Championing Generation NEXT

They don't write prayers like they used to....

2008-02-26T21:26:00.003-05:00

Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who cares for us:

Preserve me from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from me the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

Who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, and for ever. Amen.

IF

2008-01-18T13:18:00.000-05:00

IF

If you can keep your head
While all about you
People are losing theirs and blaming you
If you can trust yourself
When everybody doubts you
And make allowance for their doubting too.

If you can wait
And not get tired of waiting
And when lied about
Stand tall
Don’t deal in lies
Don’t give in to hating back
Don’t need to look so good
Don’t need to talk too wise.

If you can dream
And not make dreams your monster
If you can think
And not make intellect your game
If you can meet
With triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same

If you can force your heart
And nerve and sinew
To serve you
After all of them are gone
And so hold on
When there is nothing in you
Nothing but the will
That’s telling you to hold on!
Hold on!

If you can bear to hear
The truth you’ve spoken
Twisted and misconstrued
By some smug fool
Or watch your life’s work
Torn apart and broken down
And still stoop to build again
With worn out tools.

If you can draw a crowd
And keep your virtue
Or walk with Kings
And keep the common touch
If neither enemies nor loving friends
Can hurt you
If everybody counts with you
But none too much.

If you can fill the journey
Of a minute
With sixty seconds worth of wonder and delight
Then
The Earth is yours
And Everything that’s in it
But more than that
I know
You’ll be alright
You’ll be alright.

Cause you’ve got the fight
You’ve got the insight
You’ve got the fight
You’ve got the insight

Boiling a frog in a kettle...

2007-11-07T08:31:00.000-05:00

I shared this phrase with a friend yesterday, it was only the second time in his life he had heard, the first time was earlier in the day.

If you but a frog in a kettle and slowly boil the water it will acclimatize itself, adjust to its surrounding and be boiled/cooked. Slowly, imperceptibly, changed - in this cas for bad.

A commentary on the insidous influences around us in our world which take us captive, without us even being aware. Advertising, technology, peer pressure are only a few.

On the flip side, we can be changing slowly, and imperceptibly for the good, unaware of the positive changes because of God's grace, and his movement in our lives.

Two years ago icons, spiritual directors, prayer labyrinths, Jesus Prayer, Examen, Pilgrimage, centring prayer, silence, solitude were just ideas, words, or maybe even faddish concepts - as I look back, they are a part of my growing, humbling walk with Christ Jesus.

I am grateful, growing - the keeper of the garden of my heart, is redeeming desert places for the Lord I adore.

All myhope is in his mercy...

2007-10-15T09:04:00.001-04:00

"If we feed ourselves with Jesus Christ and his words, we shall be like a vessel in full sail with a fair wind." Fenelon

How insidious the self is, pride is.

Loving God totally, not going a step farther without him, ceding control to him is the issue.

The longer I live, the more insidious I see self to be, and the more I marvel at God's grace and mercy.

All our hope is in his mercy, change our hearts set us free.

In the mystery of mercy, we become what we're to be.

What can save me, nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ.

God is endeavouring to have my love be more complete, I want to help him.

Is God good? Can I trust Him?

2007-10-03T18:17:00.000-04:00

Two very good, basic, obvious? questions. I continue to be amazed by God's grace and mercy. Find myself in Texas with SA Youth Leaders from North America, and am hearing again, the greatest factor, impact on youth is my holiness.

I can only legitimately commend others to live, as I myself live. How we skim the surface of spiritual realities - O how God knows us and wishes us to trust him as we serve others.

Life is too short. Meeting some pilgrims in the way, who share a deep hunger for the deeper things. Learning to trust. I pray and ask God for guidance, blessing, and then I worry!?!?! Do I believe God is good? Can I trust Him? If so, and I thought I did, I must act in accordance with my belief.

A gracious couple have shared devotions at this conference. He has advanced Parkinson's but has so modeled grace, and love, along with his wife. They are modeling (not without struggle at times I'm sure) that they are trusting in a good God and I am blessed by their witness.

We press on, in hope and assurance of God's presence and promise.

Drop thy still dews of quietness....

2007-09-27T14:50:00.000-04:00

I am so tired. It's been busy, and it won't let up for a little while. Off to Texas soon.

I've been fighting technology, new computer doesn't seem to react like the old one, or function or.....knowing when to walk away, and when to duke it out.

Why would we get upset with a piece of machinery.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind; in purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
The beauty of thy peace.

He woke me up this morning....

2007-09-20T07:16:00.000-04:00

September has come full force - love the fall, the dew on the grass in the morning, the leaves, the transitioning of nature, don't have to water my plants as much and they are flourishing.

Activities crowd in. I continue to listen deeply to God, who refutes the lies of the enemy over my soul. I continue to act upon his whispers into my soul, to let his word dwell in me richly. To believe what he says, and to act as if what he says is true.

My prayer life, and intercession are more constant, attentive, integrating my life and my prayer. A few things on the go in the next few weeks - too many, too demanding - I've been praying and God woke me up this a.m. and thoughts tumbled out - I had done my homework, reading and soul preparation, but he helped bring it together - it is all stuff for his kingdom.

Day by day O dear Lord three things I pray. To see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day.

I say yes....

Good things take time...

2007-09-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

Have been integrating "The Jesus Prayer" into my lifestyle, as I'm drifting off to sleep, unable to sleep, waking in the morning, parked in traffic, walking.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

The first part includes the gospel, the history of Jesus Christ, the second part represents the history of our weakness and sinfulness. It is an incredibly concise, comprehensive, powerful prayer, suited to our posture, status before God.

Its efficacy, benefit become apparent when it is internalized - interior prayer.

constant - repetition

attentive - invoking the name and presence

the mind enters the heart

Our spirit operates through several levels, but the deeper the communion, the deeper that work, and then we need time, constancy, attentivenss as heart is acted upon.

Another song comes to mind:

Take from my mind the stress of secret fear; cleanse thou the wounds from all but thee far hidden; flow through my soul, redeem it's desert places, and make a garden there for the Lord I adore.

Stunned into Silence....

2007-09-06T10:11:00.000-04:00

Into some signicant reading about emotions, the inner life, God's grace, mercy, sovereignty.

Silence, a quieting of our relentless, pulsating fury toward God, occurs when that fury is at full boil and we meet the God we think we despise. We then find that He is all we feared, but infinitely more kind than we could have ever imagined.

"A sight of God's holiness without a hint of His mercy will lead to either hopeless despair or to something even more awful, a pharasaical presumption of ability to 'do his will'."

"On the other hand, a mouthful of mercy without a somber taste of holiness leads us to a brazen familiarity with deity that twists Him into everyone's favourite uncle. Such intimacy is sloppy and undignified, and it eventually leads us to paint God with colours of our own making. The Bible portrays God in ways that ought to stun us."

Dan Allender "Bold Love"

"All my hope is in Your mercy, change my heart, set me free"

Heaven, thing about it....

2007-08-11T13:15:00.000-04:00

Kathleen Norris shares a Benedictine sister's concept of heaven. To reassure her dying mother she stated: "In heaven, everyone we love is there." The older woman replied: "No, in heaven I will love everyone who's there."

