumbered 4 or 6 to 1 by employees. Often there are four or five clerks at each store often doing nothing. Some restaurant have girls stand out in front to bring you a menu or hand out flyers or call you in. Does this mean there is an abundance of employment? Yes and No. There is an abundance of minimum wage workers. The minimum wage is 385 Philippine pesos/day – That’s just under $10 for 8 hours or 12 in some cases. (The security guard at our hotel works 7 AM to 7 PM). So these workers come into the city 1 to 2 hours commute to do their shift and head back out again 6 days a week.

It puts into perspective how much we have to be thankful for in North America, even for garbage cans!

Little "Big" Assurances

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Pastor Tom

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the Philippines trip recently? “Are you excited to be going to the Philippines?” Yes! “Are you nervous at all?” Yes. I have never been to the far east before; never done a nearly 14 hour plane trip; never been in a climate with huge heat and humidity (Yesterday it was 27 C in Manila but felt like 41). Yet it has been amazing how God has been assuring me of His presence and guidance through the days ahead.

One day, I looked at the flight plan and how long we’d be flying over only ocean. The next day, I came across Job 26:12 – “By his power he still the sea.” And my Bible note said this – “God rules the supposed dominion of Yam, the Canaanite god of the sea. Jesus Christ showed He was the true God of His people when he calmed the sea – Matt. 8:23–27.

Then I woke up wondering about getting through customs and all the unexpected twists and turns that can take. Later that morning I read Psalm 48:14 – “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”

Yesterday, I woke up with a song written by a friend out East – “Fear not for I have redeemed you; fear not I have called you by name you are mine. When you walk through the waters I will be with you, when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep you away, when you walk through the fire you will not be burned, for I am the Lord your God.” I couldn’t remember at that moment where to find that. But later in the day while studying a completely different passage, it cross referenced to Isaiah 43:10. Then when I looked up a few verses, I found this song in Isaiah 43:1–3.

Little assurances? Yes. But they add up to Big Assurance from our Big God!.

Which Gospel is your Gospel?

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Sometimes Christians divide over silly things. Other times they divide over misunderstandings. Justin Taylor highlights this in a blogpost entitled “What is the Gospel.” He notes an author who identifies two groups of Christians who emphasize different aspects of the Gospel.

Group A, rightly argues that “the gospel is the good news that God is reconciling sinners to himself through the substitutionary death of Jesus.” A second group of believers, whom Gilbert designates Group B, rightly argues that “the gospel is the good news that God is going to renew and remake the whole world through Christ.”

Which Gospel might you tend to emphasize? In fact, this is a both A and B not either or.

For a fuller discussion, check here – http://bit.ly/aTuBRC

Feeling Dry Spiritually?

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Sometimes we feel dry spiritually. It’s a fact of the Christian life. But do we just have to wait for the a fresh touch from God? Or can we take some steps to recapture some of that passion. Check out C. J. Mahaney’s take on this in a study he did on the book of Jude here:
http://bit.ly/cuemQr

Is there value in hope? It depends.

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Pastor Tom

I once heard a talk show host say “there is no power in hope.” I understood what she was doing in her context. She hosted a talk show where people would call in, talk about their lives and ask for advice. She would jump in with her statement when a caller said something like this. “I know things are bad with him/her, but I’m hoping they’ll change and things will get better.” The host would say something like “you’re putting your hope in someone else actually changing after they’ve displayed this behavior pattern for years? How do you think that’s going to help anything? There is no power in hope. You’ve got to decide what you’re going to do.”

We are hopeful when we “have a wish to do something or for something to happen.” Hope wants or expects something. It can describe a confident feeling because something desirable is likely to happen. Or it can be a wish that something desirable will happen or be possible. It’s great to be filled with hope. Hope can inspire and invigorate. It allows for the dreaming of dreams and a tomorrow different from today. It’s inspiring being around people with hope. So in that sense, there is power in hope.

But that power can quickly drain away, if the object of that hope is untrustworthy. If a person has broken trust repeatedly, it is foolish to “hope” they will keep trust unless they significantly change. Or the power of hope can leak when harsh realities present a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. When President Obama was elected, many in the US were filled with hope. Yet nearly half way through his mandate, the “hope” seems to have leaked significantly for a variety of reasons. So in one sense, I partially agree with the talk show host’s statement. The power of hope can be compromised by broken trust and harsher than expected realities.

Yet if the object of our hope is trustworthy, there can be great power in hope. I hope you can think of someone in your life that often (if not always) comes through for you. Maybe it’s a parent, grandparent, spouse, friend, coworker, teacher or someone else in your life. When you think of this person, you’re likely to smile and celebrate the way they’ve impacted your life.

These folks are gifts in our lives. Yet imagine someone who is absolutely trustworthy. Imagine someone who never fails, never goes back on his word and never leaves or forsakes his kids. Imagine if you knew someone who so loved you they were willing to pay an immense personal sacrifice just to ensure you would have life or discover life or go forward in life. Now stop imagining. He’s the Father God in the Bible who created you. He waits for us to put our hope in Him. That’s a valuable hope.

Bible burnings

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Last weekend we witnessed international outrage at the prospect of a Florida pastor burning the Quran. I disagree completely with this pastor’s approach. I don’t think its the way to win Muslims. I love Frontier’s slogan “With love and respect, inviting all Muslim peoples to follow Jesus.” But the outrage about this potential book burning made me wonder how the media might respond to the news of Bible burning.

The editor of Christianity.ca writes this:

“Incidents of Bible burning, however, receive far less attention. Greg Musselman, communications director for Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says Bible burnings occur so often internationally that even Voice of the Martyrs rarely reports them. He could only locate one article (see link below to “We need to destroy it”) published recently about a Bible burning is a small village in Laos.”

How many Bibles do we have in our offices, backpacks and homes? Let’s remember the folks whose Bibles have been burned with no one to speak up for them.

We need to destroy it!
In restricted nations around the world, Bibles are burned, shredded or confiscated every day.
http://www.christianity.ca/netcommunity/Page.aspx?pid=7431

It's the same moon

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Pastor Tom

We’ve just returned from California. Thankfully, Alberta came through with a nice shocking reminder. It was 38 C in LA two days ago. Today it’s 11 here in the Edmonton area. Yes indeed we’re home.

A few nights ago in California, I noticed a full moon shining. It shone down on the millions of residents of that region. In discussion with various locals, I asked if they knew the population of the greater LA area. I received answers varying from 20–30 million. There are 88 cities in the region. Some, I’d heard of like Los Angeles, Anaheim and Santa Barbara. But then there’s Brea and Irvine along with 80+ more. With 20–30 million people, you get to experience the traffic that sized population generates. It was amazing to see multiple freeways all jam packed with cars.

On the way home from Edmonton International last night, we turned from Highway 2 onto the Anthony Henday freeway. There was us and about 2 other cars. And there was the brilliant moon, the same moon that shone over those 20–30 million Southern Californians.

It reminded me of the Lord. If we’re surrounded by millions or a few, He still has His eyes on us. May His constant presence comfort and guide you as you go into this new season of September!

What vacation might reveal about our hearts

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Vacations are supposed to be fun. The family gets away together to rest and refresh. Yet complaining often accompanies vacations.

Sometimes kids ask that question on everyone’s mind. “Are we there yet?” “No Johnny. See the new Hole’s Greenhouses? That means we’re still in St. Albert.” “Aw, I’m bored. It’s taking so long.” But kids aren’t the only ones to complain. Sometimes adults can complain too.

We recently returned from a cruise to Alaska. My Mom graciously took our entire family for some special times together. We enjoyed the scenery, wildlife and Alaskan people. We enjoyed the ship and some of its many activities. When asked “how was your trip,” I answer “Beautiful, interesting, educational, wavy and somewhat weird.”

Why weird? Well, there were 900 people on the ship who were there to work. These employees of the cruise line looked after our every need. It was wonderful but also a bit strange. When we walked down the hall, they put their backs to the wall to allow us to pass. When I tried to let one of them go before me through a crowded passage, they insisted that I go first. I began to feel like I was a king and they were my servants. I was very uncomfortable with that.

Most of these folks were from different countries. Many come from impoverished homes. They work 14–18 hours/day on the ship. They sign a contract committing themselves to work 7 days a week for 6 months straight. Then they receive 2 months off. They witness loads of food being wasted while people starve in their own communities. I often wondered what they were thinking as they witnessed all of the “kings, queens, princes and princesses” relax and recline.

Sometimes members of the “royal family” complained about their service. Oh, I’m sure some of the complaints are legitimate. But some were ridiculous. I sat beside some folks at the pool. One loudly complained that there were not enough coffee cups at the station he regularly went to. Another complained about the dinners (which I thought were wonderfully done). I felt like saying “you’ve got all this amazing beauty to look; gracious people serving you; food whenever you want it; you even have the means to go on a vacation that most of the world couldn’t dream of and you’re complaining about coffee cups?”

Yet the staff continued on. Whenever I asked how one of them were doing, they responded “Excellent, Wonderful, Great.” I’m sure many of them were. But I wonder if they tire of seeing people who have so much complain about some things so little.
Words out of our mouths can reveal much of what’s in our hearts. Jesus said “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” If complaints tumble out of our mouths while we’re enjoying the privilege of a vacation, it might be time for a heart check.

Are care free days only possible on vacation?

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Okay, I’m back. And I have been back for a while but its been a whirlwind of weeks. We had VBS and then a bunch of other stuff. We enjoyed a superb vacation in Alaska. I will post some thoughts about life on a cruise ship tomorrow. But it was interesting coming back from vacation mode to semi-regular life mode.

On vacation, one goal is to get away from the cares of home/work. So we go away and put up with the “cares” of travel (flight cancellations; going through security; motion sickness; cold and rainy days;) to find those care free moments or days on vacation. Then we come home and head back into life hopefully refreshed. But we know about the cares and the situations and the stresses. So do we just hope our cares don’t overwhelm us until we get to another “care free” vacation? Or is care free living possible at home?

I’m reading the book “Humilty” by C. J. Mahaney. He talks about practices that help us go into the day with humility and dependence on God. One practice is to “cast all our cares upon the Lord.” He bases this on 1 Peter 5:6–7 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God casting all your anxieties (cares) on him, because he cares for you.”

In other words, instead of trying to rush into a day bearing all our cares ourselves and trusting only ourselves to figure it out or work it out, humble ourselves before the mighty God. Admit, we aren’t equipped to “handle” everything on our minds perfectly. But God is. So admit that then cast the anxiety on the Lord. “Lord, this burdens me today. I don’t know how it will work out. But you do. So I give it to you and know you’ll walk with me through it. But until then, will you carry this for me so I’m not heavily weighed down by this care?”

Then Mahaney writes “When we humble ourselves each morning by casting all our cares on the Lord, we will start the day free of care.” We’re not free of responsibility but we can be care free. Then we keep doing that through the day with whatever care might come along.

Then care free days are possible anywhere. Hope you have a care free August whether on vacation or at home.

The 60 day summer challenge

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Pastor Tom

A few years ago, I heard a man I greatly respect talk about time in God’s Word. His parents read 5 chapters of the Bible every morning to their children. Then the children would think about the reading through the day. At the evening meal they would discuss anything the children had questions about. Then he shared this stunning reality: “By the time I was 17, I had been through the Bible 10 times!”

That stopped me in my tracks. I was about 26 at the time. I couldn’t remember reading through the entire Bible once. So I thought better late than never. Since that time, I have read through the entire Bible 11 times, The New Testament 22 times and the Psalms about 40 times. I can say without a doubt, God has used this time to speak and shape me more than almost anything else.

My latest through the Bible reading has been much tougher. I bought a study Bible and resolved to read every note and article. So it has taken me 2+ years and I’ve still got Job to do. Yikes! Yet it has been an enriching time.

So my question to you is how many times have you been through the Bible?

When God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai, the medium of communication was the air. God’s voice traveled through the air to Moses’ ears. The medium has changed for us. Now God speaks through His Word. But He still speaks. And He has so much to say! If only we would listen!

If you’re not a reader, you can listen to it. There are tons of great Bible on audio resources out there. You could start with the New Testament and listen to it on a drive, flight, or out on your back deck.

So here’s my challenge – Read the New Testament this summer. There are 260 chapters. In 60 days, you would need to read 4.333333333333333333 chapters/day. (You actually have 62 days in July and August). See what God has to say to you. And enjoy!

Disappointment with the church

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Pastor Tom

What do you do when you are disappointed with a church? Maybe the pastor hurt you or the leadership or someone else in the church. Check out this link for some resources to respond positively to disappointment rather than wallow in it.

http://sovgracemin.org/Blog/post/Disappointment-with-the-Church.aspx

Would winning the lottery really make your dreams come true?

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Tonight a lottery draw will be made for a 50 million dollar return. People are going crazy across the country trying to get their tickets in time. One talk show asked callers if they would be willing to give half their earnings away to charity. I heard some newscasters ask each other if they’ve got their tickets yet. It certainly is an interesting question to think about: “What would you do with 50 million dollars?”

I thought about it for a little while and convinced myself I would spend most of it on others. But if I wonder how it would really affect my life?

Some people seem to be able to handle great wealth well. Some wealthy people encourage others to give it away. But it also seems to me that a lot of people with great wealth carry great burdens because of it.

I’m reading a book called Ecclesiastes right now. The author had it all in his time. Yet he makes some amazing observations like “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.”

This from a guy who had all knowledge, riches, pleasures and possibilities. Maybe 50 million might not be the best thing for me. If I can eat, drink and find enjoyment in toil, that’s a huge blessing.

God the Father on Father's Day

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Does your relationship with your father help or hinder your relationship with God the Father? Father’s Day is just over a week away. It is a time to honor fathers. But it can be a difficult day for some. I read somewhere that in prisons on Mother’s Day, there are long lineups to use the phone. On Father’s Day, the phone hardly gets used. A healthy relationship with our earthly father can further our relationship with Father God. A strained, difficult or non-existent relationship with our earthly fathers can hinder our relationship with Father God.

So what kind of a Father is God? Check this article out for some great insights.

http://www.christianity.ca/netcommunity/Page.aspx?pid=7324

May it help you connect more intimately with Father God for Father’s Day.

If God is good, why did David die?

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Pastor Tom

David was supposed to be graduating this month. He looked forward to College and all the possibilities that awaited him there. David was 17. On Saturday, May 8th, he was on his way to a movie with an 18 year old friend. They were involved in a serious car crash. Both died at the scene. Alcohol and speed were not a factor. Both of these young men were Christians. They were involved in their church and volunteered helping younger children. Now David’s parents (my cousin and his wife) go into the summer gripped by grief. They have entered that journey through the shadow of the valley of death. Why?

