There are houses where the songs love to visit....

Praise is praise and it's more than (although it includes) emotion. Some of us have to check our selves and this need of music to feel God to know him, the dependency on the praise "fix". (Kind of fickle and shallow, if we were honest with ourselves - ouch, I'm a hard-core romantic)

That being said, some groups, individuals have an anointing, "the grease", whatever you want to call it.

The songs love to visit them.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is one. U of T gospel choir is another. They did a benefit with the North Toronto Band for AIDS in Zimbabwe the other week.

It was a mixed bag of people - some Rotarians of the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Jain faith, some trad. salvationists and the choir. The choir was on form, the slow stuff leading us into reflective stance, the happening stuff pulling us to our feet.

After some of Bev's rotary friends said of the choir - whatever they have is real, it's not only in their voices, it's on their faces. I can attest as well, they were shining for Jesus.

Powerful! And a bonus to see my eldest singing in the choir, and to hear her speak passionately and thoughtfully about her mission to Zimbabwe with John.

There are choirs, people, where the songs love to visit... May we be those "temples" - singing, shining - in our spot in the choir - in our God-shaped destiny in the world!

Roots and Wings

Bev and I are in Edmonton, having shared a weekend “Focusing on Families”. We left friends, jobs, home, church family 28 years ago!

What a flood of emotions, thoughts, memories, nostalgia – catching up on additions, losses, struggles, sad stories, happy stories – people still gathering in hope and love in community. What a rich time in seminars, conversation, worship.

I met a man who was still greeting people at the door, and working the sound system. He made a point of chatting with me, reminding me of my last words to him, when we had last met, when he had visited our first corps, in 1980.

“I’m where I’m supposed to be”

Well it’s been quite a journey – but perspective proves the reminder of my words to him true all these years later.

We shared on Roots and Wings. Rooted in Jesus, his body, timeless biblical principles, obedient to him, and in doing so experiencing, soaring if you like, beyond what we ever could have imagined.

God knows the beginning from the end. We can trust and obey. Are you where you are supposed to be?

God's Grace.....

I'm so tired today. Back in the office, but thanking God for passionate, energetic, youth; answered prayer; updates with old friends, and connections with new ones - race, age, socio-economic stuff blown away by God's grace.

Got to spend a great weekend of fellowship with Youth and Leaders from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This old guy kept up with the late hours, football game, and powerful worship.

Here's Heidi's testimony - she arrived late due to a traffic accident. She's rooted in Jesus.

God's grace, how would you define it? Ephesians 2:8 describes it as, "for it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

I know I experienced God's grace yesterday, on the trip here...As some of you might have heard the truck I was travelling in ended up driving through the ditch to avoid a serious accident. The vehicle hit the ditch at a high speed but avoided rolling, hitting a mailbox, a telephone booth, a pole and two vehicles. All those in the vehicle were not seriously injured.

When I realized that everybody was OK, it really dawned on me how much grace God has. Everybody who went through the ditch are wearing a hospital bracelet from Yorkton hospital. Personally I consider wearing mine to remind me of God's grace. Because of that grace, I am alive and thanking God for how he saved me, both physically and spiritually.

The pain I feel in my back from the accident yesterday is only minor compared to the pain I can imagine I'd feel living a life without God.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

I'll get a good night's sleep tonight - thankful for God's amazing grace - sweet....and his powerful touch on my life - I'm lost without him, I'm desperate for him!

Be the revolution...

Christians have a role, not so much to preserve the world, but to change it.

The language of revolution, let alone the action of revolution sits most uncomfortably with many Christians.

Personal transformation through Jesus Christ leads to a changed lifestyle, a radical form of being the people of God and seeing the kingdom come to expression in all areas of life.

If the church does not demonstrate a radical lifestyle, it can hardly seek to change the world.

(deceased french Scholar, philosopher, activist, author - Jacques Ellul)

Talk or power - talk is cheap - needs mind and heart but let's get on with it.

The Manageable God?

Some have made God so wholly other that he is unreachable.

Some have made him so futuristic, he is inaccessible.

Some have made God so immanent that he cannot be distinguished from the world.

Some have made him so loving he has become condoning.

But some have virtually emasculated him.

God is no more manageable than an artist’s inspiration, a lover’s dream, a prophet’s passion, and a visionary’s articulation of the new world.

I'm reading daily meditations of Jacques Ellul - one insightful dude.

Stress-free living?

I was born anxious - apparently phenobarb was administered, so I would stop rubbing my ankles and the subsequent chafing of my skin.

After quite a journey,I'm learning to love God even more than the desire to have this anxiety go away. Right now it is my offering to him.

The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your presence does not go with us, do not send us from here."

God knew Moses by name, promised his presence; Moses was deseparate and held out and on. David pledges likewise.

Archibald Hart shares another scriptural prescription for stress-free living: "Your beauty...should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle, and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight". (1 Peter 3:3,4)

I can do adrenaline, they don't come more highly wired than myself - but I seek his presence, I seek Him. I trust him. (and I take deep breaths once in a while, just like the one I just took!).

My dog is a good Christian...(according to some)

A lot of conversations being generated about speech - see comments on September 27 and son Joel's blog of Wednesday September 28 canadiansalvo.blogspot.com.

My dog is a good Christian by some's definition - he doesn't drink, smoke, or curse...

How's that for a tease - See my response September 27 for more. I relish conversations and soul-talk - God is honoured.

"May.. the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my Redeemer..."