Let us sing alleluia here on earth, while we still live in anxiety, so that we may sing it one day in heaven in ful security...We shall have no enemies in heaven, we shall never lose a friend. God's praises are sung both there and here, but here they are sung in anxiety, ther in security; here they are sung by those destined to die, there, by those destined to live forever; here they are sung in hope, there in hope's fulfillment; here, they are sung by wayfarers, ther, by those living in their own country. So then...let us sing now, not in order to enjoy a life of leisure, but in order to lighten our labours. You should sing as wayfarers do - sing but continue your journey...Sing then, but keep going.

Augustine

On earth as it is in Heaven - a present, and future and eternal hope. THINK ABOUT IT.

A friend gives and receives wounds....

2007-08-08T20:20:00.000-04:00

"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." (Isaiah 54:7,8)

My holiday reading includes "The Cry of the Soul - How our Emotions reveal our deepest questions about God". The book talks about righteous anger - it warns, invites, and wounds for the greater work of redemption. The authors quote Frederick Buechner, a hero of mine: "a friend is one who gives and receives wounds".

Ah the fear of vulnerability - we so often fear people will not like us, if they know who we are. A friend knows, stays and encourages us on - can truthfully go to that place, acknowledge and work together for change. Truth-telling in relationships is a sensitive issue - it does bring life however if we would dare to build relationship.

Today is August 8 and I say happy birthday to my sister - Cathie Koehnen. Energetic, creative, seeking God full on. Happy Birthday Cathie - I thank God for you - who you are and who you are becoming.

Mystics anonymous

2007-08-08T00:18:00.000-04:00

Mysticism - in its most ordinary manifestation, "a means for tapping into the capacity for holiness that exists in us all".

The danger is talking of such experiences according to Kathleen Norris is that you are suspected of boasting or losing your mind.

As we discipline ourselves, become attentive, and open our "eyes" we begin to see God in new ways.

The sea, the mountains, the tree, the girl with cystic-fibrosis and an amazing smile, and on and on.

Good to be in White Rock, walking the beach - tapping into holiness....

The Irony of Detachment...

2007-08-02T13:55:00.000-04:00

The monastic interpretation of "detachment" means not allowing either worldly values or self-centredness to distract us from what is most essential in our relationship with God, and with each other.

Have been on the road - Lac L'achigan, Montreal, Old Orchard Beach, Quebec City. Eventful eight days. Time with family, old friends, new friends. Saw things which had been renewed, fruit of seeds sown, good and ill.

Bumped into a francophone from Trois Rivieres - still following Jesus, challenges with his young autistic son, but he is overcoming. Bumped into another franocophone in Quebec City - he's a busker now - had left his child and wife, making ends meet.....

The drive from two hours south of Quebec City was stunning - lakeside, moutains, plains, pastures - beautiful. Back at work today -ouch - but off to the other coast tomorrow evening.

6th century monk Doroteus of Gaza said detachment is "Being free from wanting certain things to happen, and remaining so trusting of God that what is happening will be the thing you want and you will be at peace with all."

This is not my home, I'm only passing throught - detached, eyes open, his spirit in my sails.

Trust and confidence

2007-07-23T10:11:00.000-04:00

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
Does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

I am learning more and more how superficial my trust and confidence in God has been. I am also learning of the richness of his grace, and his goodness and mercy....onward. Good weekend in London with Josh and Jen and Madison and Riley, and others - holidays coming soon, I am ready. Bev off to conduct Aunt Ethel's funeral in White Rock, we'll meet up in Montreal, and we'll all meet up in heaven one day, at the appointed time.

Abundance...

2007-07-19T12:18:00.000-04:00

Dallas Willard on "Nondiscipleship"

Nondiscipleship costs:

abiding peace,

a life penetrated throughout by love,

faith that sees everything in the light of God's overriding governance for good,

hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances,

power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil,

In short it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10).

In the last couple of days I have walked and talked with friends for whom I pray and with whom I am connected. The abundance of these relationships and spirit connections are the fruit of closely following after Jesus, which includes prayer.

I choose to follow Jesus and lead others in following him.

Contentment without Complacency

2007-07-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

Here's the challenge - to live every moment with total contentment but without a hint of complacency. To never let envy or ambition or greed steal joy from the deep places of our beings, but to never become self-satisfied by where we are on our journey either.

Anxiety is one danger; apathy is the other. Jesus is the answer to both. Christians find themselves in the strange business of disentangling themselves from the things of this world while busily engaging themselves more deeply than ever in the affairs of life.

Somehow Christians should be both more in love with the world and less in love with the world than anyone else. A tricky, worthy and needful dance.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I live you; never will I forsake you"

Make me a channel of your grace....

2007-07-10T11:19:00.000-04:00

I have a heavy heart today - I am feeling for a family whose teen-age son was killed in a canoeing mishap last weekend. I am feeling for the people of Zimbabwe and the desparate situation there.

Whether it's the humidity, or residual tiredness from a year of work, study, travel, (I believe these factors bring down the walls of my spirit) the point is my heart is keenly feeling these losses.

I can't deny it, should I? I am mindful of the body of Christ, one part suffers and we suffer - this cuts across family, denominational, national borders.

I also received an email today from a friend, with a prayer that spoke to my situation - the mysterious body of Christ.

I will continue to be broken when others suffer, it's not even volitional, but I pray that in my sensitivity I would share the grace which I have received. I believe it is God's sacrifice.

"That other souls, refreshed and fed, may share his life through mine."

Drink it in....

2007-07-06T09:52:00.000-04:00

Starry-eyed optimist, muddy-eyed pessimist – no “open-eyed realist”.

Christianity is an invitation to everyone to drink more deeply of life, but that includes both the most delicious and the most bitter flavours it has to offer.

sometimes I want
to go deeper into
the silences of God;
but sometimes the
silences are so deep,
they threaten
to swallow me up.

the truths of the son
finger their way through
my heart, leaving
bloodstains and blossoms
wherever they pass.

This planet is immersed in the paradox of good and evil and has footpaths that lead to both paradise and the inferno. God offered wonder, we chose pain, and now our world is woven with both. He is with us and for us and loves the world. Drink it in.

When the music stops, all is stripped away...

2007-07-04T09:31:00.000-04:00

A recently released British journalist hostage stated "everyone should be a prisoner a some point, in order to value and appreciated freedom".

Desparation drives us to the holy.

That's a hard place to be, but is the way to holiness.

My Haitian friends experience tremendous physical challenges, which takes them to the footstool of heaven. They know how to pray, they know how to sing from the heart, beyond the emotions, they know how to praise God, they know how to perservere.

There is nothing romantic about poverty - it sucks, Jesus never blessed it. There is nothing endearing about a "functional atheism" in the western world where we have so much stuff, we don't really "need" God. What I do know is that when we strip away all the stuff, and the supports and the trappings, we find God.

Goods or God - God is the better, and yet we are all called to shared in community of the riches of our store-house, material or spiritual.

Meaninglessness, loneliness find answers when are lives are stripped bare of the accoutrements. In the quiet place is God.

Attentive to God's creation...

2007-07-03T12:02:00.000-04:00

The 21st C has seen unprecedented progress and tragedy. Rape of the environment, genocide, global poverty, exploitation of children (child soldiers, sexual trafficking), explosion of the city.

At dark times in the history of the world God has raised up groups, individuals to speak prophetically – not predict (foretell) but declare (forthtell). A book has been written "The new Friars", youth around the world are responding in similar ways, yet independent of each other.

Missional, incarnational, devotional, communal, marginal. Like St. Francis of old – they are discovering spiritual disciplines, solitude, fasting, silence, and discovering new reverence in love for creation, creatures, God, fellow human beings and themselves.