This story could be repeated over and over. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there such suffering in this world? Why the holocaust, 9/11 or mass shootings? These questions particularly trouble us Christians. We believe God is good so He does not desire evil. We also believe He’s all powerful. He has the power to overcome evil. So God is all good and all powerful but evil has not been overcome. The atheist concludes therefore, God does not exist. It’s a strong argument. In fact many have been turned into skeptics because some evil has permeated their lives. Or some witness immense suffering maybe in Haiti or on the street or in a hospital. And they conclude, if God exists and allows this kind of suffering and could stop it if He wanted to, but doesn’t , I want nothing to do with Him.

So how do Christians answer this strong claim against God? I recently heard Christian apologist and philosopher Norman Geisler summarize it this way. We agree God is good. We agree God is all powerful. We agree with the atheist’s claim that evil has not been overcome. But we argue that there is one word missing from that third point. Evil has not been overcome YET. By the nature and character of God, we trust and know that He will eventually overcome all evil. Every heinous act will be called to account. Every hidden crime will be exposed. All sickness and untimely death and tragedy will one day be overcome. Some of the hidden purposes of God will one day be revealed.

Not that we understand all this. We dare not offer simplistic explanations to friends in especially grievous moments. But we do have a grounded hope when we turn to a loving and compassionate God whose ways are beyond understanding and who promises to overthrow all evil in the end.

So David has physically died. But he is not dead. In fact he already enjoys the glories of heaven much sooner than most people expected he would. One day, the evil of death will be overcome. Until that day, we can and must turn to the compassionate God, who will sustain us until He defeats death forever.

Does God look at us with a constant frown?

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Pastor Tom

There are certain people that can make life suddenly uncomfortable. These include the boss walking into a work area where there have been performance issues; a policeman hidden behind a telephone pole with a radar gun; a principal checking up on an unruly class; or a parent inquiring about the activities of a rebellious child. Did you notice that most of these folks have frowns on their faces when they’re on the look out?

They might have good reason to have frowns or look suspicious given the past history of the people they’re watching. I have often wondered how God looks at me. Given all He knows about me, I’d think He’d naturally have a constant frown on His face. After all, I’ve blown it many times.

And God knows all of our sins through our whole lives! How can He not look at us with a constant frown? Joni Eareckson has some deep thoughts on this in today’s reading. I hope they encourage you and maybe change your perspective about how God looks at you today.

God’s Clean Slate

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.

—Isaiah 43:25

Every parent knows that sinking feeling when their kid blows it. They do what you told them not to do, they lie to you, or they get in trouble at school. You hope it was all a passing nightmare but the deed’s been done and it won’t go away.

At least that’s how it feels at the time. But have you ever noticed when grandparents get together with the family and reminisce about what life was like? An amazing transformation takes place. The children who once were described as little devils are now angels. The brothers and sisters who fought like cats and dogs are remembered as puppies and kittens. They never talked back to mom and they always obeyed dad. Such romanticizing by the grandparents elicits either guffaws or silent rolling of the eyes. How could they forget? they wonder about their parents.

Is it senility? Or were the transgressions not worth remembering? Neither. I think parents forget because their love can’t retain those sins for very long. Our love hasn’t enough strength to hold on to that which is grievous.

God’s paternal love has a weak memory as well. He tells us that he blots out our transgressions and forgets them on purpose. Why? “For my own sake,” he says. Rather than our sin being an impersonal infraction of his cosmic order, it is deeply personal. It strikes at the core of his relationship with his creation, his image bearers. It is grievous.

So grievous was our sin that God sought an effective and eternal eradication. No sentimental, romantic senility would do. No divine dementia. Only his Son could blot out the trespass forever. Only Jesus could serve as the “forsaken one” so that we might be embraced as the “sins-forgotten ones.” For God’s sake.

• * * *

Lord, grant me as bad a memory about my sin as you have. Cleanse me today of the sins I confess and then help me reminisce with your same joy.

Part 3 - Father's and family vacations

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Here’s part 3 of father’s and family vacations. I so appreciate Mahaney’s honest through this. He has a pretty radical approach to a father’s role in vacations. Like this:

“The father must enter family vacations committed to serve, lead, plan, initiate, and work, and do all this with joy. This isn’t your time to rest. Only your wife deserves to rest on vacation (because no one works harder than she does the rest of the year).” Whoa. That’s challenging.

You can scroll down when you get to his page and click on part 3.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/Leadership-and-Family-Vacations.aspx

Part 2 - Father's Spiritual prep for vacations

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Here’s part 2 of the Fathers and family vacations. Make sure you scroll down and click on part 2.

http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/Leadership-and-Family-Vacations.aspx

For fathers - spiritual preparation for vacation

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Vacation season is coming. We put all kinds of time into planning the physical details and logistics of the vacation. But do you ever find that you come back from vacation more tired than you left? Might one reason be because we weren’t spiritually prepared? Here’s some helpful stuff for fathers to lead their families spiritually in the vacation season.

http://new.sovereigngrace.com/Blog/post/Leadership-and-Family-Vacations-(part-1).aspx

Life would be great if only . . .

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Do you ever feel like that? “If only this wasn’t going on. If only I was more like . . . If I only I had that.” Joni Eareckson Tada has some great perspective on this. I hope it encourages you today.

Life Would Be Great If Only…

In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
—Colossians 2:9–10

What do quadriplegics (people whose hands and legs are paralyzed) daydream about? Running a marathon? Ballroom dancing? Climbing a mountain? Many of us have scaled down our fantasies. In my weaker moments, I’m tempted to think life would be great if only I were a paraplegic – then I could use my hands. I see paraplegics transfer themselves out of their wheelchairs into their own beds, reach for items in the refrigerator, wash dishes at a sink and quickly sort through the mail. Then old feelings of disappointment start to slink back into my heart.

Even able-bodied people look at others who seem more attractive, smarter, richer, healthier, and who get all the breaks in life. In comparison, our minor defects begin to look like deformities. Thankfully, the Bible has good advice for people prone to compare. Paul tells us we have been given “fullness in Christ.” In other words, we are complete in Him. We have everything. We lack nothing. There’s no need to compare. Once we comprehend this truth, our so-called defects become reminders of how “full” we are – because we have “fullness in Christ.” The inferiority complex releases its grip. We become content.

I wouldn’t be happier if I were a paraplegic rather than a quadriplegic. The fullness of Christ dwells in me, even with my infirmities. Therefore, I will gladly boast as a quadriplegic. After all, you can’t improve on “complete.”
In what ways do you feel incomplete, inadequate, or less than you had hoped? Rather than seeing these as insufficiencies, realize you are lacking in nothing. Why? Because Christ dwells in you. Bask in that knowledge for a few, quiet moments and feel yourself relax into contentedness.

• * * *

Lord, help me to keep from drumming up “if only” scenarios in my mind. Fill my thoughts with satisfaction in you and in whom you have fashioned me to be.

A heart diagnosis

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Pastor Tom

It’s really important to have an annual physical check up with doctors. But its more important for us to a regular spiritual heart check up. I found this one quite helpful but hard!

The Greatest Temptation for Those Zealous to Advance Christianity
by Justin Taylor

A convicting quote from Jonathan Edwards, lightly modernized here by Ray Ortlund:

Spiritual pride is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christianity.

It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit, to darken the mind and mislead the judgment.

It is the main source of all the mischief the devil introduces, to clog and hinder a work of God.

Spiritual pride tends to speak of other persons’ sins with bitterness or with laughter and levity and an air of contempt. But pure Christian humility rather tends either to be silent about these problems or to speak of them with grief and pity.

Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others, but a humble Christian is most guarded about himself.

He is as suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart.

The proud person is apt to find fault with other believers, that they are low in grace, and to be much in observing how cold and dead they are and to be quick to note their deficiencies.

But the humble Christian has so much to do at home and sees so much evil in his own heart and is so concerned about it that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts.

He is apt to esteem others better than himself.

—Jonathan Edwards, “Thoughts on the Revival,” Works (Edinburgh, 1979), I:398–400.

God's comfort

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Pastor Tom

My cousin, Doug Stringer, a friend, fellow minister, father and husband buried his 17 year old son yesterday. Words cannot describe the pain and agony he and his family feel. Yet amazingly God continues to work and support them through this time. 1000 people attended the funeral yesterday in support, hundreds of them high school students. In this time of deep loss, let us pray that God’s message of hope will penetrate the hearts of many. My prayer for them and the other family is from 2 Corinthians 1:5 – “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

I pray the same for your life.

Some pictures from yesterday’s funeral are found here:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Remembering+Jonathan+Jackson+David+Stringer/3030121/story.html

Life is so precious - treasure it.

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Pastor Tom

I just found out my cousin’s 17 year old son was killed in a car accident in Ottawa on Saturday night. Wow. I can’t believe it. A huge reminder to treasure each moment with our kids.

Check here for the last conversation between my cousin and his son.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/last+talk+between+father/3007027/story.html

Remember your Mom!

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Mother’s Day is just about here. Talk about a potentially emotional day. For some people, it’s a day of celebration as they think of all their Mom has done and meant to them. For some, it’s a day of mourning, as they remember a Mom who has passed on. Some mourn because they didn’t really have a positive relationship with their Mom. Or some Mom’s dread the day because their family really strikes out in showing appreciation.

But maybe this week, we can thank God for our Mom’s or the person/people He brought to fill that role in our lives. And then we can thank them.

Troubled about Romans 9

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Pastor Tom

“But who are you O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is form say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” That’s Romans 9:20–21.

It’s generated quite a bit of good discussion.

Here’s one – . “I understand that God is saying that he is the potter and can do what he wants with the clay, that I was not here when he put the foundations in place (Job), BUT there is one important difference: people are not lumps of clay. They are sentient beings with souls that must either end up in heaven with God or be apart from Him forever in a place of torment. The “clay” is, in fact, made up of millions of human beings with eternal souls that will suffer for all time if they have not been chosen by God to be one of the blessed human beings that God will show His mercy to.”

Another shared they don’t like Romans 9. Another asked if those verses are true, why even bother with evangelism. God is going to save whom He will save.

Here’s my response to some of these questions/observations.

“One way I approach this is to ask “Why does God tell us He elects?” I think His primary purpose is to communicate that our salvation is secure. It ultimately doesn’t depend on how we feel about God at a particular moment. It depends on Jesus’ finished work on the cross and God’s work on our behalf through history. Part of the purpose in Roman’s is the explanation about Israel and why they hadn’t accepted the Messiah en masse. The answer to what God was doing is found in chapter 11. But in 9, it’s all about the Google satellite view of things.

This week’s message is all about Israel’s responsibility for her choices. So chapter 9 is God’s Sovereignty. Chapter 10 is man’s responsibility. Scripture teaches both. It’s not God’s Sovereignty OR man’s responsibility. It’s God’s Sovereignty AND Man’s responsibility. God’s Sovereignty is at the Google Earth Satellite level. Man’s responsibility is at the street view level. Somehow these two are not contradictory but complementary.”

If God wants me to be happy, why do I suffer so much?

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Pastor Tom

If God is a truly loving God, why is there suffering? Why is there suffering in our lives? We might be looking for happiness from the wrong source. Check out this post:

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2362_if_god_wants_me_happy_why_do_i_suffer_so_much/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:DGBlog(DG+Blog)

May you find your happiness in Him today!

Life lessons from spring clean up

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Pastor Tom

We gathered up our courage. We locked arms and together went down to face it. We opened the door and tried to stifle a collective scream. But my wife and I charged ahead to tackle one of the most daunting projects of our married life – cleaning out our storeroom! It had gotten a bit too much to open the freezer door while hockey skates dangled in our faces
It was time. So we started with our card boxes. You know, Christmas cards from 18 years ago. It’s amazing how much space 18 years of cards take up. (Why did we keep all of these?). Then there were broken toys; missing pieces; some chewed on (even before we had a dog!). We found old junk that we vowed we would use – 11 years ago.
When the junk began to spread out through our basement the temptation to scream grew worse. What would we do with this stuff? Slowly but surely, garbage and blue filled up. 3 trips to the Salvation Army Thrift Store were made. One trip to the dump got rid of 140 kilograms (308 lbs) of junk. By the end of our four day project you could walk around in our storeroom. Skate blades no longer threatened the face of anyone opening the freezer. You could even have a personal retreat in there, camp out or sleep over! It was hard work, tiring and amazingly satisfying. We also learned a lot.
Like what? First, I learned again that we can accumulate so much stuff that doesn’t last. Items that used to be new and expensive got tossed as junk after 10 or 15 years. Someone once told me some advertisers tell you “the only way to find happiness is to go somewhere or buy something.” That’s not true! Cleaning out all that stuff stamped that truth deeper on my heart.
Second, I noticed that we can accumulate so much stuff that we don’t need. 100 stuffed animals along with numerous “beanie babies” and McDonald’s happy meals prizes serve as one major example. (If you know my 6 year old daughter, please don’t draw her attention to this article. She hasn’t yet missed any of the recently departed stuffies). So instead of store it, share it. Some kids have no stuffed animals. I hope all our former ones encourage dozens of children.
Third, bringing order to chaos is incredibly satisfying. Why is that? As we sat and enjoyed the store room, I thought about God on the 7th day. He saw all that he had made. And it was very good. God had finished his work and he rested. There must have been deep satisfaction for Him at that moment. We tasted a little of that at the end of our project. It was like we shared in some small way in that “divine satisfaction.”
I wish you all a great Spring cleaning season and hope you get a taste of God’s satisfaction through it.

Easter week

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Hi everyone: Hope you have a super Easter week remembering His great love! PT

Parenting with hope

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Pastor Tom

We had a fabulous weekend where God moved us as a church. If you missed Sunday, the entire congregation came forward at the end of the service to pick up a stone and declare that Today we will choose to serve the Lord. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” said Joshua. Through the Saturday night seminar and Sunday morning message by Mark Holmen, we learned of the tragic statistics – 60–90% of the children raised in Christian homes leave the faith in their young adult years. One of the primary reasons is they have not seen faith at home. It’s faith at church. We at SVBC want to be a people who live out our faith at home, on the bus, in the car, at work, at school and at church.

Here’s something I came across today to encourage parents in even the worst of times.

Enjoy.

http://www.desiringgod.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=522&e=NzE0NTk=&l=-http—www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2010/4552_Parenting_with_Hope_in_the_Worst_of_Times/

50 reasons why Jesus came to die

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Here’s a great way to prepare for Easter. Read through this list of 50 reasons why Jesus came to die from John Piper. http://www.desiringgod.org/Store/Books/660_Fifty_Reasons_Why_Jesus_Came_to_Die/

You can also download the book for free or order it online. It moves Easter a little beyond bunnies!

Easter - Ho Hum or Wholly Marvelous?

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Pastor Tom

So Easter weekend is just over 2 weeks away. Will it be just another Long weekend and time with some family? Not that time with family is unimportant. But Easter is really about the cross and resurrection.

Our attitude to Easter weekend might serve as a good barometer to our heart for God right now. I love how Jonathan Edwards put it over 200 years ago – “That religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull and lifeless wishes, raising us but a little above a state of indifference. God, in His Word, greatly insists upon it, that we be in good earnest, “fervent in spirit,” and our hearts vigorously engaged in religion.” (By religion, Edwards does not mean ‘go to church’ or ‘engage in religious activities’ but have a passionate heart for God!).

So when we think about Easter is our heart raised but a little above a state of indifference (Ho Hum) or is it fervent in spirit – Romans 12:11 (Wholly Marvelous)?

The washing of feet; the last supper; Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me; but not my will, may yours be done; the betrayal; the arrest; the trial; the abuse; the rejection by the crowd; the way of the cross; the crucifixion; forgiving those who crucified Him and one thief on the cross; the wrath of God we deserved poured out on Him; IT IS FINISHED!

His death, his burial, Sunday morning, The empty tomb; the angels; He is not here!; He lives now and forever.

All for you and me! Wholly Marvelous!

Extreme Family Makeover

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Pastor Tom

We make vacation plans, retirement plans and education plans. We envision redecorating and renovation plans for our homes. We check our blackberries or calendars for our personal schedule plan.

But we can fail to plan in the most important area of life – spiritual development. We have a unique opportunity next weekend. It’s called Extreme Family Makeover. If you live in or around the Edmonton area, I invite you to join us Saturday, March 20 at 7 PM. Guest Speaker Mark Holman will talk about the tragic neglect of spiritual formation within something like 90% of Christian homes.

Check out this link to see a little more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56WbNQ6fDtY

Hope to see you there!

T.

Easter's hope deals with shattered Utopia

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Utopia – “a condition, place or situation of social and political perfection.” Heading into the last century, many believed utopia was possible because of the advance of man. Man could create this world himself. Mankind needed no savior. We would save ourselves and create the ideal world.

It’s a great ideal. But there’s only one problem. It doesn’t deal with the biggest problem – what’s wrong with man. The 20th century shattered the Utopian dream.

I just finished reading a book called Armenian Golgotha. It was originally written in Armenian in 1922 by a survivor of the Armenian genocide. It has just been translated into English. The author was a priest in the Armenian Orthodox church in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was arrested along with other Armenian intellectuals in 1915. He survived through nearly 4 years of deportations and death marches. Many were deported to northern Syria where it is claimed hundreds of thousands died. Some estimate 1.2 million Armenians were murdered or died during this time. Others claim the number was less and that many thousands of Muslims died.

His sole determination was to survive so he could tell the story. The author tells much of what he witnessed. He also recounts several stories he heard from other survivors.
But as I read this book, I kept asking how can humans do that to other humans? Here were apparently civilized people groups. Yet given the opportunity to act on ethnic tensions, they slaughter each other? How can this be?

Yet, we’ve seen the same story repeated over and over in the past 100 years: The Holocaust; Stalin and the murder of millions of his own people; Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur. The past 100 years shattered the myth of utopia – an ideal world that humans can create themselves by living in harmony with each other.

But God stepped in 2000 years earlier to deal with this. He sent Jesus to die for man’s biggest problem – the sin inside us. That’s what Easter is all about. We no longer have to hope in the unattainable dream of utopia. We have the certain hope of a Savior who came into history.

An atheist believes Africa needs missionaries, not aid money

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Pastor Tom

I recently listened to a message by Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. In it, he mentions an article by Times of London columnist Matthew Parris. In the article he explains his African upbringing and recent observations. A devout philosophical atheist, his conclusions might surprise you.

From The Times
December 27, 2008
As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God
Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa’s biggest problem – the crushing passivity of the people’s mindset
Matthew Parris

Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it’s Malawi, and The Times Christmas Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work.

It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I’ve been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I’ve been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God.

Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

I used to avoid this truth by applauding – as you can – the practical work of mission churches in Africa. It’s a pity, I would say, that salvation is part of the package, but Christians black and white, working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write; and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital or school and say the world would be better without it. I would allow that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but what counted was the help, not the faith.

But this doesn’t fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.

First, then, the observation. We had friends who were missionaries, and as a child I stayed often with them; I also stayed, alone with my little brother, in a traditional rural African village. In the city we had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world – a directness in their dealings with others – that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.

At 24, travelling by land across the continent reinforced this impression. From Algiers to Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Central African Republic, then right through the Congo to Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, four student friends and I drove our old Land Rover to Nairobi.

We slept under the stars, so it was important as we reached the more populated and lawless parts of the sub-Sahara that every day we find somewhere safe by nightfall. Often near a mission.

Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become more deferential towards strangers – in some ways less so – but more open.

This time in Malawi it was the same. I met no missionaries. You do not encounter missionaries in the lobbies of expensive hotels discussing development strategy documents, as you do with the big NGOs. But instead I noticed that a handful of the most impressive African members of the Pump Aid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were, privately, strong Christians. “Privately” because the charity is entirely secular and I never heard any of its team so much as mention religion while working in the villages. But I picked up the Christian references in our conversations. One, I saw, was studying a devotional textbook in the car. One, on Sunday, went off to church at dawn for a two-hour service.

It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in turn, influenced by a conception of man’s place in the Universe that Christianity had taught.

There’s long been a fashion among Western academic sociologists for placing tribal value systems within a ring fence, beyond critiques founded in our own culture: “theirs” and therefore best for “them”; authentic and of intrinsically equal worth to ours.

I don’t follow this. I observe that tribal belief is no more peaceable than ours; and that it suppresses individuality. People think collectively; first in terms of the community, extended family and tribe. This rural-traditional mindset feeds into the “big man” and gangster politics of the African city: the exaggerated respect for a swaggering leader, and the (literal) inability to understand the whole idea of loyal opposition.

Anxiety – fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature and the wild, of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things – strikes deep into the whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place and, call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual spirit, stunting curiosity. People won’t take the initiative, won’t take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.

How can I, as someone with a foot in both camps, explain? When the philosophical tourist moves from one world view to another he finds – at the very moment of passing into the new – that he loses the language to describe the landscape to the old. But let me try an example: the answer given by Sir Edmund Hillary to the question: Why climb the mountain? “Because it’s there,” he said.

To the rural African mind, this is an explanation of why one would not climb the mountain. It’s… well, there. Just there. Why interfere? Nothing to be done about it, or with it. Hillary’s further explanation – that nobody else had climbed it – would stand as a second reason for passivity.

Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God, unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework I’ve just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious to cast off a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it liberates.

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.

And I’m afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.”

Now that's an apology

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Tiger Woods apologized today for his behavior. So often in “apologies” we hear statements like “I’m sorry that people got hurt” or “If what I did caused hurt, I’m sorry.” Those statements don’t really take ownership for wrong behavior. It’s apparent he has received good counsel on the essence of a true apology – owning up to wrong behavior; not looking for others to blame; taking responsibility for one’s actions. I pray these are not mere words. I’m saddened he’s turned to Buddhism for strength. I pray someone leads him to the One who paid for sins like his. But for a first step, I applaud you Tiger.

The following is the complete transcipt of Tiger Woods Statement on Friday.

“Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you’ve worked with me or you’ve supported me.

Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.

Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.

I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.

To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago, my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington, D.C., millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.

But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.

For all that I have done, I am so sorry.

I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.

I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have to go far to find them.

I was wrong. I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife’s family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I’ve done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It’s now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I’ve made. It’s up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe it’s true, it’s not what you achieve in life that matters; it’s what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count.
Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It’s hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I’m facing. I have a long way to go. But I’ve taken my first steps in the right direction.

As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I’m concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.

Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements. When my children were born, we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn’t make it right for the media to follow my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to school and report the school’s location. They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.

I recognize I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That’s where my focus will be.

I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don’t realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught.

As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I’ve learned that’s how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I’m making these remarks today.

In therapy I’ve learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things that are most important to me, my marriage and my children.

That also means relying on others for help. I’ve learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don’t know when that day will be.

I don’t rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me.

I want to thank the PGA TOUR, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.

Finally, there are many people in this room, and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again.”

What are key components in a loving relationship?

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Valentine’s Day raises the issue of love. So another important question is “What are key components in a loving relationship?

I just read your question asking what the 3 components to a loving relationship are, and I thought I’d respond.

Not in any order:

1. Honest communication
If there’s no communication in a relationship, there will be no shared joys, and no shared pains. There will be no opportunity for growth or forgiveness.
2. Self Sacrifice
Just as Christ teaches us to put to death the self nature, I believe it’s just as valuable in a human relationship as well.
3. Based on Truth (Christ’s truth)
Ultimately if a relationship isn’t based on Christ’s truth (Salvation, sanctification and the fruits of that process) then it will never reach the potential that God intends for us, or loves to see.

“trust, honesty, putting the other person’s needs ahead of your own (a relationship can be AMAZING if both parties are doing this!)”

Hey Tom… here are some thoughts on your status questions.

Along with a multitude of other qualities… trust, communication and humility are high on my list. One thought that I heard once that has always stuck with me is this… a perfect marriage (relationship) shouldn’t be 50/50 instead it should be more like 90/10… sometimes you’re the 90 and sometimes you’re the 10!

“Collaboration, respect, and laughing together. I like all of Catharine’s answers too!”

“All of the above…and deep friendship, trust and intimacy.”

“I’ll go with trust, intimacy and grace.

What do you think of Valentine's Day

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I saw Valentine’s decorations out in the stores about 2 days after New Years. Insane. Yet tomorrow it arrives.

So I thought it would be interesting to ask what people thought of Valentine’s
Day. Here are some full text responses.

“I am a man, and as such do not ‘feel’ anything. It lightens my wallet a little bit. And it brings up lunch.

Not what you were looking for?

It makes me feel that we have too many commercialized holidays that used to mean something, and it makes me more interested in the actual history of St Valentine. That kind of answers questions 2 and 3.”

“I think V Day is way over-rated and commercialized (as voiced above) However, it does make me stop and take stock of how blessed I am in my marriage and it amazes me when I realize just how God knew how perfectly we would fit together as a couple – despite all of our weaknesses and shortfalls as human beings.

” And – it doesn’t take chocolate or flowers or going out for dinner once a year to show your spouse how much they mean to you. Love should be communicated at a much deeper level than that and it should be a daily occurence!!!”

“It makes me feel sad, not for being single but for how commercialized love has become. Its sad to me that couples need a day to force them to be romantic and to share their love with one another. I dont think its very special to be receiving gifts on a certain day simply because the other party feels obligated.

As for what it does for me, not too much. I do remember really enjoying it as a kid, trading valentines with my classmates, but now that im older it seems like just another “Day” (like presidents day or victoria day)”

“I also think VDay is way overrated. Its so focused on the chocolate, flowers, dinners, and diamonds that nobody can see past the materialism and look at what love is really all about. Not that I know much about love being a single university student :) But in my opinion its about serving others before looking after ourselves, following Jesus’s example at the deepest level. ”

“To me it is simply a good reminder to reflect on the blessing of being loved – by God, my wife, my kids, my family, my friends and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Wow! It’s too bad that the commercialism of the day has often made it another reason to feel obligated to spend money we may not have. Spending time with the ones we love, and thinking of other ways to bless them, is so much more important. It’s great that VDay is on a Sunday this year – a great chance to spend time with the One and ones we love!”

“I tell my little students that Valentine’s Day is a special day where we get to tell our families how much we love them and tell our friends how much we like them. It is a day to be happy and spend time with our friends being extra nice and special to each other. We can tell people we love them or like them, we can show them we love them by giving hugs, being nice to our brothers and sisters and by making a special valentine’s for them, (and cleaning up after we make one!) haha!”

Re: Valentine’s Day

“It’s been too commercialized and I personally think it doesnt mean as much if you get the stereotypical valentines day gifts on a day that you expect to get something. It would be more meanig-ful if you got/gave something on a day that wasnt valentines day. umm… thats all I got for now, if I think of anything else I will post it.
P.S. I have been dumped for not doing anything on Valentines Day, even though I surprised her the day before. So FYI if you do something like that and then the lady dumps you…probably not the woman that your suppost to be with

“Hi Tom

Here’s a poll that was in the online edition of our local paper (Fort Frances Times).
Poll
Is Valentine’s Day an important occasion to you?
Yes
19%
No
81%
Total votes: 170

I would have to agree with the results. I see Valentines as a marketing scheme to get us to spend more money by making us feel guilty if we don’t do something for our sweethearts. I’d much rather make a big deal out of my wife’s birthday and our anniversary as they are much more personal than everybody having to do it. That being said, I’ll probably still give into the pressure and do something.”

“Valentine’s means cinnamon hearts, and I (with emphasis) get to pick the movie – so no zombies or spaceships.”

What authority did Paul have to talk about suffering?

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Pastor Tom

I find it risky talking about the purpose of suffering with someone else. I know when I’ve hurt, it doesn’t help for someone to explain why I’m suffering unless they’ve taken the time to try to understand what I’m going through. Or if they have a credible “resume of suffering,” I might be more inclined to listen.

Tomorrow, I’m talking again from Romans 8. Paul says quite a bit about suffering in this chapter. Perhaps his most outrageous verse (at first glance) is 18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed to us.”

It might seem like Paul hasn’t suffered much or minimizes other’s sufferings. But later in the chapter, he gives us a little glimpse of some of what he suffered. Thank goodness he shared.

Check out Justin Taylor’s piece today that talks further about the “treasures in jars of clay” and suffering passage from 2 Corinthians 4.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/02/06/the-purpose-of-pauls-suffering-to-mediate-christs-resurrection-life/

Thanks Lord for inspiring Paul to share his life with us!

Doubts about God

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Pastor Tom

This past week in the Edmonton area we saw another family tragedy. Two young boys are now dead because of an apparent domestic dispute.
(Check out the latest here -

http://bit.ly/bDrYlW

When things like this happen, questions often arise about God. Where was God when this was happening?

Doubts about God can have a philosophical origin. (Does God exist?) They can arise because of circumstances like this tragedy in our city or in our own lives. (Is God for us). They can come from a bad experience with a Christian or church. Our enemy (the devil) loves to seed doubt about our Loving God. So what can we do?

When doubts about God come to me, I go to the One I’m doubting. I ask Him for His help, His wisdom and His understanding. I ask Him to bring people across my path who can help me. If you’re doubting Him today, turn to Him. And pray for that family.

Nothing too complicated for God

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Do you ever think that your situation or the challenges you face are too much for God? We probably wouldn’t actually say yes to that if we really thought about it. But I know I sometimes live like this. I run around and try to figure out things to the best of my ability. Then I come to the end of my knowledge or wisdom or ideas. Sometimes, its only then that I turn to God.

I read today about His amazing ability to accomplish His purposes despite man’s attempts to frustrate them. There was a king named Ahab who ruled northern Israel for over 20 years. He led them away from God into Baal worship (pagan stuff; lots of weirdness and crazy dancing before carved stones – not the Rolling Stones but there is crazy dancing before them too – hmm). Ahab decides to go to war against Syria. He wants affirmation so he calls in 400 yes prophets for encouragement.