Shane Claibourne is one – he traveled to India to work with Mother Teresa, in attending to the lepers in Calcutta. He found most lepers did not have a word for thank you in their vocabulary – no had ever given them anything. He found a new word: a conventional Hindu expression of greeting - namaste - I honour the holy one who lives in you – or I see Jesus in you – he would here these words when attending the needs of the lepers.

A prayer I have recently learned is this: “Lord help me to see each person whom I meet today as someone of infinite value and immense worth”.

It is a matter of being attentive to God’s creation – his creatures – we are made in his image, with a capacity for ill yes, but a capacity for goodness. Loving others as ourselves, being attentive is a good start.

This was strengthened during a recent trip to Haiti – for two weeks – no running water, fourteen people in a one-floor three bedroom house, in a unique culture. Lost six pounds, was quite ill for two days, but met beautiful people, many who were fortunate to have one meal every two days, and had tremendous physical needs, but were rich and deep in spirit, living perseverance, trust, crying out to God.

Our trip we went to learn from our sisters and brothers and learn we did. We stood in solidarity with them, and it was an encouragement. We return not to guilt other Christians, but to challenge them about sharing of our resources. We return able to constructively pray.

Often we are not attentive to God’s voice – filled with TV, muzak, ipods, busyness. Often we are oblivious to trends to manipulation, to the corruption of souls by materialism, indulgent living.

We all need each other – the rich in goods, poor in spirit western church needs the poor in goods, rich in spirit third-world church. We need to journey, do pilgrimage, we are shallow, we are superficial. God help us to be attentive to his creation.

I'm in his hands...

2007-06-29T11:07:00.000-04:00

A good friend died this week - a stroke and gone. I thank God for him and pray for his family.

Another good friend is suffering physically, he can't quit the booze, he admitted same to me recently.

I want so much to do something, it's a better alternative than running - but what can I do? I seek God, I bring people before God, and God will do his work, in me as to what I should or shouldn't do, and with others.

the carpenter picks up the saw
and walks toward me again.
i shudder and gasp, “why?
why is he torturing me like this?”
but then, after the blade
has done its work, i realize that
in the hands of a master carpenter,
no piece of wood is safe
from becoming a masterpiece.

Steven James

I'm off to SARoots this weekend. We will be attentive to God, his creation, his people, his word for us.

Unbelievable....

2007-06-27T09:59:00.000-04:00

Caught Herbie Hancock at the New Opera Centre last night, part of Toronto Jazz Festival. Chris Potter subbing on sax. Accoustic - extraordinaire. Music - sublime.

Amazing - the capacity of the soul to create and respond and interact. Our Mayor in the festival guide says: "the compelling power of music can lift our spirits to unprecedented heights, refine our personalities, strengthen our inner being, connect us with our higher calling, and illuminate our souls - sounds like worship to me - and God was all over the concert for me.

Steven James describes the splendour of a fish leaping out of the water - the capacity, the beauty of that transitory tasting of the beyond. These boys last night (Hancock is a fresh, vital 67 year old) were doing that musically last night. I can't begin to describe, but I know it.

We all are made for that - made for a lot of other stuff as well - but God wants to write those new songs, and sing a song through us. Brilliant.

Spirit divine, sing through us, sometimes laments, sometimes exuberant praise, sometimes off-key, whatever, but your song through your vessels for you glory.

Crux - the crucial, but don't box it...

2007-06-25T09:55:00.000-04:00

i know a carpenter who

built a kingdom by letting

himself get nailed to the

wooden beams of my soul.

and through the ages and through the questions

no storm has ever knocked it down.

knocked him down.

huh. who knew that blood would be

such a strong and time-resistant adhesive?

Stephen James "Sailing between the Stars"

I've found a new poet/storyteller, nice gift. Am being attentive to God's creation in these long days of summer. God is good, but refuses to be put in a box. This is good. Praise Him.

Back in the saddle again....

2007-06-20T10:52:00.000-04:00

Technology is a help. Technology is a hindrance. Technology is both.

In formatting to the new google/blogger I messed some things up and then couldn't make the password work and then....

I'm not the techno guy. I will not let technology make me feel inferior.

I feel better already. The master designer is in control, he continues to weave colour, and texture for his glory.

Lord of science, Lord of art, God of map and graph and chart,
Lord of physics and research, Word of Bible, faith of church.
Lord of sequence and design, all the world of truth is thine.

Back in the saddle, and perhaps we'll hook this up to face book.

grace.....

Alleluia.....tasted again, as if for the first time...

2007-04-10T10:44:00.000-04:00

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help may we bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

"When they saw him, the worshiped him; but some doubted..."

Before the Great Commission, Jesus appeared, tangible presence - some believed, some doubted. Jesus to Thomas, blessed are you who see and believe, how much more those who don't see (us) and yet believe.

I had prayed this holy week, that I would have a deeper revelation of a gracious God, who sees my sinful nature, my sins, and my heart, and who by His son, the Lord Jesus sympathizes, and suffers, with whose stripes I am healed.

Profound, beyond explanation I claimed the healing the deep wound of my heart, the wound we all bear, and demonstrate in one way or another.

Healing and hope - I pray this new awareness would result in the sentiments expressed in the ancient prayer above, a gracious growth in Christlikeness. Alleluia.

Perseverance...all will be well....

2007-04-04T11:26:00.000-04:00

Attended a funeral yesterday of an acquaintance who had shared so much grief, pain, suffering,hardship during his life, layer after layer. Cancer, heart disease with major bypass surgery, severe diabetes, amputation of two legs, and yet throughout, a sense of humour and a trust in God - amazing....beautiful service, encouragement to keep on.

This week "let us run with pereverance the race marked out for us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so you will not lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2,3)

We like Peter could be prone to a pity party (Henri Nouwen describes original sin as humanity's endless capacity for self-rejection). Here John Gowans take on post denial Peter:

Knowing my failing, knowing my fears,

Seeing my sorrow, drying my tears,

Jesus recall me, me re-ordain

You know I love you, use me again.

I have no secrets, unknown to you,

No special graces, talents are few,

Yet your intention I would fulfill;

You know I love you, ask what you will.

For the far future I cannot see,

Promise your presence, travel with me;

Sunshine or shadows? I cannot tell;

You know I love you, all will be well.

Creating Space....

2007-03-28T08:43:00.000-04:00

Three faces...

Three uniforms...

Three personalities...

One Lord....

One heart cry...

One mission...

I have been blessed with an incredible mate and four amazing children - each unique, each vibrant, each witih varying interests, tastes, propensities - yet there is room for all to participate in God's story.

All can follow Jesus and lead others to follow Jesus, in authentic community, for the good of the world.

I am so glad there is space in The Salvation Army and the church, the body of Christ, for differing gifts, personalities, expressions - it wasn't always so in the Army.

I thank God for the life and energy and vision and hope of generation next, and the wisdom of the past as well. God give us discernment as we navigate the turbulence, and thrill of today.

The long unwinding road from earth to heaven....

2007-03-12T13:53:00.000-04:00

Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee;
All things are passing,
God never changeth!
Patient endurance attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth in nothing is wanting;
Alonge God sufficeth.

Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade - kept in heaven for you! (1 Peter 1:3,4)

I'm tired - good weekend in Montreal ministering in French, Friday p.m., Saturday, and english Sunday. Nine countries represented in the Design for Life weekend - truly the diverse, rich, body of Christ. Sunday, last time we will preach in the Montreal Citadel on Drummond St - memories. As we sang the Lord's prayer the sun burst through the Stained glass windows of Christ. I encouraged the congregation as they move to new facilities to be the church they are to be, not a model of others, they are to listen to Christ, rooted in the word, free to soar and be.

For the offertory Steve Pelley combined the Beatles' "The Long unwinding road" with "Prayer gently lifts me to highest heaven, from earth's confusion to Jesus' breast, my sin and weakness, my doubt and sorrow, are lost forever in sweetest rest" - exquisite.

The songs we sang made sense, the connections with people profound, God was present.
I'll hold on to those moments, as I navigate the tiredness in my spirit, and body. God with us!

God cannot fill what has not been emptied...

2007-03-01T08:25:00.000-05:00

Benedict gives us a great prayer for the day:

Almighty God, give us wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to understand you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
vision to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
a life to proclaim you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives with you now and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.

For those who struggle with the mechanics, practise, and sense of prayer, from George MacDonald:

"He that prays and does not faint will come to recognize that to talk to God is more than to have all prayers granted - that is the end of prayer.

Fullest flowering of thought, love, and desire....prayer, says Evelyn Underhill

2007-02-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

What is prayer?

The part of our conscious life which is deliberately oriented toward and exclusively responds to spiritual reality.

He is not far from us, for in him we live and move and have our being.

It is ascent.

It is an ascending or getting up of the desire of the heart into God by withdrawing from earthly thoughts.

What are the two worlds?

God and our neighbour.

This world and that.

Outward adoration and homeward charity.

Three faculties in prayer

thinking

feeling

willing or acting

Sometimes we are mentally dull, sometimes we are emotionally flat. "On such occasions it is notoriously useless to try and beat ourselves up to a froth: to make ourselves think more deeeply or make ourselves care more intensely. If the worth of our prayer life depended upon the maintenance of a constant high level of feeling or understanding, we would be in a dangerous place.

The determined fixing of our will upon God, and pressing toward him steadily and without deflection; this is the very centre and the art of prayer.

Even when our heart is cold and our mind is dim, prayer is still possible to us. "Our wills are ours, to make them Thine."

God's spirit in us - let us think, act and live AS IF that were true. Let us rest in him, abide in him, delight in him. It is humility and love that are essential for successful prayer.

I'm In His hands

2007-02-21T10:48:00.000-05:00

I'm in his hands,

Whatever the future holds,

I'm in his hands.

The days I cannot see,

Have all been planned for me.

His way is best,

You see, I'm in His hands.

Just spent a few days in California in minstry. God spoke through Bev and I and to us. Much prayer had been involved, tremendous sense of community, and God's presence.

God was confirming things, teaching things - and He got the glory. There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.

Sappy, syrupy - substantial, significant

2007-02-14T09:45:00.000-05:00

A Prayer for the Dawn

Some once said: “Learning to weep, learning to keep vigil, learning to wait for the dawn. Perhaps this is what it means to be human.”

Thank you for whoever said it, and teach me, I pray, how to live it.

Teach me how to weep without drowning in self-pity.

Teach me how to keep vigil even when I’m shivering in the dark.

And teach me how to wait for the dawn without the belting optimism of someone who hasn’t been through the night.

Starry-eyed optimist, or muddy-eyed, pessimist or open-eyed realist - God with us, for us, even if it isn't the way we wanted it. Happy-clappy is fun, works for a season, but God is with us, when all the stuff is stripped away, he is with us.

The Dark Night of the Soul....

2007-02-12T13:28:00.000-05:00

God Works Passively - John of the Cross

Let it suffice to say, then, that God perceives the imperfections within us, and because of his love for us, urges us to grow up. His love is not content to leave us in our weakness, and for this reason he takes us into a dark night. He weans us from all of the pleasures by giving us dry times and inward darkness.

In doing so he is able to take away all these vices and create virtues within us. Through the dark night pride becomes humility, greed becomes simplicity, wrath becomes contentment, luxury becomes peace, gluttony becomes moderation, envy becomes joy, and sloth becomes strength. No soul will ever grow deep in the spiritual life unless God works passively in that soul by means of the dark night.

These words are deep and powerful and true and difficult and life-giving. Lord reign in me!

To say Yes....

2007-02-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

I am the vessel The draught is God's. And God is the thirsty one.

In the last analysis, what does the word "sacrifice" mean? Or even the word "gift"?

To be free, to be able to stand up and leave everything behind - without looking back. To say Yes.

To say Yes to life is at one and the same time to say Yes to oneself.

Yes - even to that element in one which is most unwilling to let itself be transformed from a temptation into a strength.

Great thoughts from Dag Hammarskjold "Markings".

In the last 24 hours connected on a deep level with several individuals while visiting in Montreal. Rich times - times of validation, gratitude, and spirit connection. God IS faithful, God IS good, His timing is not our timing - God IS faithful, God IS good.

Prayer and Social Justice...

2007-02-04T13:55:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted. Since then have commenced another course "Protestant Spiritual Traditions, and have visited the National Cathedral in Washington DC on Martin Luther King Jr. day no less.

Nouwen says; "Prayer without action is piety; action without prayer is manipulation"

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an incredibly devout man, who also was imprisoned for standing up to an oppressive Nazi regime. His opinion (he was executed just before the end of WWII, was that the church's role - and more specifically in the western world would become more secret, low-key - that of prayer and advocating for social justice).

It's costly - and of course we have his notion of "Cheap grace"which he cautions against - while salvation is free, it is not cheap - and we are to follow Jesus in advocating for the oppressed, mariginalized, forgotten.

I finish with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.'s last Sunday sermon (another man martyred for his faith - this Christianity business can be deadly:

SOMEWHERE we must come to see that HUMAN PROGRESS never rolls in on the wheel of inveitability.

It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be CO-WORKERS WITH GOD.

And without this HARD WORK, time itself becomes an ally of the primitive forces of social stagnation.

So we must help time and realize that THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIPE TO DO RIGHT.

It's not a question of what is more important, prayer/worship or action/justice. When be hold God and desire to be like His son, we will be constrained to act, disregarding the cost.

And as of July 1, the Salvation Army will have An interntational Social Justice Director in New York, our present Commissioner Christine McMillan. Let's do it.

The Peace of Wild Things

2007-01-13T19:02:00.000-05:00

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world,
and am free.

Wendell Berry

The flesh became word...

2007-01-09T09:13:00.000-05:00

Read 26 books this year - a couple of courses took me past my goal of 20.

Top Six:
Dallas Willard "The Divine Conspiracy" - Discovering our hidden life in God. (Deep but money)
Robert Webber "The Younger Evangelicals"(great take on the progression of emerging church) Peter Scazzero "The Emotionally Healthy Church"
Richard Foster "Streams of Living Water" (invaluable look at church traditions/history)
Shane Claibourne "The Irresistible Revolution" (the new monasticism, friars)
Parker Palmer "Let your life speak" (essence, calling).

Ouch, mostly church stuff - "Barney's Version" was the only fiction, (having lived in Montreal, and been a Canadiens fan, this was really good) gotta' get out more!!!Books still ring the bell - Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis" was good come to think of it.....

God's word still speaks of course - with all the changes, the word is eternal - my soul needs and feasts on it. I need to read it more and meditate upon it more.

You have a calling.....