His ally, Jehoshaphat, listens to the yes men. Then asks “Is there not another prophet of the Lord?” Ahab states flat out “I hate him. He never prophesies good.” But Jehoshaphat convinces Ahab to hear this prophet Micaiah.

The messenger bringing in Micaiah pleads with him to tow the party line. Say yes to the yes men. Micaiah at first plays along. But Ahab sees right through it. “What do you really think?”

Micaiah reveals that Ahab’s army is going to be wiped out and that God ordained the 400 yes men to encourage Ahab to go. You’d think Ahab would be smart enough to stay home. But he’s out to go to war and show God up. So he thinks he has the solution.

He and Jehoshaphat will go into battle. But Ahab will wear a disguise – perhaps just an ordinary soldiers outfit. He tells Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes anyway. (Why did Jehoshaphat agree to this dumb suggestion?) The Syrians only want to get Ahab. But now he’s disguised. Ahab thinks he’s outsmarted God.

How would the Syrians get him? There’s no Google Earth to search for him on his palace grounds. They can’t do a Google image search on “Ahab.” They at first attack Jehoshaphat because he’s the only dude dressed like a king. But they somehow realize its not Ahab.

Then comes 1 Kings 22:34 – “But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate.”

At random! An ordinary archer. He picks out an ordinary looking soldier. The arrow strikes the tiny opening between the armor and breastplate. Ahab dies. God accomplished His ultimate purpose in spite of 400 yes men, a revelation of his plan in advance, a disguise and no Google image.

This is just one of hundreds of examples in Scripture where God accomplishes His purposes despite complex obstacles opposing Him.

So back to your life and mine. Too complex for God? Too challenging? Don’t think so. Know so.

Apology to Engineers and Scientists

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Hi everyone: I would like to make a sincere apology to all my engineering and scientific friends who were in attendance last week to hear the message. I said that just like the law of the Spirit and life replaces the law of sin and death, the law of aerodynamics replaces the law of gravity when a plane takes off and reaches a certain speed.

Several engineers and scientists in the crowd visibly twitched. I was later informed that the law of gravity still exists. But the lift force offsets it? Something about Bernouli’s (Bernie Ooley?) principle. So I apologize for causing your internal twitch.

However, I’m not sure I really said the law of aerodynamics “replaces” the law of gravity. I knew in drawing up the illustration that gravity still exists when a plane flies. So I think I said something like “it’s kind of like this.” But the Engineers and Scientists didn’t see it that way or hear it that way. (Or perhaps they were looking for an excuse just to rip me! :))

Anyway, that’s the price you pay for trying to connect Scripture to real life. I hope you still get the bigger point! Ha.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

PT

Going deep with God by having Him carry our loads

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Pastor Tom

This past weekend, my daughter broke her collar bone. This makes the basics of life more complicated (cutting a piece of toast, getting dressed, sleeping sitting up). Then we turn on the news and watch what the people of Haiti are going through. And I have heard of many friends bearing some similar load in their personal, family or professional life.

So please take some time to read, think and pray over this wisdom from John Piper.

Going Deep with God by Having Him Carry Our Loads

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2000/1163_Going_Deep_with_God_by_Having_Him_Carry_Our_Loads/
Download:
By John Piper October 31, 2000

One of the reasons we don’t know God deeply is that we don’t venture much on his pledge to carry things for us. Knowing God with a sense of authentic personal reality, is not merely a matter of study. It is a matter of walking with him through fire and not being burned. It is a matter of not being crushed under a load because he carries it for you at your side. What, then, does he carry?

1. God has carried our sins.

Isaiah 53:11, “By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.” Hebrews 9:28, “Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many.” 1 Peter 2:24, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.”

Believing this and experiencing its liberating effect is crucial. 1) It is crucial for life now. Guilt feelings do not have the last word! 2) It is crucial for the hour of our dying. The sting of death is sin, but thanks be to God, it was removed. 3) It is crucial for everlasting joy. Christ’s sin-bearing work secures for us never-ending compensation for every so-called “loss” in this life of sacrificial love. This confidence is the foundation of knowing God.

2. God pledges to carry our anxieties.

1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” The only other place this word for “cast on” occurs is in Luke 19:35 where the disciples threw their coats on the colt for Jesus to ride.

What worries does God aim to take from our backs and carry for us? Every kind. For example, anxieties about 1) lacking necessities (Phil. 4:4–7); 2) being useless (Is. 55:11); 3) weakness (2 Cor. 12:9); 4) decisions (Psa. 32:8); 5) opponents (Rom. 8:31); 6) affliction (Psa 34:19; Rom. 5:3–5); 7) aging (Is. 46:4); 8) dying (Rom. 14:7–9); and 9) not persevering (Phil. 1:6; Heb. 7:25).

When George Mueller was asked how he could be so calm in the middle of a hectic day with so many uncertainties in the orphanage, he answered something like, “I rolled sixty things onto the Lord this morning.” When Hudson Taylor was told about missionaries in his charge being in trouble, he was heard soon after whistling his favorite hymn, “Jesus I Am Resting.”

3. God pledges to carry our burdens (= “our lot”).

Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” The word for “burden” here is “lot.” What is your lot in life today? What has providence brought you. This is finally of the Lord. And will carry it for you. It is not meant to crush you or carry you away. It is meant to test your trust in God to carry it for you. (See also Psa. 16:5; 63:8.)

For Amy Carmichael the “lot” was singleness. There were several chances to leave it, and take “the other life.” But she heard the inner voice, No, no, no. As Elisabeth Elliot tells the story in A Chance to Die.

4. God pledges to carry the cause of justice for us.

1 Peter 2:23, “While being reviled, [Jesus] did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept handing over to Him who judges justly.”

In almost every relationship of life you will be treated unjustly. “Jesus never called us to a fair fight” (George Otis). How will you not be embittered? By letting God carry your cause and settle accounts either on the cross or in hell. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (Rom. 12:19). Leave it to him. Prepare to be treated unjustly, whether it is someone breaking in front of you in line, or bearing false witness at the final trial of your life.

5. God pledges to carry you all your life.

Isaiah 46:3–4, “Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (See also Ex. 19:4; Psa. 18:35; 94:18.)

In the end the Christian life is a life of being carried from beginning to end. We work. But it is not we, but God who works within us (1 Cor. 15:10).
Conclusion

So come to him, all you who labor and are heavy laden and find rest for your soul. Go deep with God and know him better by venturing more on his pledge to carry you and all your concerns.

Carried,

Pastor John

© Desiring God

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Dad, why did God allow that earthquake in Haiti?

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Pastor Tom

“Dad, why did God allow that earthquake in Haiti,” my son asked while we watched news footage of the devastation. The amount of suffering and devastation on any given story was overwhelming. Then, the question.

How would you answer? Part of the answer is “I don’t know.” It’s not easy to figure out why things happen and we tread on shaky ground when we become amateur prophets. Another part is “to remind us that we’re not in control.” Sometimes we can go on thinking we’ve got the world by the tail. But actually we don’t. Events like this remind the world of that reality. Another part might be to show His amazing ability to bring good out of tragedy. God has done that over and over again in lives, people groups and nations.

But please pray and please give as you see opportunities to do so on the website. And for some deeper pondering on this I recommend this article on why Satan is left on Earth.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2003/1235_Why_Satan_Is_Left_on_Earth/

Lord bring hope and rescue to my surviving Haitian brothers and sisters.

A New Year - Oh No or Oh Yes!

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Pastor Tom

Back to school, back to work, back to bills, back to “reality.” As I look forward into 2010 I could get my heart rate up to 190 by piling on all I “need” to do or all the uncertainties before me. I then look at the New Year with an “oh no!” attitude.

But that won’t do me or those around me much good. Instead, I need to give this year and all its potential to the Lord. I need to trust Him to lead me. I need to stop and think about Psalm 99:1 – “The Lord reigns.”

Yes Lord. So what does that mean for me? Where do you want me to focus? Lead me and I’ll follow. You know so much better what I really need to do. You will unfold the uncertainties one step at a time. Thanks Lord that I don’t (we don’t) have to go into 2010 alone. A New Year – Oh Yes!

Christianity, Truth and Downward Mobility

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Pastor Tom

One of the temptations I face as a pastor is “selling” my faith with all its benefits. I could tell people that coming to Christ can help you make sense of your world. Or it will give you inner peace. Or it gives you morality. Or it’s something that will give you passion for life. All these “benefits” are possible in the Christian life.

But every other faith can claim the same benefits. So religion can simply become a polite competition for the spiritually seeking. It seems like our society has settled into that understanding of religion. “Whatever works for you is great.” “It’s all food,” I once heard. “Each faith is like a different section of the spiritual buffet.”

If this is the case, it’s no wonder that the “non-religious” get skeptical or apathetic. They can see each faith as simply another attempt to sell them something. Or the “spiritual buffet” image lessens any urgency or importance of faith.

However, if we raise the question of truth, the stakes become much higher. I am convinced by the evidence that Christianity and its claims are true. That frees me to be completely honest with someone about why I think they must seriously consider Christ. I’m not trying to sell something. I’m not trying to dress it up so it’s more attractive than the next religion. I don’t get a commission. I simply present the evidence and ask others to consider it.

This truth claim also protects them from false expectations or disappointment.
Following Christ does bring great benefits. But it doesn’t mean all problems go away. It doesn’t mean there will be no suffering. In fact it might increase suffering. It might mean losing a position of privilege. It might mean losing a life (as thousands of Christians did just that this past year around the world because of their faith).

If Christianity provides only a few mild benefits than can be found in any other faith, why do Christians endure suffering and downward mobility and even death? That’s a complete waste if you can find the same thing at the next religious store. But if Christianity is true, then it all might make sense and be worthwhile.

During this season, we Christians remember Christ’s coming. One of the Gospels
describes his coming this way – “The true light which enlightens every man was coming into the world.” The true, genuine, non-counterfeit, real light came into the world. This same Gospel claims He stepped into history at a specific point in time and became “flesh” or “human.” This is the mystery and wonder of the Christmas season.

We might think it so amazing and cute that Jesus came as a baby and was laid in a manger. But this was the ultimate act of downward mobility. He left the glories of heaven to be born into the frail state of an infant, in a little know city, in a nameless inn’s stable to parents in poverty. If true, then suffering for His name’s sake, losing a position of privilege and even dying for His name seems par for the course. I don’t want to sell you anything. I invite you to examine the evidence and claims of Jesus. Merry Christmas to you all!

I want no "only"

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Pastor Tom

I was reading today about the beginning of King Solomon’s reign. You know Solomon, the wisest king ever? Well here’s what 1 Kings 3:3 says “Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, ONLY (capitals mine) he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.”

Right from the start, Solomon lived a compromised faith. Sacrificing at high places meant sacrificing to other gods. He did that right through his reign. It’s like the Lord was his God in Jerusalem but outside the city he served other gods.

Sometimes, I might live like Solomon. “I love you Lord, only let me have this part of my life for myself.” Lord, I want no “only” attached after my name. Please strengthen me!

Be strong men!

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Pastor Tom

The Tiger Woods scandal has rocked the Golf world and Sports world. A man who had it all admitted to some transgressions. One part of this sad story is that Tiger’s wife went through his cell phone and was going to call all the saved numbers on there. A magazine got a hold of Tiger allegedly asking a woman to change her display name to a number so his wife would not discover this woman.

As I listened to some of the fall out and reaction to his admission, a local sports radio talk show took up the topic. But they didn’t ask “how could this guy have done this?” Their key question was “what could he have done differently so he wouldn’t get caught.” One suggested he have two cell phones – a regular cellphone and a girlfriend cellphone. Another talked about how Tiger could have been more discreet.

How weak! Instead of calling for all men to be strong and faithful, we seek ways to more effectively hide “transgressions?” The “strong man” image this world portrays is actually pretty weak. The world’s strong man is rugged, independent, wealthy, powerful and has plenty of women. But that’s weakness!

It takes a lot of strength to be faithful in body, emotions and mind. In fact it can be difficult but not impossible. God’s Word calls men to be strong in difficult situations by asking Him for strength. “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go;” on business trips; on a guys night out; at the computer late at night; in your thoughts.

We must be strong and not invent ways of hiding weakness.

Pray for the Wood’s family.

Life is fragile. Cherish it!

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Its getting colder! My hands froze the other night while I was putting the final Christmas lights up on our house. I’ve got a lot to do. I’m behind on some things. And the Christmas rush is here. Am I just going to put my head down and push through this season? I could but I will certainly miss all the gifts life brings during these upcoming days.

A couple of events this week hit me again about the fragile nature of life. This past weekend, four police officers sat down for coffee in a coffee shop. It happens all over North America all the time. But this time, none of them came out alive. They were gunned down by someone who hated the police. The gunman was later shot and killed. So now the family members of all involved prepare for a very different Christmas season without their loved ones.

Last weekend, two teenagers were found dead in their Calgary home. Their father is now charged with their killing. Their mother and classmates now deal with the aftermath of two young lives ending.

So yes, its getting colder. My hands froze for a minute or so. I’ve got a lot to do. I am behind on some things. But I have this gift of life worth treasuring and investing.

Lord help me to keep perspective on life through the days to come!

Evangelism and Social Action

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Check out this comment by John Stott about the necessity of both Evangelism and Social Action in the church.

Evangelism and Social Action (cont’d.)

829. Polarization and specialization
I suggest the need for a threefold recognition about
evangelism and social action:

(a) A recognition that the two are partners in the
Christian mission… ‘distinct yet equal’ partners.
Neither is an excuse for the other, a cloak for the other,
or a means to the other. Each exists in its own right as
an expression of Christian love. Both should be included
to some degree in every local church’s programme.

(b) A recognition that both are also every individual
Christian’s responsibility. Every Christian is a witness,
and must take whatever opportunities he is given. Every
Christian is also a servant, and must respond to challenges
to service, without regarding them as merely occasions for
evangelism. Yet the existential situation will often
assign priority to one or the other of the two
responsibilities. For example, the good Samaritan’s
ministry to the brigand’s victim was not to stuff tracts
into his pockets but to pour oil into his wounds. For this
was what the situation demanded.

(c) A recognition that, although both are part of the
church’s and the Christian’s duties, yet God calls
different people to different ministries and endows them
with appropriate gifts. This is a necessary deduction from
the nature of the church as Christ’s body. Although we
should resist polarization between evangelism and social
action, we should not resist specialization. Everybody
cannot do everything. Some are called to be evangelists,
others to be social workers, others to be political
activists. Within each local church, which as the body of
Christ in the locality is committed to both evangelism and
social action, there is a proper place for individual
specialists and for specialist groups.