2007-01-04T14:07:00.000-05:00

Have returned exhausted in all respects from an exhilirating week with 22,000 others interested in missions at Urbana in St. Louis. So many students with their futures before them.

Some of my friends are pictured above.

Many good thoughts - one key one for me as we consider our calling and love of Christ:

The devil is busy, busy, busy; but the shepherd is faithful, faithful, faithful.

Begin every day by giving control to God - we will be frustrated serving from our natural self, we'll feel cheated, or serve half-heartedly, in fact we might become angry because our natural self has been denied.

But when we surrender our will to his, we operate in another realm - glory be to God....

Listen to your life.....

2007-01-03T15:16:00.000-05:00

“God, I hated you after the rape! How could you let this happen to me? And I hated the people in this church who tried to comfort me. I didn’t want comfort. I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt back. I thank you, God, that you didn’t give up on me, and neither did some of these people. You kept after me, and I come back to you now and ask that you heal the scars in my soul.”

Clear, wavering voice of a young woman during open prayer time – Yancey “Prayer” p. 89.

Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it not less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.

Frederick Buechner “Now and Then”

So we need not fear our pain. It is part of our story. While a source of despair, it's also a root of creativity. We embrace it, and find God is there.

The day after - "A Boxing Day Lament"

2006-12-26T13:40:00.000-05:00

Abandon….

saddened, perplexed, trying to grow, keep it all together.

if I desensitize it helps, medication is not a viable alternative.

it’s not that I want to be the boss, I don’t think so!?
sometimes I’d like to know the answers…
it doesn’t have to be “happy-clappy”, but I do like feeling good, even if I’m
singing along in a minor key.

it’s probably good that I am feeling, sometimes weeping…
the young dad’s child pulled from his arm during the tornado
the young teen’s mom’s cancer leaving them apart
the other teen’s parents splitting, leaving many tears, most bottled up
we don’t want tears messing up the floor, smearing the make-up

when I was in the rehab hospital, some patient’s credo was – “life’s a bitch and then you die.."
most of them had lost something, usually use of their faculties, or a limb, but mostly their sense of completeness, independence, image of self, probably even hope…

losing is a hard one: a child’s innocence – sexual abuse; family disintegration – genocide

I would still rather love and lose that love than not love at all

My head knows that you God shout to me in my pain, that in fact when I am stripped to bare bones, my options are limited, but embracing you and being embraced by you is one.

I’ve got to figure this out for myself – ultimately
the smug – “just believe” doesn’t suffice…
the play safe, hedge your bets is a lame alternative.

I can’t solve all the stuff, imagine me thinking I could?
But I do want to be an agent of your light, to be present and engaged…

I look at the cross and I know you know…

Into your hands I commend my soul.

I believe....

2006-12-21T13:29:00.000-05:00

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen

I thank God for my poetry-loving son-in-law - this poem's for you John McAlister!

2006-12-19T17:31:00.000-05:00

I am praying again, Awesome One.
You hear me again, as words
from the depths of me
rush toward you in the wind.

I’ve been scattered in pieces,
Torn by conflict,
mocked by laughter,
washed down in drink.

In alleyways I sweep myself up
out of garbage and broken glass.
With my half-mouth I stammer you,
who are eternal in your symmetry.
I lift to you my half-hands
in wordless beseeching, that I may find again
the eyes which I once beheld you.

I am a house gutted by fire
where only the guilty sometimes sleep
before the punishment that devours them
hounds them out into the open.

I am a city by the sea
sinking into a toxic tide.
I am strange to myself, as though someone unknown
had poisoned my mother as she carrie me.

It’s here in all the pieces of my shame
that now I find myself again.
I yearn to belong to something, to be contained
in an all-embracing mind that sees me
as a single thing.
I yearn to be held
in the great hands of your heart –
oh let them take me now.
Into them I place these fragments, my life,
and you, God – spend them however you want.

(Rainer Maria Rilke – “Love poems to God”)

All will be well....

2006-12-15T08:43:00.000-05:00

A Prayer for the Dawn

Dear God:

Someone once said: “Learning to weep, learning to keep vigil, learning to wait for the dawn. Perhaps this is what it means to be human.”

Thank you for whoever said it, and teach me, I pray, how to live it.

Teach me how to weep without drowning in self-pity.

Teach me how to keep vigil even when I’m shivering in the dark.

And teach me how to wait for the dawn without the belting optimism of someone who hasn’t been through the night...

All will be well.

From Yancey, Philip - "Prayer - does it make any difference?"

2006-12-11T19:17:00.000-05:00

Yancey always rings the bell, and his new one looks good.

Chapter on "Just as you are" - and the fact God loves honesty. HE says bring it on - don't flee.

"We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us." (C.S. Lewis)

Or put another way:

"We must trust God with what God already knows" - don't flee - fall forward - he knows, he welcomes us!

A Prayer for Incarnation

2006-12-08T11:56:00.000-05:00

Ken Gire, one of my favourite devotional writers muses on the powerful, evocative memory of fresh bread emanating from the bakery.

He then talks of Jesus the bread of life who sustains and is present with people. We too can be present - this present is the best present you can give.

Help me, O God, To live the recipe
before I give the recipe.
Give me the kneading strength
to work the words into the doughy recesses of my life.
Help me to leave it alone a while
so it can rise.
Help me not to fear the oven
so it can bake.
And grant that in the baking,
the world would be able to roll down its window
and savour the aroma of freshly baked bread…

Ken Gire

God with us, in us. God in us, with others. May it be so!

Above all, yet with us - that's my King!

2006-12-03T16:26:00.000-05:00

Friday evening headed down to Regent Park for Neighbourhood Christmas carolling. A chilly night, but our motley crew of musicians, and singers, and children passing out candy-canes proceeded through the neighbourhood. We finished up outside "No frills" - quite apt for our group. My mind thought of how surreal the whole scene was - an unusual group of people doing an unusual activity in an unusual neighbourhood.

Last night was at Roy Thompson Hall for the Sally Anne Christmas program - quite the contrast, another crew of musicians, and singers, in an unusual neighbourhood, singing and listening to some of the same carols.

God with us - in our formals at Roy Thompson, in our jeans and hoodies in Regent. God with us irrepective of our bank balance, I.Q. past failures, future hopes.

God with us....Jesus holding it all together, the inspiration which brings people together.

He was with us at our Divisional Youth Leaders conference - thanks for those who prayed.

Doesn't get rawer than having a baby in a stable - God with us, anywhere, everywhere. Picking us up when we fall, knowing us by name, speaking hope. That's our king!

Dialogue with God...

2006-11-25T21:31:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow evening I head up to Jackson's Point to gather with Divisional Youth Secretaries from across the territory. We have planned, organized, and prayed.

No need to worry. But I do pray that we will share from our hearts with each other, with God. I pray that we would listen to each other, and to God.

Impacting the next generation is huge. Recent research from Fuller indicates that if things don't change, only 3% of church attending high-school students, will be attending church in four years, after their university years.

What needs to change? The church, the world, ourselves - it's a big question, I know, but we need to ask it. It's a good question.

I guess that's why I'm somewhat anxious about next week. It's serious business. Pray for us, we need your prayers.

The paper today said that most Canadians are concerned with the deepening divide between rich and poor in Canada - it speaks of moral failure.

Reminds me of Harry Emerson Fosdick's words:

Cure thy children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in goods and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss thy Kingdom' goal.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour.

Your prayers are appreciated.

Spiritual Friendship - A Prayer

2006-11-20T08:38:00.000-05:00

O Father, may we know in our heart and our head that we are loved by you, that we are known and belong to you, that you rejoice in our soul. All of us bear the dust of earthly striving. We share the stress of secret fear, needing to achieve, needing to count, needing to be accepted. All our souls bear wounds, from all but thee, far-hidden.

Thank you for our brother, and sympathetic high priest, the Lord Jesus. Thank you that we may we approach your holy throne to find your provision of grace and mercy - for every need, for every person, at any time.

We love you and need you. Open our eyes and hearts to see fellow pilgrims with whom we share our humanity, our sin, your image, and with whom we may share our joys, challenges and journey in holiness.

I confess Lord that while I am growing more and more independent of the praise of others, I relish seeing you and hearing from you through people. I pray that your Spirit would continue to guide into truth, giving freedom to take risks in friendships, anointing and nourishing them, enriching my friendship with others so that we might bring glory to you.

We need each other.

Revealing Feeling is Healing

2006-11-13T16:40:00.000-05:00

How are we healed of our wounding memories? We are healed first of all by letting them be available, by leading them out of the corner of forgetfulness and by remembering them as a part of our life stories. What is forgotten is unavailable, and what is unavailable cannot be healed. Max Scheler shows how memory liberates us from the determining power of forgotten painful events. “Remembering,” he says, “is the beginning of freedom from the covert power of the remembered thing or occurrence.”

If ministers are reminders, their first task is to offer the space in which the wounding memories of the past can be reached and brought back into the light without fear. When the soil is not ploughed, the rain cannot reach the seeds; when the leaves are not raked away, the sun cannot nurture the hidden plants. So also, when out memories remain covered with fear, anxiety or suspicion, the Word of God cannot bear fruit.

God grant us all courage to take the high road of health and truth and hope.

The Blessing of Morning Prayer

2006-11-06T15:50:00.000-05:00

The entire day receives order and discipline when it acquires unity. This unity must be sought and found in morning prayer. It is confirmed in work. The morning prayer determines the day.
Squandered time of which we are ashamed, temptations to which we succumb, weakness and lack of courage in work, disorganization and lack of discipline in our thoughts and in our conversation with other men, all have their own origin most often in the neglect of morning prayer.

Order and distribution of our time become more firm where they originate in prayer. Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning breakthrough to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men but only in the sight of God. “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men” (Colossians 3:23). Even mechanical work is done in a more patient way if it arises from the recognition of God and his command. The powers to work take hold, therefore, at the place where we have prayed to God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, pp 64-65

We've all felt guilty about failing at our devotional time, we all have been told we need to do this. Bottom line - spending quality time with and before God, who knows us better than anyone and who wishes the best for us - is key. So if we don't always get it right, we don't quit, we just go back to the refrigerator/cupboard/storehouse again. He's happy when we do.

Silence, Solitude and Verbal Diarrhoea

2006-10-31T11:44:00.000-05:00

I, who live by words, am wordless when
I try my words in prayer. All language turns
To silence. Prayer will take my words and then
Reveal their emptiness. The stilled voice learns
To hold its peace, to listen with the heart
To silence that is joy, is adoration.
The self is shattered, all words torn apart
In this strange patterned time of contemplation
That, in time, breaks time, breaks words, breaks me,
And then, in silence, leaves me healed and mended.
I leave, returned to language, for I see
Through words, even when all words are ended.
I, who live by words, am wordless when
I turn me to the Word to pray. Amen.

Madeleine L’Engle, The Weather of the Heart, p. 60

I'm learning to listen before I speak, rather than speak, to listen. I'm learning to be still and quiet, and be silent. God is there.

Marinating....

2006-10-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a course in Spiritual Formation and we are focusing in theory and practice on creating "space for God" and meditating on him, his word.

I have always been pretty good and making time to feed my mind, heart, but it seems I would fill and then move to the next piece, next reading, next book, without really integrating, letting sink into my soul.

Waiting, meditating, marinating in the spirit on a phrase, on a word from the scripture reading, on nature are becoming more precious.

Connecting at a deeper level - where we are not even conscious - those streams below.

When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to thee my prayer,
Spirit of peace, my comforter and healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet thee there.

Yah, Ivany is into marinating???? Yes I am!!!! Good for the soul.

Attitude of gratitude...

2006-10-06T15:57:00.000-04:00

So my hard-drive contents have disappeared - all those good pictures, and tunes, and sayings and book summaries - gone.

However they have left an imprint on my mind. And there is something liberating about starting all over. And keeping it simple as well.

Joy, thanksgiving and prayer - that trio figures prominently in scripture - its a dynamic triumvirate.

To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His Love, every moment of existence is a grace for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude is a response to grace. The compassionate life is a grateful life, and actions born out of gratefulness are not compulsive but free, not somber but joyful, not fanatical but liberating

Gratitude takes nothing for granted.

It acknowledges each favour, each gift – it also recognizes the giver, the labour behind it, the thought behind it.

May we live in constant dependence upon the merciful kindness of the Father, and thus live our lives in gratitude – in response to his help which comes to us at every moment.

Community....

2006-09-18T11:13:00.000-04:00

Hadn't been at my home church for several weeks. A little weary after leading the Ignite Leadership retreat at Jackson's, but I made the effort, glad I did.

I sang songs of worship, I participated in dialogue with the group about prayer and then we prayed. I deposited by offering. I heard a message from Nehemiah on practical ways to protect that which is important (namely our walk with Christ). In the closing circle I held hands with a lady I had never met before, first time visitor (she had requested we pray for those who are addicted, so I'm thinking she's been touched by that huge) and my blind friend from China, Hong-Shu, and then I had good-hearted handshakes, smiles, and conversations with several people. Good to be physically present with the local church commnity with whom I identify.

The weekend was marvellous, including a serendipitous introduction to "speed scrabble", a successful ascending of the "Climbing wall" (felt sooooooooooooooooo good - last year was ill - had to bail half-way up - thanks Kanga!), some good cemetery and ponder the sunset on beach time, and generally marvellous interaction with what we at one point had playfully dubbed my harem - four young, incredible women of Italian, Hong Kong, Australian descent, who are all pressing full on for what God wants to do in their lives.

God drew close - the ulimate community.

In His time.....

2006-09-12T12:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I received a message from a friend via a friend. I was informed that Mr. St. Pierre had died, and that his daughter (who now happens to be a Salvation Army officer) had wanted to know that she was confident that he was in heaven, and she was so thankful for that fact.

About 15 years ago while in Ottawa at Ottawa Citadel I had received a phone call from the Officer in Timmins concerning the father of Darlene Hastings (who attended the corps).

I said I would go visit, the cardiac unit at the Civic Hospital. His surgery was quite significant and while I remember him and our conversation, I don't remember details. I'm sure I read scripture, prayed, listened and was fully present.

I had heard since that time that I had communicated grace to him, and then yesterday his daughter wanted to convey that while she sensed loss, she was so grateful that he was at peace, and wanted me to know of the role I had played.

Quite humbling actually. We sow seeds, not even knowing we're sowing sometimes, we do the little things with great love. We do not always see the result, or perhaps even need to know the result, but then a "grace dropping" happens and we stop and give thanks to God for who he is, his calling on our lives, his timing, his grace.

In his time, he makes all things beautiful in his time - he has set eternity in the hearts of men, and we are privileged to be conduits, both receving and extending that grace.

Glory be to God!