—From “Evangelism, Salvation and Social Justice”, by R. J.
Sider with a response by John Stott (2nd edn. Nottingham:
Grove Books, 1979), p. 22.

——————————————————————————
—Excerpted from “Authentic Christianity”, pp. 343–344, by
permission of InterVarsity Press.

A third way between Traditional and Emergent?

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Pastor Tom

A colleague of mine from my Wisconsin study group reviews the book “Deep Church.” Here are his thoughts.

Deep Church
from DashHouse.com by dsd@DashHouse.com (Darryl Dash)

My latest column at Christian Week:

Just when I thought the discussion on the emerging church had ended, Jim Belcher comes out with the best book on the topic so far. It turns out the discussion isn’t over, and there’s still lots that can be salvaged no matter who you are.

The book is Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional. It takes me back to the early days of the discussion before things got so polarized. Belcher describes the tensions that many of us felt in the early days. He is theologically conservative, and yet he was part of the early movement. He considers himself an insider and an outsider at the same time.

He’s written Deep Church for those of us caught in between, who “are unhappy with the present state of the evangelical church but are not sure where to turn for an answer.” It’s also useful for those who want to understand what the emerging church is all about, as well as for seminarians and pastors who want to sharpen how ministry is practiced in their context.

Belcher begins by telling his story. In the 1990s, he began to crave the deep fellowship he had experienced as a Ph.D. student at Georgetown, or the kind that Francis Schaeffer had developed at L’Abri in Switzerland. He started by inviting a few friends to his apartment for a weekly discussion. Within a couple of years, the group grew to a couple of hundred young adults. Belcher first thought that this group was unique within the larger church world, but he soon discovered that similar groups were starting all across the country. They weren’t satisfied with how church was presently done. Belcher began to develop friendships with other leaders including Rob Bell, now pastor of Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Belcher still appreciates a lot about the emerging church. He likes that people are trying to rediscover what the church should be like and how it should impact culture, and what it means to be a Christian in a changing world. He thinks the emerging church has done a good job of assessing the problems in the traditional church. But he also has qualms about some of the answers the emerging church has offered to the questions they ask.

In the main section of the book, he takes us through seven areas of discussion: truth, evangelism, gospel, worship, preaching, ecclesiology, and culture. Belcher wants both sides to understand each other, finding agreement in areas of classic orthodoxy described in the ancient creeds while allowing second-tier differences. “Learning from traditional and emerging voices,” he writes, “I believe that deep church moves beyond them to a more excellent way – mere Christianity.”

To be honest, I’ve been disenfranchised lately with the direction of the emerging church. Belcher’s book reminded me of what I used to appreciate. I’ve been wrong to be too dismissive. I needed this correction.

But if you’re worried that Belcher will be either too sympathetic or too critical, you can relax. I thought he did a good job of presenting the positions of people in the best possible light, refusing to paint caricatures or to take cheap shots. The endorsements from emerging thinkers indicates that he succeeded. But he isn’t afraid to analyze these arguments and point out where he thinks they are wrong.

It’s not a perfect book. Belcher probably errs on the side of graciousness. He may be too optimistic about the possibility of a genuine third way when things seem so polarized. I sure like that he is trying.

The real strength of the book is that it poses the key issues asked by the emerging church, questions which, after all, still need to be answered. It pushes us to a holy dissatisfaction with the weaknesses of the traditional church and shows us that we can do better. At the same time, it avoids the excesses of some who criticize the traditional church, and emphasizes the need for classic orthodoxy.

“It is my hope that Deep Church will become a platform for working out a third way in the church.” It’s a tall order – but it’s sure worth a try.

The Pro Life Two Step

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Justin Taylor’s blog describes a helpful way to engage in discussions about abortion.

When thinking through the logic of life, it’s always good to get some good fog-clearing advice.

For example, Alan Shlemon recently gave a defense of the pro-life position at Central Michigan University and he focused on just two claims:

(1) the unborn is a distinct, living, and whole human being from the moment of conception;

(2) abortion is discrimination: it disqualifies a group of human beings (the unborn) from being valuable because of an arbitrary quality or characteristic.

He then fielded objections from the audience. The vast majority of objections against the pro-life view, he says, come in one of two forms.

They either assume the unborn is not a human being.

Or, they disqualify the unborn from being a valuable human being based on an arbitrary quality or characteristic.

When I hear a defense for abortion, I figure out which category it falls in.

Then, I can show them the misstep by appealing to one of the two claims I defended in my opening remarks.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/15/the-pro-life-two-step

No big deal?

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Pastor Tom

“It’s no big deal.” That’s what I hear in my head when I make a “little” choice that puts convenience over obedience. But these little choices seemingly insignificant choices can lead to Big Trouble.

Consider King David. He was ruler over a strong nation. He was a man after God’s own heart. God promised to keep a member of his family on the throne forever. Yet “in the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent his army but David stayed home in Jerusalem.”

What was he thinking? “I’ve done my fair share of battle. It’s time to delegate.” Or “I never get to see spring in Jerusalem. I think I’ll just stay home.”

But he made one little choice that pointed his life on a trajectory of rebellion, distance from God and long term misery. One little choice – then came lust, adultery, cover up, murder, loss of intimacy with God for over a year, death of the child conceived and never ending strife in his immediate family.”

Yes David repented and the Lord forgave. But the consequences of a “no big deal” choice lasted long.

Lord, help me to say no to choosing convenience at the expense of obedience.

Love always trusts?

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Isn’t it naive to always trust in love? The stories I hear from people in broken relationships often reveal betrayal, deceit and long term consequences. But 1 Corinthians 13 talks about a love that “always trusts” or “believes all things.”

How can this be? Upon further study, it became clearer that this trusting love is more willing to believe the best about people than the worst. It is more willing to assume good motives rather than bad motives.

I don’t think it means we give up discernment. But this love fights back when an immediate negative thought about another jumps into our mind with no factual basis. It’s a hard balance to maintain – discernment and trust. But we need not project one negative experience in a relationship onto every other relationship in our lives.

That’s just one nugget in the deep mine known as 1 Corinthians 13.

Do our soldiers willingly give up their lives?

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Pastor Tom

“Today we want to remember those soldiers who willingly gave up their lives for us so,” I said at a Remembrance Sunday worship service. We read “In Flanders Fields.” We had a moment of silence.
But following the service an elderly couple approached me. They asked a question I’d never thought about before. “Do you think soldiers willingly give up their lives on the battlefield?”
He was a veteran of the Russian and German armies in World War 2. He lived in Russia but was of German descent. When the Germans invaded Russia, he was recruited to the Russian army. He was captured in the first weeks of that campaign.
Then when the Germans found out he was German, they “recruited” him into their army. He fought at Stalingrad. But later he was captured by the Russians. He survived the war and eventually found his way to Canada. She was a German living in Poland. She saw first hand the German invasion of Poland and then the Russian counter invasion. Eventually she spent 13 months in prison at the end of the war for being German.
I thought about their question. I assume that soldiers who volunteer do so willingly. So they agree to put their lives on the line. But do they give up their lives willingly? I’m not sure. I’m not a soldier but from what I’ve read, it seems soldiers try to avoid death as much as possible on the battlefield.
This couple then shared their perspective. He said that on the eastern front, you fought for your buddies. You fought the enemy and fought hard to survive. You might have your life taken from you. But few willingly gave up their lives to death.
I don’t know if there is an absolute answer to that question regarding soldiers. But I do know there is one who did give up his life willingly. The Bible tells us he resolutely set out for Jerusalem to die. The night before his death, his arresters led by Judas searched for him. The Bible tells us he went out to meet them. (John 18:1–11). He asked them “Whom do you seek?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
He didn’t deny his identity. He didn’t try to get out of it. He said, “I am he.” Then something remarkable happens. “When Jesus said to them, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” Judas and all the soldiers fell down. Perhaps they were struck by the resolute nature of the one who spoke.
Jesus could have maybe run away. But he asks them “Whom do you seek,” a second time. He again acknowledges his identity. It was like Jesus was helping his arresters arrest him. These are the actions of a man who is ready to willingly give up his life. That’s why His action is remembered as the great act of love.
On this Remembrance weekend we remember those who may not have willingly died but willingly put their lives on the line.

How Christ Alone Blows Away the Fatal Effects of Adam's Transgression

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Pastor Tom

I’m preaching on this text tomorrow. But for anyone interested in a verse by verse breakdown, here’s a message I did on the same text a year and a half ago. I hope this will fill in some of the blanks on some of its hard to understand parts.
PT

March 30, 2008 – Romans 5:12–21

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of a continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” English poet and pastor John Donne penned those words about 370 years ago. Ordained in 1615 after years in poverty he eventually became dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. His sermons attracted much attention. But the poems for which he is now famous were not published until 1633, two years after his death. “No man is an island” comes from Devotions upon Emergent Occasions.
Donne states that human beings are somehow interconnected. We are related to one another simply because we are part of the human race. Yet those famous words seem little more than the sentiment of a past age when you look around our society. “It’s all about me” seems to be our slogan. Advertisers have picked up on this. They accommodate by shouting “Its all about you.” Get personalized Easter Eggs for each one of your children. Decide which application you want or don’t want for your Facebook account. Get a personalized tattoo. Download ringtones of your favorite songs. And then there are the coffee shops. If a place only has one brand of coffee with cream and sugar, that’s not going to fit the “its all about me” world. We have to have at least four flavor choices along with Latte and Espresso options.
Now don’t get me wrong. I live in this “personalize it” world. I order a Tall Mild in a Grande Cup with three cream and three sugar when I go to Starbucks. But this individualistic world can lead us to believe that we all are islands. It can deceive us into thinking there is no community or collective responsibility. It can even creep in and distort our understanding of the Gospel with potentially fatal consequences.
If we believe that we’re all islands, the message of the Gospel changes. If we’re not connected to Adam; if we’re not stained by original sin; if we are essentially good, then the Gospel becomes Jesus came to save me from bad choices. Jesus came to unleash my full potential. Jesus only came to be an example I should follow. Such a Gospel requires no blood, no cross and no trust in someone other than us. But the Bible argues that somehow Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden affected all of us. Somehow we all sinned in that sin. Therefore, the devastating, universal, fatal effects of that sin must be dealt with if we are to be reconciled with God. That’s where the Biblical Gospel really becomes good news. The central truth I want you to see from the text today is Christ alone blows away Adam’s fatal, universally damaging transgression.
Through this Easter season we have been examining the Gospel. That’s what Easter is all about. We learned where we can find the Gospel – In Scripture Alone. Then we began answering the question “What is the Gospel?” So far we’ve discovered the answer is Justification Alone By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone I____ C___________ A___________.
The Gospel is good news because it announces the only way to be rescued from the penalty we deserved for our sin. God created everyone. He has Creator rights over us meaning He has the right to demand perfect obedience to His laws. His holy and pure nature requires Him to hate sin and punish it.
We are all sinners; we have all fallen short of the glory of God. We are lawbreakers living under the just wrath of God. The sentence pronounced upon mankind for our sin is guilty. But God, because of His great mercy reached out to provide a means to remedy this. We learned that when God justifies us he declares us righteous, clothes us with Christ’s righteousness and pronounces us not guilty forever. How could God do that without compromising His own justice? He put Christ Jesus forward as an atoning sacrifice by his blood. God poured out the wrath we deserved onto Jesus. So when a person receives Christ, God justifies them.
Then we can agree with Romans 8:1 – there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He declares us not guilty forever. We are saved from God’s wrath and punishment when God justifies us.
Then we learned that The Gospel is Justification alone by grace alone. It is not based on anything we have done to earn justification. We did not make God turn His eyes towards us because of our good works. God’s grace is His goodness to us who deserved only punishment.
Then we learned how the Gospel with all its blessing comes into our lives; through faith alone. God justifies us through saving faith alone and then we continue to live by faith once we’re saved through faith. But who and what do we put our faith in? Christ alone. That is the final phrase of the definition of the Gospel; in Christ alone. By the end of our time together we should see why we must put our faith in Christ alone; how Christ alone blows away the universally damaging consequences of Adam’s one transgression. Finally, we’ll consider how to respond to this monumental Biblical truth. Our text today is Romans 5:12–21.
The text we will study today is complex. Why does God include hard texts in the Bible? Perhaps its because it forces us to call out to Him for help in understanding them. If we could easily understand everything in the Bible, God wouldn’t be much of a God would he? So today we need to cry out to God to help us persevere through this text so we can grasp more fully the deep truths found here. Let’s ask for His help now.
Romans 5:12–21 (English Standard Version)