He makes all things beautiful in His time...

2006-09-04T10:05:00.000-04:00

God of light - let there be light!

There was a whole of light going on last week at Territorial school of Music - get a flavour on tsomaga.blogspot.com

A week of miracles, inner healing, challenge, community - deep unto deep.

The Lord is my light and salvation. The Lord dispels darkness, when we let him into those secret places.

We could never take his radiance full on - his glory would be too much. But he distills it through various revelations, significantly enough through people.

Lord let your light, light of your face shine on us - that we might be saved! Hallelujah.

Living in the present.....

2006-08-24T16:07:00.000-04:00

Someone has said in hell there is no present, just past (something to rue) and future (something to worry about).

We need to seize the present - so I will proceed to describe some recent past events (I've been on holiday - and it's a month since I've blogged), when I have been living in the present - you got it!!??

attended BC Lions/Edmonton Eskimos game with brother and two nephews, and new friend Jack, and newer friend Dave - then went downstairs with some kids and met some Lions's players who are Christians, and who know that there is more to life than football
golfed in Sechelt, with Bro. Bruce and two other friends - great scenery, conversation, four birdies to start!!
bunked in/"mooched" with family at the Grand Hotel in Kelowna - what a nice spot hmmm.
bunked in at friends apt in Vancouver Downtown east side - God there too
heard a great gospel message at the War College, from a black preacher - gospel is good
shared communion with seven senior citizen's at an Anglican service - God with us
seafood fettucine at the Blue Heron/Vernon, on Okanagan lake
branded my calf on the exhaust piple while getting on a motorcycle - the ride was great, the souvenir 16 days later is just healing
had some heart to heart with friends - deep conversation, deepening friendships
read "Renovation of the Heart"/Frazee-Willard, Rob Bell "Velvet Elvis", "Searching for Home" - good for the soul
read Barney's Version/Mordecai Richler - heard of tormented souls - darkness reveals the light.
Langdale ferry - sun, water, mountains - just a glimmer of creator - we can only take so much of God's revelation - we would be totally blinded by his glory - but it awaits us.
White Rock pier/prayer walks
"World Trade Centre" - people working together; "Pirates II" - people adventuring together; The Worlds' Fastest Indian - people dreaming together.
Biking in Stanley Park; scrabbling in Ambleside Park,
sometimes bored, sometimes anxious
all times blessed and thankful, o so thankful

The pilgrim's calling is not necessarily to get to the right place, that's the work of the Holy Spirit, it is our calling to be attentive to the things Jesus is doing on the roead as we travel today.

I wouldn't trade any of the above (and what was recorded above, is only a smidgen) if it meant not seeing Jesus face.

Living in the present - at peace with God - shalom - why would we be anywhere else?

The Transformational Journey

2006-07-27T11:36:00.000-04:00

Some people are weary of "journey" talk, some prefer adventure talk. Others like pilgrimage. The point is we are in process. Believers know they will reign will in heaven with Jesus one day - I trust we're growing, I wouldn't have wanted to manage that assignment a few years ago, and even know it sounds daunting.

My point - as kingdom people now, we are active, and interactive, with the spirit and with the world - not just waiting to get to heaven. Here are three tenets of my journey which David Benner has shared in his book "Sacred Companions" and to which I wholeheartedly aspire:

1. becoming a great lover (of God, neigbour as self)
2. becoming whole and holy (mind, body, heart, infirmities - real, with God's spirit)
3. becoming our true self in Christ

Knowing God, knowing myself lead to knowing and living my mission. On the road again...

Namaste

2006-07-17T10:25:00.000-04:00

Shane Claibourne in "The Irresistible Revolution" (a great read) eloquently addresses kingdom living, incarnation, community.

He learned a lot from the lepers of Calcutta - who normally did not have use for the phrase "thank you", because no-one every gave to them, or acknowledged them.

Mother Teresa started changing that and Claibourne's benefits from another word, "namaste" which translated means "I honour the holy one who lives in you". A word he heard from lepers he came alongside in minstry with Mother Teresa.

Over coffee with a friend last week, he shared of visiting in homes, and people volunteering, "Jesus is here".

Grace is so often mediated through people. We need to be attentive to our soul, eyes open to those around us, seeing Jesus. Sight sometimes is dimmed by advertising, propoganda, agendas, so we need to be intentional.

I was at a funeral Friday, that gave god glory, encouragement to those present, and myself continued motivation to hear "namaste" as I live for Jesus on earth, and as I anticipate "namaste" at the end of my days.

How are you gettin' on? Made in God's image....

2006-07-11T14:35:00.000-04:00

I have yet to sort out the memories and impressions of my trip to Europe. I do know that while a sense of history, and culture gripped me, by far it was the people who had the biggest impact.

People, who desire connection (a chance to cheer on the team, participate in celebration), people who have experienced hardship, and must choose how to react and ways of coping.

People who are made in God's image. One such friend I met was Berndt who worked on the local paper of the SA Social Work institution in Nuremberg.

Extraordinary not because of his unkempt beard, and hair, or mild body odour, but that he has no feet (still manages to ride a bicycle) and two digits for hands.

I had a good chat with Berndt my last day in Nuremberg as we talked German culture, politics, life. Berndt is a child of God, and while I would not want to put him on a pedestal, I do find it encouraging that he has a zest for life, and is enjoying life.

How are you gettin' on?

Our Father (our means beyond, big pic, think global, act local, beyond....)

2006-07-05T14:41:00.000-04:00

Your kingdom come God:

Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member.

Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary soldier.

Wisdom without love and courage is cowardice, as with the ordinary intellectual.

But the one who has love, courage, and wisdom moves the world.

(Ammon Hennacy)

The body of Christ - das is gut!!

2006-06-18T15:28:00.000-04:00

The body of Christ is a living fellowship which transcends language, culture.

Attended mass in Cologne cathedral today - I sensed a connection with other believers, we "passed the peace", I heard hymns, lovely children's choir.

I didn't understand a lot however. There is a lesson here, sometimes we don't communicate well, no excuses, we must speak clearly, plainly in a heart and head language which speaks to the heart.

I had entered the service, a little rattled, disoriented, waiting for a train to take me back to Nuremberg, alone in a big city - when I emerged I was at peace. I guess it makes sense to gather together for worship.

Upon returning to Nuremberg, I was told that some of the residents missed me, "the older David" - that's community as well.

The body of Christ is a wonderful thing.

Smoke gets in your eyes.....

2006-06-14T14:27:00.000-04:00

Think globally, act locally.

Being in this world soccer environment opens the mind, being in a land where you cannot speak the language is humbling.

Different ways of doing things, ingrained lifestyles. There is a lot of smoke in Germany, a lot of smokers, in all public places, all ages. It's everywhere, in my nose, my clothes, my lungs.

Being away from home, one is vulnerable as one is exposed to various influences.

I marvel at missionaries, church planters, apostle Paul and so many who respond obediently. There's some glamour, but there's a lot of hard work, putting one foot in front of the other, picking yourself up when you fall down, keeping connected.

So we keep the vision, even when smoke gets in your eyes!

We think big kingdom picture, but we keep doing simple things with great love, right where we are. Now is the time, this is the place, we are the people.

Voluntary Displacement

2006-06-12T17:10:00.000-04:00

Here I sit in Germany reflecting on a week lived in a new country, new language, with new friends, serving in a shelter, with many who have lost everything.