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ alone blows away Adam’s fatal universally damaging transgression.
First let’s define our terms. Christ alone means Jesus Christ’s life, suffering, death and resurrection. Adam’s fatal, universally damaging transgression occurred when he listened to the serpent and his wife Eve, and tasted the forbidden fruit. You know men how we like to point out that it was Eve who took the fruit so that somehow a woman is responsible for all the sin in the world. Look who God lays the responsibility upon; Adam. God commissioned him as head of the human race. God holds him responsible. Adam’s transgression or violation of God’s law caused all the trouble.
Paul begins our passage by explaining that. Verse 12. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Then we’d expect Paul to complete the thought with a completing thought. Just as THIS, so THIS. But he stops. Verse 12 contains an incomplete sentence.
What’s going on? Well what has he just said at the end of verse 12? “So death spread to all men because all sinned.” All of us sinned in Adam. But wait a minute. We weren’t there. We didn’t taste that fruit. We didn’t receive the command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Why should it matter what Adam did anyway? We need salvation and forgiveness from our sins, not his sin. What do you mean, all sinned Paul? Why would Adam’s transgression have anything to do with you and me?
It’s like Paul realized that what he’d just written might cause huge objections. So he stops to explain what he means. He’s just claimed that all sinned in Adam. We aren’t sure exactly what Paul means for he doesn’t explain the mechanics of how we all sinned. It could mean that Adam’s sin was the sin of the human race so that it spread to us. Or it could mean that in some real, profound, mysterious way we all sinned at that moment. John Piper puts it this way. “But the deepest problem is that behind all our depravity and all our guilt and all our sinning, there is a deep mysterious connection with Adam whose sin became our sin and whose judgment became our judgment.”
So Paul states death spread because all sinned. But Paul what proof do you have that all sinned – that all of us were somehow connected with that transgression in the garden? Verse 13 – “For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin was not counted where there is no law.” God’s formal law, including the 10 commandments, was given to Moses at Mount Sinai around say 1300 B.C. That was generations after Adam. But even though there was no formal to transgress or violate, people certainly sinned and lived under the consequences of sin. Sin existed but was not counted or taken into account or noticed as much.
Say you live out in the country on a road where no speed limit has ever been posted. Some drive safely. Others drive recklessly and at high speeds. But who’s to really say high speed driving is wrong? There’s no law. Then one day a county official comes along and puts up a sign – Maximum 80 kmh. Many people drove 80 or less before the sign. Others drove way faster endangering lives. Now even before the sign was posted, driving at excessive dangerous speeds was wrong. But now with a sign there, every time someone blows by at 120, they know they’re breaking the law. Sin is now counted or paid more close attention to. But that doesn’t mean sin did not exist before.
Paul says in verse 13 that sin existed in the world before the law; before there were any legal transgressions of God’s law. But what proof does he offer? Verse 14. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression.” People died between that time when Adam transgressed the first law and God gave Moses the law at Mount Sinai. What penalty did God warn Adam and Eve would come if they transgressed that one commandment – death! So even though people between Adam and Moses weren’t physically in the garden when the transgression occurred, they suffered the consequences of that sin in the garden. Infants and children who may never have committed a conscious sin still died between Adam and Moses. How could this be except that all humans sinned in some mysterious way with Adam in the garden? So even though the people between Adam and Moses did not sin by directly transgressing God’s law, they still were guilty because all sinned in Adam.
Now this pause to clarify “all sinned” is critical to understand the argument that follows and to correcting false gospels floating around in our world. If we are guilty before God only because of our individual sins, then if we stop sinning and do good, we are no longer guilty. The Gospel and our salvation begins to depend on us. If we say “through one man sin and death entered the world and then death spread to everybody because we all sinned individually, the comparison with Jesus would then be “through one man, Jesus Christ, righteousness and life entered the world and life spread to us all because we did righteous acts individually. So our salvation would then be based on our righteous acts or good deeds. If we don’t clearly see our link to Adam and the implications of his trespass on all of us, then we won’t clearly see the need to put our trust in Christ alone. If we think we’re islands and have nothing to do with Adam, we miss the need for the Gospel.
Paul then proceeds to explain the fatal, universal damage done by Adam’s sin and the amazing provision of God to undue that damage through Christ.
What were the fatal, universal effects of Adam’s one transgression?
1. The many died through Adam’s trespass (5:15). The curse of death spread to all human beings. All of Adam’s descendents suffer death because of this original sin except for Enoch and Elijah.
2. Adam’s one trespass brought judgment and a guilty verdict upon all (5:16). Verse 16 – For the judgment following one (just one) trespass brought condemnation. The divine guilty verdict is pronounced upon all human beings because of this one massive transgression. Adam brought upon all of us this sentence for his one willful act of disobedience.
3. Through Adam’s transgression, death reigns (5:17). Verse 17 – If because of one man’s trespass death reigns. Adam’s sin brought universal death.
4. Through Adam’s one trespass came condemnation for all men. (Verse 18). Again Paul takes us back to the universal guilty verdict pronounced on all of humankind.
5. By Adam’s disobedience the many were made sinners. (5:19).
Now prepare yourself. I’m going to do a 57 word sentence here but I’ll do it slowly to see if I can pull the effects of original sin on us. Because of Adam’s one transgression and because we are connected to Adam as a member of the human race and because somehow we all sinned in the sin of Adam, the curse of death hangs over us, we are under judgment and the sentence is guilty, death reigns, condemnation is upon us and we were made sinners. We don’t become sinners because we sin. We sin because we’re made sinners. That’s the bad news.
How does Christ alone blow away the fatal damage done by Adam’s transgression?
1) The many received God’s overflowing grace and free gift through Jesus Christ (5:15).
Verse 15 again – “For if many died through one man’s trespass, how much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” Instead of death, Jesus brings overflowing grace and a free gift of life. Notice the word many at the end of verse 15. Don’t we sometimes conclude that there’s going to be five or ten of us in heaven and the rest of humanity will be in hell? After all, there are hardly any Christians around. That may be true here. But the many implies a lot. In fact, one Bible commentator argues it means majority. FF Bruce says “The many” can by no means denote a minority: on the contrary, it follows from these words, as Calvin put it, “that the grace of Christ belongs to a greater number than the condemnation contracted by the first man.” Have you ever thought that there will be more people in heaven than in hell? Calvin knew, indeed, of some who imagined Christians (the elect) as a minority, and who accordingly argued that Paul was here “merely debating a point. But Calvin reasoned “that if Adam’s fall had the effect of producing the ruin of many, the grace of God is much more powerful in benefitting many, since Christ is much more powerful to save than Adam was to ruin.” Do you see the “much more” in verse 15?
That’s why I chose the verb phrase “blows away” for what Christ does to the consequences of Adam’s sin. It’s not like Christ barely compensates and we’re just breaking even. God’s grace is blowing away the competition. On our prayer list this week, we read this from Dieter’s corner “Charles Colson writes this week in “Breakpoint”: while only 3000 copies of the “Jesus” film where sold in Egypt in 1996, 600 000 copies were sold in the year 2 000. Increasing numbers of Muslims celebrated Jesus’ resurrection with us this Easter: Recent converts from Islam: in Russia: 2 million, in Turkey: 35 000, in Algeria: 80 000, in Sudan: 5 million, in France: 10 000. All these new Christians face threats, persecution and family pressures. As the world becomes involved in a clash of civilizations, God continues to bring people into His kingdom from the very heart of Islam.” In Christ Alone, God blows away the fatal damage of Adam’s transgression with overflowing grace and an abounding free gift.
2) In spite of many trespasses, God’s free gift through Christ brought justification (5:16).
Verse 16 again – “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.” Instead of condemnation or a guilty verdict, Jesus brings justification. Remember that happens when we become Christians. God declares us to be right in His sight and not guilty forever. So instead of eternal condemnation Christ brings us eternal pardon.
3) Through Jesus Christ, believer’s reign (5:17).
Now this is an entirely unexpected comparison. Paul begins verse 17 by stating, “If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned.” So we would expect the opposite to be “life reigned.” But what does he say? “Much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” In other words, those who trust Christ receive the abundance of grace, the free gift of Christ’s righteousness AND the privilege of reigning in life through Jesus. So we are not only delivered from death’s reign as a tyrant over us, we ourselves get to reign enjoying life now and eternally with Christ. Notice the “much more.” Again Christ alone blows away the effects of Adam’s transgression.
4) Christ’s one act of righteousness leads to justification and life (5:18).
He finally gets back to completing the though he started in verse 12. “Therefore as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” So again, instead of condemnation, Christ provides justification and life. But there better be some alarm bells going off. Doesn’t this verse teach universalism? Doesn’t it say all men will be justified?
Well first, we must go back to verse 17. There he says “those who RECEIVE the abundance of grace and free gift of righteousness.” So its not all people. The two alls in verse 18 cannot refer to the same people. The first all means all who are in Adam. That truly is the whole human race. But the second all means all who are in Christ. So only those who are in Christ, who trust in Christ benefit from his act of righteousness leading to justification.

5) By Jesus’ obedience, many will be made righteous (5:19).
Verse 19 – “For as by one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners, by one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” In other words, because of Christ’s obedience to the Father, those who receive Him will have their legal status before God changed. Instead of standing condemned, we stand justified because of Christ.
So the entire point of this passage is to show that the work of Christ far outweighs in blessing what the work of Adam did in misery and loss. The obedience of Christ is parallel but vastly superior to the disobedience of Adam. Christ alone blows away the fatal, universal damage of Adam’s transgression.
Now what difference does this complex theology make for your and my life this week?
Well if you’re not a Christian, the fatal, universally damaging consequences of Adam’s transgress still hang over you. On top of that, there’s your own sins that deepen your guilt before God. But there is a simple, free and profound solution. Trust Christ alone. Put your personal trust in the only one who can remedy the fatal universal damage done by Adam’s transgression. Through Faith Justification by grace will flow into your life. Then begin the living the Christian life in a community of believers where you will be taught and encouraged.
For Christians, we must guard against thinking the Gospel is only for non-Christians. We must resist concluding that grace and the Gospel was just great when we became Christians. And we’ll sure need it when we die to get into heaven. But between now and then, we’re on our own. We must recognize we need the Gospel and good news every day in our lives. We require constant conversion from hypocrisy, self-trust and love. We need to continually trust Christ alone to fight our old sin nature.
The fact that Christ alone blows away the fatal consequences of Adam’s transgression relieves us of thinking our justification somehow depends on our faithfulness or our good works. So many religions enslave their adherents by preaching be good and its all good. But how do you know when you’re good enough? How much is good enough? Sometimes people will say “God looks at our hearts and sees our sincerity.” I don’t know about you, but if I’m really honest with myself, I don’t want God to look at my heart to see if there is enough goodness there to justify Him saving me. I would far rather trust Christ and His perfect life than my often shady one. This truth strips away arrogance or unhealthy self-importance.
Our church must be all about magnifying and glorifying Christ. It’s not about us. We learned that in our worship series. Worship is not about whether we liked the music or our favorite song was sung. It’s about using the opportunity to come together and glorify Christ. When we invite people to check out this community, our focus must not be on our greatness. We’re not inviting people to a club where the cool people hang out. We’re a community of sinners who have seen Christ alone reconcile us with God.
All our ministries need to glorify and magnify Christ. The power for ministry comes from Christ. I remember at one pastor’s conference John Piper saying “We’ve got to find a way to do ministry so that God gets the glory for it.” But so often we’re tempted to crave attention and want people to praise us. Maybe we could consider something like this in the ministry we’re involved in. Would someone observing our ministry be more likely to say “Isn’t he or she amazing in what they’re doing? OR “Isn’t it amazing what God is doing?”
This truth that Christ alone blows away the effects of Adam’s transgression frees us from confusion about the “right” savior or that there can be many saviors. Moses, Buddha, Confucias, Madonna, Oprah, Dr. Phil and the Dalai Lama all talk about the need to love each other. But none of them actually dealt with the devastating consequences of Adam’s transgression. If all we need is love, then many “saviors” can claim legitimacy. But if what we need is someone to overwhelm Adam’s transgression, Christ alone accomplished that. We can be boldly to share this truth in a world where the uniqueness of Christ is denied. We are equipped to answer the perennial question “What’s wrong with this world.” Answer – We all sinned in Adam’s sin which has led to fatal, universal damage.
At work – Ask the Lord to help you see difficult people in light of the reality of the fatal universal damage done by Adam’s sin. Ask the Lord to give you His eyes and the way He is using your work to demonstrate or reveal Christ alone as the solution to the world’s biggest problem.
If you’re retired, don’t write off your friends and neighbors that they’ll never change because their seniors. Use the fact of Adam’s transgression and its universal implications as a starting point of discussion. Then offer Christ alone as the solution.
In our marriages and family relationships, we must acknowledge we all struggle with some of Adam’s nature and the effects of his transgression within us. So we need to confess perfectionist expectations we place on our spouses and children. We must take your eyes off our imperfect spouses, kids, jobs, self and focus on Christ. Then look at how to magnify and honor Him in the imperfect situations around you. Spur each other on to magnify Christ in your home and all He has done.
Men – We must fight to embrace and take hold of that for what God accomplished for us in Christ Alone. Continue to receive the Gospel to fight those temptations of apathy, lust, questionable ethics and finding greatest satisfaction in something other than God.
Women consider what God has done for you in Christ Alone; though your spouse may not appreciate you or your kids take you for granted, rejoice in the overflowing abounding grace you have received in Christ alone. Though none of those attitudes exhibited toward you are right, revel in the uniqueness of Christ and God’s free gift to you.
This truth brings comfort to those who have family members wandering from the Lord. Remember their justification depends on Christ alone not on their works. Parents, Continue to trust Christ alone to give strength to overcome anger in parenting and frustration with children. Continue to trust Christ alone for strength to persevere against the oppression our young people face.
When life looks dark, remember Christ did not just remedy the fatal damage of Adam’s transgression. He overwhelmed it and provided an abundance grace and life instead of condemnation and death. If He can overwhelm the deepest problem in the history of humanity, He can see you through your troubles today.
John Dunne was right when he wrote “no man is an island.” But its much deeper than a connection simply because we’re human. We are connected by the universal impact of Adam’s transgression. Yet when we receive Christ, we become connected to a community of the forgiven under Jesus Christ.

If God didn't control evil, the result would be evil uncontrolled.

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Have you ever wondered about how there can be evil and God’s Sovereignty. Here are some helpful thoughts from Joni Eareckson Tada today.

Permission Slips

‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
—Luke 22:31–32
“Satan has asked…” observed Jesus. We can be certain that the old snake didn’t check in with God out of politeness or protocol. He had to get permission and this means the devil operates under constraints. He can’t do what he wants whenever he wishes. He has to clear it with God.

Don’t think this means God and the devil are in cahoots. No way. And don’t think that God is somehow on the side of darkness because he makes the devil come to him for permission. God must control evil. And he does so because he is good. Imagine a God who didn’t deliberately permit the smallest details of your particular sorrows. What if your trials weren’t screened by him? Think what this would mean. First, the devil would be without constraints, free to do whatever he pleased. This means the world would be much worse than it’s present state of war, violence, greed and misery. Left to his own, the devil would make “Jobs” of us all!

I breathe a great sigh of relief over today’s verse. It teaches me that evil can only raise its ugly head where God deliberately backs away for a specific and intentional reason – always for reasons that are wise and good, even if hidden from this present life.

If God didn’t control evil, the result would be evil uncontrolled. And so, God permits what he hates to achieve that which he loves – it’s just that most of us won’t always see it until the other side of eternity.

Think for a moment about the balance of painful and joyful things in your life. Think of how, by God’s grace, you are managing your problems. And now, consider how it could be worse. Were it not for God, it would be.

• * * * *

Lord, I praise you for making the devil operate under constraints.

No greater love

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Pastor Tom

This morning I was reading about Jesus’ last hours. So much happened on that Friday. The reading began with this: “Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.” Somehow, I got stuck on that verse for awhile.

Sometimes I read too fast. But a measly 8 words describe one of the most horrific punishments Rome inflicted on its criminals. The scourge or whip was not a single strand like that used in old Westerns. The Roman whip often had multiple strands. Bone or metal fragments were attached to each strand. So the “whipper” would strike the flesh of the criminal and then rip out the whip to tear the flesh. Many criminals did not survive a flogging.

“Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.” Then they put on the crown of thorns. Then they put on a purple robe which would cake to his body because of his dripping wounds. They they forced him to carry his cross. Jesus could have stopped it at any moment.

But he pressed on even ministering to another crucified criminal and his mother from the cross. Because of that great love, Christians have life eternal and life with God today. Thank you Lord for this unimaginable love.

From ordinary to life changing

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Yesterday, a gunmen entered the Workman’s Comp building in downtown Edmonton. He proceeded to the 8th floor and took 8 hostages. The standoff with police took 10 hours. Thankfully one by one he released the hostages. A half hour after the last hostage was released he gave himself up.

I was thinking about the workers and their families. Yesterday morning, it was an ordinary day where they expected to go to work, do their job, come home and be reunited with their families. But by the end of the day families throughout the city had to call a special emergency info hotline set up by the police to gain information about their loved ones.

I suspect many families were much more intentional about welcoming their loved ones home from work that day. Events like yesterday remind me again of the fragile nature of life. What a gift that can so quickly be whisked away.

One of the best life perspective books I’ve read in the past year is “Don’t Waste Your Life,” by John Piper. If yesterday’s events have you thinking about important things in life, it’s a great read. You can get the book for about $10 or read it online for free. Here’s the link

http://dontwasteyourlife.com/

Thank God for life!

O to be understood!

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Pastor Tom

We all long to be understood. One definition of the word understand goes like this: “To know thoroughly by close contact with or long experience of.” Another states “to know and be tolerant or sympathetic toward the needs, feelings or views of another.” Does anyone understand you like that?

Our current culture may not contribute much to understanding even though we’re more “connected” than ever before. An email may be poorly written. A text message carries a threatening tone. A Facebook invite excludes.

I appreciate Dave Branon’s comments on understanding. It’s hard but it’s worth it!

“It’s feeble avoidance to say we can’t understand one another. We can and we must. It takes time – time spent in one another’s presence asking questions, listening intently, then asking again. It’s as simple and as difficult as that.

No one, of course, can fully plumb the mystery of another person’s heart, but we can learn something new every day. The wise man of Proverbs called understanding a “wellspring of life” (16:22), a deep source of wisdom to all who seek it.

Again, I say, understanding takes time – one of the most precious gifts we can give to others. How we choose to spend our time is the surest indicator of how much we care for those we love.”

If God is Good . . .

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Pastor Tom

I’m talking about suffering this Sunday from Romans 5:1–11. Here’s a resource that is likely helpful.

Randy Alcorn’s new big book on the problem of evil and suffering is now available: If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil (Multnomah).

You can read the table of contents and some excerpts at his Eternal Perspective Ministries page. http://www.epm.org/books/if-god-is-good.html.

Thankful for fleas?

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Thanksgiving weekend is here (in Canada!). It’s a time to reflect that for which I have to be thankful. It’s a pleasant exercise when things are going well. It’s a helpful practice when I take for granted many blessings.

But what about when things are going lousy? I know, I know. We can always find something to be thankful for in the middle of tough times. But what about the tough times themselves. Should we be thankful FOR them? Cancer? Work Stress? Death of a loved one? Loss of job? Relationship Problems?

The immediate answer is NO! And it is true; many of these trials were not part of God’s original creation. I also want to avoid fatalism and any sort of masochistic (enjoying self pain) tendencies.

I was pretty convinced I had the 100% correct answer to this until I read Ephesians 5:20 in the Bible – “always giving thanks FOR everything. And then I read “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom. She and her family hid Jews from the Nazis in World War 2 Holland. Eventually, they were betrayed. The Nazis arrested them. Her father died in a hospital hallway.

She and her sister Betsy ended up at the Ravensbruck concentration camp for women. Corrie was incredibly frustrated and anxious. She was sick of Betty’s positive attitude. Things got worse when they were moved to a barracks infested with fleas. Betty said they must always be thankful even for these fleas.

Corrie threw up her arms in frustration. “I will never be thankful for fleas.” But they also had smuggled a Bible in with them. They hosted a Bible Study whenever they could. But the guards avoided their barracks because of the fleas.

Corrie never forgot that. Even though Betsy died there, Corrie worked through that challenge of thanksgiving for something difficult for the rest of her days. May I capture something from her incredible story this weekend.

Unpacking Forgiveness:

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Pastor Tom

How do you respond when someone has hurt you? A friend of mine has spent a lot of time thinking about forgiveness. You can find out more about this in his book Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581349807/002–8214910-3156015?ie=UTF8&tag=abriintheval-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1581349807)

He also has a “forgiveness quiz” you can take at http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2009/10/07/take-a-new-forgiveness-quiz-and-win-a-book-or-a-flip-video-recorder/

Check out his blog if you find yourself struggling with forgiveness.

The Second Coming of Christ seems so Inconvenient!

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Pastor Tom

It is hard to think about the Second Coming of Christ because its so disruptive! I have so many things I want to accomplish, important errands to run and dreams I hope get realized. But the Second Coming of Christ interferes with all of that. Ha. I mean it puts everything into perspective. At that moment, life as we know it on this planet will be forever changed.

But for Christians it will be the realization of all our dreams and infinitely more! My “errands” will pale in comparison to what we see and become. Sometimes, when I think about the Second Coming, I only think about seeing Jesus in His glory. But I won’t only see His glory, I will share in it.

John Stott writes this in his commentary on 2 Thessalonians:

“The glory of Jesus Christ will not be objective only (so that we see it), but also in his people (so that we share it). We ourselves will be glorified. This will entail a complete transformation into Christ’s image. Our bodies will become at the Resurrection ‘like his glorious body’ (Phil.3:21). Our characters will become Christ-like. ‘What we will be has not yet been made known.’ But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him.’(1 Jn.3:2). Finally delivered from all sin and selfishness, we shall instead be filled to capacity with love for God and others. In consequence, we shall discover our true human identity. We, who all our lives have been pathetic apologies for human beings, will at last be fully human and fully free because fully Christ-like.”

Whoa. I think I can deal with that kind of interruption!

Company's staying . . . . forever!

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Pastor Tom

We have been preparing to host overnight company. You know the drill. Tidy areas that might not be so important to have tidy when its just the family. Ensure lots of things are in place. Prepare the guest room.

But what might we do different if we had to prepare space for permanent company? I was reading in John 14 this morning. There Jesus says “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” In other words, company’s coming and moving in, in the person of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Now this is both comforting and a little unsettling. It’s comforting because it means Jesus sees all my stuff and still loves me and lives in me. It’s not like I have to clean house in preparation for Sunday and then let things go until the next Sunday. Its unsettling because Jesus is not okay with the clutter/mess/sins remaining. He and the Father and Spirit are in us to bring wholesale transformation. The question is will I let Him into every area of my life or treat him as an unwelcome house guest when He approaches certain doors?

But there’s one more good thing about this permanent house guest. He loves me, wants the best for me and will never leave or forsake me. (I guess that’s three things). So I’ve got company staying for the rest of my life. Then I get to move in to His house!

Can God weep and rejoice at the same time?

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Pastor Tom

This week, we received news of the sudden passing of a 15 year old girl closely connected to some friends of ours. We also received news about the successful surgery and cancer free prognosis of one of our church member’s nieces. We sorrow and rejoice at the same time. How do we deal with these conflicted moments? We need to turn to God who does the same thing. Joni Eareckson Tada writes on this in today’s thought.

Man of Sorrows… Lord of Joy

”...I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
—John 17:13

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering….
—Isaiah 53:3
Can God laugh and weep at the same moment? Jesus himself was “full of joy” yet Isaiah called him “a man of sorrows.” We mortals know joy and pain together. A father stands at the altar and sighs deeply as he gives his daughter’s hand in marriage. A woman finally lands that long-coveted job, but in taking it must leave behind familiar friends and the town she loves. A mother watches her son languish behind prison bars, but sees the experience bring the rebellious young man to repentance and salvation. We are “sorrowful, but always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

This is understandable for humans, but how can God be sorrowful yet always rejoicing? My friend Steve Estes comments: “Perhaps the answer lies in his ability to know all things and to see the eternal picture. God does look down on this world and weep. But the world’s twistedness did not catch him by surprise. He knew that humans would fall into sin. He knew that immeasurable sorrow would be let loose. He knew the suffering it would cost his Son. But God decreed to permit man’s Fall because he knew how he would resolve it: that Jesus would die, that his church would eventually triumph through innumerable trials, that Satan’s fingers would be pried off the plant, that justice would be served at the final judgment, that heaven would make up for it all, and that God would receive more glory – and we would know more joy – than if the Fall had never happened.”

Jesus is “man of sorrows” and “Lord of joy” because, as the Son of God, he sees enough of the coming ecstasy to make up for the present agony. And God sees this glorious end as clearly as if it were today. This is why God can be truly and utterly happy and yet actually and really grieve.

• * * * *

Lord, help me to learn to live in you today, so that I may see the coming ecstasy and realize it makes up for my present hurt and heartache. Help me to be rejoicing while I am sorrowful.

Faith AND Intelligence

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Are faith and intelligence mutually exclusive? So often, I hear or read about people dismissing Christianity because it is so naive. “Thinking people know that the miracles aren’t true or that the Bible is mostly myth,” they say. It’s like they’re convinced rigorous thought and Christians cannot coexist.

Bill Crowder points this out: “David McCullough’s biography of John Adams, one of America’s founding fathers and early presidents, describes him as ‘both a devout Christian and an independent thinker, and he saw no conflict in that.’”

Crowder then says “I am struck by that statement, for it carries a note of surprise suggesting that Christians are somehow naive or unenlightened, and that the idea of a “thinking Christian” is a contradiction.”

I agree. Christianity was never meant to be an excuse to shut off our brains. In fact we are commanded to “love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls and MINDS.” (Matthew 22:37).

If someone presents an argument we can’t yet answer, we must not blow them off or plug our ears saying “La, La, La.” It’s okay to say “I’ll have to think about that.” That’s showing love for God and our questioner!

The blessing of hard Bible texts

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Pastor Tom

When something is hard, do we give up? I am working on a hard Bible text this week. Romans 1:18–3:20. It speaks against homosexual behavior, uses some difficult words and is very uncomfortable for 21st century readers. Why did God include a passage like this in the Bible.

Consider Pastor John Piper’s wisdom on this.

“Let me mention four things and then balance them with the less complex side of the gospel. Four things: desperation, supplication, cogitation and education.

1. Desperation (A sense of utter dependence on God’s enablement). I see this in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” The natural man (all of us without the Spirit’s work in our lives) should feel desperation before the revelation of God. He needs God’s help. Well the same thing is true of spiritual – but finite and fallible and sinful – people like me, when I meet difficult texts of God’s Word. I should feel desperation – a desperate dependence on God’s help. That is what God wants us to feel. That is something he has unleashed by inspiring difficult texts.

2. Supplication (Prayer to God for help). This follows from desperation. If you feel dependent on God to help you see the meaning of a text, then you will cry to him for help. I see this in Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” Seven times in one psalm the psalmist prays, “Teach me your statutes” (119:12, 26, 64, 68,124, 135, 171). Or as Psalm 25:5 says, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me.” By inspiring some things hard to understand, God has unleashed in the world desperation which leads to supplication – the crying out to God for help.

3. Cogitation (Thinking hard about Biblical texts). You might think, “No, no, you are confused, Pastor John. You just said that God wants us to pray for his help in understanding, not to think our way through to a solution.” But the answer to that concern is, No, praying and thinking are not alternatives. I learn this especially from 2 Timothy 2:7, where Paul says to Timothy, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.” Yes, it is the Lord who gives understanding. But he does it through our God-given thinking and the efforts we make, with prayer, to think hard about what the Bible says. So when God inspired texts like Romans 3:1–8, he unleashed in the world an impulse toward hard thinking. Alongside desperation and supplication there is cogitation. Which leads finally to . . .

4. Education (Training young people and adults to pray earnestly, read well and think hard). If God has inspired a Book as the foundation of the Christian faith, there is a massive impulse unleashed in the world to teach people how to read. And if God ordained for some of that precious, sacred, God-breathed Book to be hard to understand, then God unleashed in the world not only an impulse to teach people how to read, but how to think about what they read -how to read hard things and understand them, and how to use the mind in a rigorous way.”

(For the full text of this message see http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1999/1074_Why_God_Inspired_Hard_Texts/)

Lord, help me not to shy away from the wealth of riches in difficult texts.

Anonymity is for cowards

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Pastor Tom

In one of my daily readings this AM I found this statement – “Anonymity is the last refuge for cowards.” I think that is a true statement. Take blogs, forums and discussion groups for example. They can be a great tool to facilitate discussion in our busy world. But people can hide behind false identities and screen names. So though they’re saying something, they might not have the courage to truly identify with that saying.

I sometimes read comments after sports articles. It’s quite humorous hearing fans from different teams blast each other or brag on their teams. Some of the comments are pretty outrageous. Some are funny. But some are downright rude. If these folks were face to face, the comments might be quite different.

Here’s a test this same article laid out – if I’m tempted to write something anonymously because I don’t really want to be identified with the words STOP! I need to read it again. Then I need to toss it or rewrite it in a way that would be helpful rather than hurtful.

The article concludes with this statement which is quite a dart to us Christians – “If you don’t want to be identified with your words, God probably doesn’t either.”

Lord, may the words of my mouth (and keyboard!) and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight!

How do you respond to hardship?

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Pastor Tom

None of us “likes” to go through hardship. By nature, we like being comfortable and enjoy easy things. But if I look back over my life, most of my growing came through hardship. However, I didn’t always grow through hardship. Sometimes I chose a negative response that hindered my growth.

I read this week about a man who asked some athletes how they normally responded to hardship. Their responses included fear, anger, self-pity, aggression, despair, abusive behavior, apathy and turning to God. As far as I can see, there’s only one positive response to hardship in that entire list.

But how easy it is to choose one of the other ones. Sometimes we have such an ingrained responses to hardship that we don’t even know our response is negative; like self-pity. Then we follow feeling sorry for ourselves with some self-comfort response like over eating, procrastinating or engaging in some escape activity like hours of TV or computer.

In turning to God, we find one who comforts us in the midst of trouble. Then He enables us to comfort others when they go through trouble. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). Whatever hardships this day or week brings, I need to go to the God of all comfort.

Fail Day

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Pastor Tom

I once read about a college professor who showed great patience with his students. There were three papers due during the semester. When the first paper was due several students came to class pleading for an extension. The compassionate professor believed all their excuses and allowed extensions. But he warned them to be better prepared for the next paper.

The second paper came due. More students appealed for mercy. It was mid-terms. They were behind in their reading. So he allowed further extension but warned this would not happen again.

Then the third term paper due date arrived. He observed the majority of the class strolling in without their papers and with no concern. They didn’t even appeal for an extension. They assumed they’d automatically get it. The professor then called the roll of the class.

“Susie Akins, do you have your paper?”
“Yes, here it is prof.” (She was always one of those keener types).
“Robert Anderson?”
“No prof. I didn’t have time to get it started. But I promise I’ll get it to you in a week.”
“That’s not necessary Mr. Anderson. You get an F on your paper.”

“What are you talking about?” the student yelled. “You gave us extensions in the past. I assumed that you’d give another one today.”
“You assumed wrong Mr. Anderson. I warned everyone here that this would not happen again.”

The roll continued. Out of 28 students, 17 received F’s that day because they assumed the professor’s patience and grace would go on indefinitely. It became the “Fail day” for many students.

God has incredible patience and grace. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish.” (2 Peter 3:8). But the Bible also says “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.” (Ps. 2:12).

I am reminded not to take God’s amazing grace for granted today. Nor must I presume upon His grace and assume I’ll always have time to get things straightened out. The Big Fail day might arrive tomorrow.

Lost Friends

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Pastor Tom

I once had a friend I’ll call Jim. He was a missionary kid who had lots of great stories. He also seemed to have a great passion for Christ. But then things changed. I could sense a hardening towards God, Christians and the church. It seemed like the more he rejected all he grew up with, the happier he got. I eventually lost contact with him and do not know where he’s at today.

As a Christian who believes that in Christ we discover our greatest satisfaction and ultimate hope, it is hard to see friends turn away like that. Its hard when we see that happen in our families to those close to us. At times all we can do is pray. We hope for a gradual thawing.

But sometimes, God comes in with a 1000 degrees of heat to transform a heart that was ice cold to God into a white hot passion for Him. Such was the case with the woman at the well in John 4.

She came to the well at noon when none of the other women were there. She wanted to avoid them because of her reputation and her lifestyle. She had had 5 husbands and was now living with her boyfriend. Yet in a few minute encounter with Jesus she was transformed into a follower of Christ and boldly proclaimed it in her village.

When Jesus’ disciples returned from the town and were surprised to find him talking to a woman, they eventually get into a discussion. Jesus talks to them about harvest. “Four months more and then the harvest.”

Normal farming involves four months from sowing the seed to reaping the harvest. “Normal” thawing of a frozen heart might require 4 years or 40 years of prayer and patience. But then Jesus says “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may be glad together!”

In other words, God has the ability to shrink down the normal time of planting, watering, weeding and harvesting from 4 months to 4 minutes! If you’ve got a lost friend or family member, God might have you on the 40 or 4 year plan of prayer for a thawing. But don’t discount the reality that God can do it in 4 seconds!

I pray that for Jim today wherever he might be.

What if someone knew everything about you?

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Pastor Tom

If someone knew absolutely everything about you, do you think they’d change their opinion about you? I was studying that most famous love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13. You know “Love is patient, love is kind. .” But I was in the “unfamous part.” Near the end of the unfamous part, the author (Apostle Paul) writes this statement “Then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

“Then” refers to the end of time when Christ comes back and ushers in the new age. He points to some sort of greater knowing that will be given at that point. But the last phrase really got me – “even as I am fully known.” Who knew Paul fully, completely and totally? God!

How would you feel about someone who knew you fully? I mean, I don’t even know myself fully. I let other people know a little bit about me. My wife knows much more about me than most people (and still stays with me – thanks L!) But I spend a lot of time ensuring others see the best part of me and don’t see the worst side. I honestly don’t want others to know me fully.

Yet God already does. “Even as I am fully known.” Not “even as I one day will be known.” But “even as I am fully and completely known by God today!” And despite all that God knows about me, He continues to love me and do His good work in me.

Whoa! That’s scary, amazing and humbling. God can handle who we really are! And He still calls to us, invites us to Himself and loves us.

Multi-tasking - a good thing?

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Texting, Twittering, Facebook, Email, Talking on cellphones and driving. Do you admire someone who has the “ability” to do all this almost simultaneously? Is multitasking super-wonderful? Or might it actually detract from us really accomplishing anything?

Check out this link for some very interesting discoveries:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090825/multitask_study_090825/20090825?hub=TopStories

Gotta get back to my message, email, meeting, letters, study and voice mail now! :)

The Gift of Life

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Pastor Tom

In the past week, I have heard about the death of our former school president’s wife, the tragic accident taking the lives of a missionary father and daughter, the death of a nearly full term baby in the womb and the pending death of someone we’ve been praying for in our church family. These realities remind me to treasure each day of life.

Yes, I have troubles. But I also have life, health, strength, family, clean water, cars that work, food in my fridge and choices about the use of my time today. I was born into a family and country where I wouldn’t have to haul water 6 hours a day to keep my family going. Instead I could expend all that energy on development, education and other activities. I earned none of this!

And my greatest treasure is the Lord. He has shown me a love far beyond my comprehension. Jesus sacrificed Himself for me so that I might not only have physical life but spiritual life.

Life is no small gift. May you (re)discover the treasures in your life today!

Life ain't easy

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Sometimes I get mad when I suffer. I look around and see others who apparently aren’t suffering anything. I wonder what I have done to “deserve” this? But I need to constantly challenge my unrealistic expectation of a “suffering-free existence.” I subscribe to Joni Earekson’s daily thought. She comes from a very different perspective. She’s been a quadriplegic since she was 17. She needs someone to turn her at night, dress her and do her hair. She helps me regain perspective during the tough times. Here’s her thought for today.

Life Ain’t Easy

We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.
—Acts 14:22
Everyone who takes the Bible seriously, and many who don’t, agree that God hates suffering. Jesus spent much of his short life relieving it. Scores of passages tell us to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit inmates, and speak up for the helpless. When we feel compassion for people in distress, we know that God felt it first. He shows this by raising sick people from their beds—sometimes to the wonder of doctors, in answer to prayer. Every day he grants childless women babies, pulls small-business owners out of financial pits, protects Alzheimer’s patients crossing the street, and writes happy endings to sad situations. Even when he has to punish sin, he says it gives him no pleasure (Ezekiel 18:32). In heaven, Eden’s curse will be canceled. Sighs and longings will be historical curiosities. Tears will evaporate. Tissue companies will go broke.

But it simply doesn’t follow that God’s only relationship to suffering is to relieve it. He specifically says that all who follow him can expect hardship. But didn’t Jesus hang on a cross so we wouldn’t have to suffer hell? Yes, but not so we wouldn’t have to suffer here—on earth. Listen to the Bible on this:

“I will show [Paul] how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16).

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ… to suffer for him… ” (Philippians 1:29).

• * * * *

The Bible goes even further. After calling Christians “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” it adds—“if indeed we share in his sufferings.” In other words, no one goes to Christ’s heaven who doesn’t first share Christ’s sufferings. Do you think you should be exempt from suffering? Listen to this final word from Hebrews 5:8, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered…” This week, purpose in your heart to be no greater than your Master. If he suffered, you can expect it too.

May I learn obedience through the hard thing I’m going through right now, God.

Why a "private Christian faith" is a contradiction

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Pastor Tom

It is very common today for people to affirm our faith if we keep it private or for us to think we’re doing pretty good if we prayed once today. But the Christian faith was never meant to be kept private. That’s because the Gospel was to have world transforming impact. Rich Stearns, in his book “The Hole in our Gospel” makes this plain.

“Being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world.”

“We are the carriers of the gospel – the good news that was meant to change the world. Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian community is not enough. God has always demanded more.”

“When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living out lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God’s character – His love, justice and mercy – through our words, actions and behavior. . . . God chose us to be His representatives. He called us to go out and proclaim the “good news” – to be the “good news” – and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option.”

Thoughts?

The Gospel for non-Christians AND Christians

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Check out this article on the Christian’s continual need for the Gospel.

Tullian Tchividjian on The Gospel for Everyday Life. http://www.crpc.org/blog/?p=708

A colleague of mine from my Wisconsin study group says
“The best post I’ve read in the past couple of weeks: Tullian Tchividjian on The Gospel for Everyday Life.”

This is what I’ve been trying to get across in the “Love” series. We can’t just pick up and love. We need Christ and the Holy Spirit to empower and enable us to love this way.

PT

The Lost Art of Reading

Posted on August 15, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Blogger Justin Taylor quotes an article on the decline in reading.

The Lost Art of Reading
from Between Two Worlds by JT

David Ulin, book editor at the LA Times, has an important article that articulates something I have been feeling recently, namely the slow erosion of “the ability to still my mind long enough to inhabit someone else’s world, and to let that someone else inhabit mine.” He writes:

Reading is an act of contemplation, perhaps the only act in which we allow ourselves to merge with the consciousness of another human being. We possess the books we read, animating the waiting stillness of their language, but they possess us also, filling us with thoughts and observations, asking us to make them part of ourselves. This is what Conroy was hinting at in his account of adolescence, the way books enlarge us by giving direct access to experiences not our own. In order for this to work, however, we need a certain type of silence, an ability to filter out the noise.

Such a state is increasingly elusive in our over-networked culture, in which every rumor and mundanity is blogged and tweeted. Today, it seems it is not contemplation we seek but an odd sort of distraction masquerading as being in the know. Why? Because of the illusion that illumination is based on speed, that it is more important to react than to think, that we live in a culture in which something is attached to every bit of time.

. . . What I’m struggling with is the encroachment of the buzz, the sense that there is something out there that merits my attention, when in fact it’s mostly just a series of disconnected riffs and fragments that add up to the anxiety of the age.

Are others out there experiencing something similar? If so, what are you doing to swim against the information stream?

When life gets overwhelming

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Sometimes, my desk is overloaded with things to do and my mind is overwhelmed with people in need or decisions to make. In times like that, I need to go to Psalm 131.

“My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child (me) with its mother (God),
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel (Tom), put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.”

May God grant you His wisdom today to know your part and the “too wonderful” things you need to leave in His hands.

Why we need protection from God.

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Pastor Tom

God is certainly my protector. I seldom thought about my need for protection FROM Him. But God is holy, pure and all-powerful. I cannot just enter His presence on our own. I learned this by reading about close encounters humans had with God in the Bible. Ezekiel was given a special glimpse of God’s glory and presence. But at the end of his encounter with God, Ezekiel 3:15 tells us “I sat for seven days, overwhelmed.” After Daniel encountered God, he “was exhausted and lay ill for several days,” (Daniel 8:27)

God is so far beyond me, so deep in holiness, so awesome in power that I cannot bear His presence on my own because of my own sinfulness and frailty. But He didn’t leave it like that. He poured out His just wrath for my sin onto Jesus on the cross. So when I put all my trust in Jesus, God not only saved me from hell, He took off my filthy rags of a sinful life and clothed me with the perfect robe of Jesus’ life. So when I talk with God now, I won’t be sick for days because I’m covered!

When I do see Him face to face, somehow I’ll be able to bear His presence. (But I think I’ll still be pretty overwhelmed!).

The son of man and THE SON OF MAN

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Pastor Tom

I was reading in Ezekiel 2 this morning. The Lord says to Ezekiel “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.” That must have been a scary moment for Ezekiel. In fact, he reveals that God’s Spirit entered him and set him on his feet. Perhaps he was so weak in the presence of God, He needed God’s help to stand up.

When God calls Ezekiel “son of man,” it means “person, human being” and emphasizes the prophet’s frailty and humanity compared to the Glorious God. But in the Gospels, Jesus is called “son of man” 81 times. However, Jesus was not calling attention to His frailty. He was the Son of Man who came from heaven to earth and then ascended back to heaven. That glorious moment is described in Daniel 7:13–14. Today, Jesus, in a resurrected human body, the Son of Man, rules the universe from the right hand of God.

This is incredible news for us. We weak sons and daughters of man have THE SON OF MAN on our side. He prays for us, watches over us and empowers us through the Spirit to live and act in ways honoring to God. In those moments when our weakness is especially apparent we can turn to the all powerful SON OF MAN with whatever troubles us today.

Recapturing the Vision

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Sometimes life’s troubles blur our vision of God. A devastating diagnosis; a phone call bearing bad news; restructuring at the office; a visit from the police; a call from the principal; all can dominate our thinking and field of vision. We can become consumed with that bit of news or that problem before us. During those times it is critical to spend time recapturing a clear vision of who God is. One way I do this is to visit Bible passages where people saw something of God like Isaiah 6, Daniel 7, Revelation 1 and Revelation 4.

This morning I read Ezekiel 1. Ezekiel says he saw “visions of God.” After describing four living creatures, he gets to God in v. 22–28. Her writes “I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.” Ezekiel had a hard time describing whom he saw. Yet he did his best.

Our God is that one full of fire and surrounded by brilliant light. He continues to reign and rule even in troubles. If you’re vision of God has been blocked by something today, you can recapture some of it by going to Ezekiel 1. Then look back at your troubles knowing this same God is in control.

Demolishing Strongholds Inside!

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Pastor Tom

We are talking about “Becoming a church that lives on the Jericho Road in St. Albert and the World.” This assumes our complete dependece on Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus says “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing!” Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” Yet we need not fear because God entrusts us with weapons that have divine power to demolish strongholds – 2 Corinthians 10:3–4. I believe these weapons to be God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and prayer.

When I think of strongholds, I think about the community and what areas Satan has held for a long time. But I came across this piece today by Joni Eareckson Tada that reminds us of strongholds in our hearts. Enjoy!

Strongholds Demolished!

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
—2 Corinthians 10:4
Fantasies. Silly thoughts. Vain imaginations. Useless daydreams. These will
puff themselves up so high in your head that you would swear they were true. A
furtive thought lingers in your mind and begins to wear a rut, repeating
itself time and again. It could be a false hope, an unfounded fear. Whatever
it is, it doesn’t belong in your head. It’s a vain imagination.

I know from experience that if you let vain imaginations grab hold of you, they become powerful strongholds. Every time you re-play that daydream it’s like laying more bricks, making the stronghold higher. Then, when you want to kick the thoughts out of your head, you can’t. You try the turning-over-a-new-leaf routine: “I’m not going to think those thoughts. I’m not going to waste any more time daydreaming.” Trying to single-handedly dismantle strongholds in your mind that way, doesn’t work. That’s why I am so grateful “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.”

Christians have divine power. That’s the key, divine power, to tear down every vain imagination. It’s possible. You really can make your thoughts obedient to Christ. It may take some time, but by God’s grace, that high tower can be toppled.

• * * *

“Grace… teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions…” (Titus 2:11,12). After the stronghold is knocked down, the rubble still needs to be cleared. Every time I say “No” to some tempting thought, a few more bricks lying around are smashed to bits. But every time I let something linger in my mind that I shouldn’t, I can almost see that stronghold begin to build itself again.

Is there some vain imagination, some stronghold in your mind? Don’t rehearse those daydreams or entertain wrong thoughts. Demolish the stronghold with divine demolition.

Jesus Christ, Conqueror of our weaknesses, teach me not to let fantasies and wrong thinking build great edifices in my mind. Give me the power to demolish those thoughts and to replace them with obedience to You.

Taken from More Precious Than Silver. Copyright © 1998 by Joni Eareckson Tada. Used by permission. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Hello!

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Pastor Tom

Hello!

Welcome to Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church’s new website. We hope it will be one which furthers greater connection within our community and with Christ Himself. I was a little scared when I saw “Pastor’s Blog” on the website. I wondered if I could do it.
After all, there are some pretty amazing blogs out there. But I’m not going to try to compete. I see this as an opportunity to connect with you more of you in a different way. I would love to talk more about the messages or what’s happening in the world. I would love to hear from you about what God has said to you through a Bible text.
I want to share with you some of the things God has provided for me to keep on going through 38 years of the Christian life and 20 years in the ministry. So I look forward to seeing what God might do through this forum of interaction.

Sincerely,

PT