Tonight I had tea with a blind woman, who battles depression. We prayed together. This morning in the workshop I joined men in putting bolts into bags, and then prayed with their supervisor who many years ago had to flee Ethiopia as a refugee, we talked of hope, and grace, and voluntary displacement.

Victims of the tragedy of war, passing on their pain to offspring who now have so little.

I'm doing the incarnation thing and it makes sense. Jesus did it, it has to make sense.

He humbled himself, was obedient, became poor so that weight know the riches of his love, and hope of heaven, and the mystery of establishing of his kingdom on earth.

And then there's the whole world cup thing - hmmm. Check out www.heilsarmee-wm2006.blogspot.com and then click on Nuremberg.

Helen Keller: "It's not having no sight I fear, it's having sight, but no vision"

Most times we need a different view, one option is voluntary displacement.

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.

On the road again....

2006-06-05T15:07:00.000-04:00

I Head off with six others - Leon Bosse (BC), Curtis Robinson, Candace Cryderman, Louise Wareham, (SASK), David Cole (NFLD), Angela Stewart (Bermuda) to Nurenberg Germany for 2.5 weeks Mission Team for World Cup Soccer, on Wednesday.

Will connect with this team in community here in Toronto for a couple of days, and then we will hang out at an Army Shelter, living in community with residents in their shelter, watching soccer with them, inviting others to their cafe to watch soccer, engaging youth in spontaneous soccer games, being part of welcoming community to those who have come from other parts of the world.

Our eyes, ears, hearts will be open to all whom we meet, and as even as we do it to the others, we will be open to God as well.

We do this at home, but we are going to help the Salvation Army in Germany incarnate the love of Jesus. Pray for us. Miracles may happen.

After the team is finished, I will solo it to Prague, Czech republic for a day, and Budapest, Hungary to be hosted by the youth officer there for a wee holiday before coming back to SARoots.

Open our eyes Lord we want, (we need) to see Jesus, not only us, but the world, as it gathers in Germany.

David Ivany, Major
Territorial Youth Secretary

"Leading people to follow Jesus...
Celebrating the existing - championing the emerging"

Don't pray until you let the things that break God's heart, break yours...

2006-05-31T09:23:00.000-04:00

Prayer could actually be that process.

Have been following some readings from the Moravian community - passages today talked of Jesus being spat upon, mocked (Mark 14) and then in Numbers - the priests being advised that they would not receive an inheritance of land like the others (they were well provided by tithes for daily needs) but the Lord said rather "I am your inheritance."

The weapons of mass distraction beckon at times, but I have been called, I don't have any land, property (I don't begrudge those who do), but God is my inheritance (I realize those who have land, have him as an inheritance as well) - and in the uniqueness of my call, is the uniqueness of my intimacy and experience with God.

My wife says I'm too deep - but she loves me!

Received various greetings on my 55th birthday yesterday, for which I was most grateful, I must confess I teared up as I had the rich privilege of talking on the phone to my two daughters, both who have my (and others) unending respect as they serve God in Harare, Zimbabwe, and downtown Vernon, BC.

Rochelle and Kirsten let the the things that break God's heart, break theirs - humbling, hard, but we all must respond to the call he has for us.

Getting it done - taking care of business....

2006-05-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

Interesting weekend - talked to a retired businessman who knew another independently wealthy businessman who could not return to his $8,000,000 home when his wife died, went to stay with his son - all the stuff but....

Also spent Sunday with the Norval United Church congregation as their minister was ordained and feted on Sunday. The fete was held by a lady of wealth, who while recently bereaved has found community in church and is finding ways of sharing her resources with others.

Love, courage and wisdom are required. Very happy to celebrate Sunday with my brother Paul on the occasion of his ordination. Great to be part of his "love-in" at the church and reception and the love-in for God, community and things spiritual which was at the root of it all.

Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member. Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary soldier.
Wisdom without love and courage is cowardice, as with the ordinary intellectual.
But the one who has love, courage, and wisdom moves the world.

Good to see the body of Christ in action - I rejoice in it!

Nidus - what?

2006-05-25T11:15:00.000-04:00

ni·dus - pronunciation: 'nI-d&s
1 : a place or substance in tissue where the germs of a disease or other organisms lodge and multiply
2 : a place where something originates or is fostered or develops

Nidus is the name of a ecumenical youth festival happening at Kitchener/Bingeman's August 4-6. If you are in the Ontario area and have a passion for faith/arts/justice you should go. In fact if you are keen and contact me I might be able to help with costs. Check it out http://nidus2006.ca

Nidus - a place or a time? An event or an attitude. Can be both, but the time, attitude is more important - bad things can fester, from without and within. We need to create a culture to address this - our very souls.

We must not demolish or fight our souls , or flee - we must engage. How tempting to fix, or run, when we need to be present with people in their story, situation - that's what so many blogs are addressing. The faith community is meant to engage our souls.

People are dying inside all around us - "revealing feeling is healing" - we need those safe places - those "niduses". I like others am praying for a way forward to find, provide, develop Niduses. I appreciate your prayers in this respect. It's God's heart-cry, the Nidus is not the end, it is the means to the end - relationship with God.

I feel a heavy burden for those around me. God guide us to you first and then may we move to action as you would guide. Christ in us - through us - hope.

"Money can't buy me love?"

2006-05-19T11:13:00.000-04:00

"Will you still need me when I'm 64?"

"Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away"

"We can work it out"

"We're Sgt. Pepper's lonely heart club band"

Sir Paul McCartney one of the original Beatles (pure Baby-boomer fare) and presently worth $1.7 billion has separated from his wife (she who interestingly enough is 26 years younger) as they are miserable together.

The press clippings have had a hey-day quipping lines from old Beatle songs.

I don't relish in the fact of someone's suffering, but yeah - "money can't buy you love".

Good thing because 95% of the world are dirt poor. Where does my help come from - the Lord!

Earth to earth - back to the basics...

2006-05-17T12:14:00.000-04:00

Some wild shrubs had been removed from our front yard - what was left was barrenness, exposed earth - plain, empty, void of soul.

Last Saturday a few kids came over the afternoon, and in addition to some road-hockey, and table games, we decided to buy some bedding plants - and voila our front space has been transformed - we all enjoyed the expereience from choosing the plants to planting them.

There is colour, there is texture, there is growth, there is God's natural wonder. We hadn't planted flowers for three years - it felt so good, it feels so good.

We are technicized - staring at screens all day, working in the realm of metal, and the created, not the natural, the creator.

I have a friend who nurtures African Violets early each morning - it's restful, it's rewarding.

First things, first-fruits, taking time to watch God work - from seed to texture, fragrance, taste, colour, shape. I didn't know how much I'd missed this appreciation - earth to earth, ashes to ashes - but for know, earth to earth, appreciating the wonder of He who is also the keeper of the garden of my heart.

God wouldn't create us with a hunger he could not satisfy....

2006-05-15T15:52:00.000-04:00

It is the pain of living that creates a hunger for healing that only God can satisfy.

A human being's greatest achievement is to let God be able to help him.

I heard someone share yesterday morning again, I don't know how I would cope without the Lord, that's not a crutch, that's a support....

Courage to carry on....

2006-05-12T09:25:00.001-04:00

Success is never final.

Failure is never fatal.

It is courage that counts.

"Life is really simple - we want to be loved, we want people to take care of us when we need it. Heaven has been described as this - you lose everything and some human being will be there for you"

So let's encourage one another, and be courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the forgetting of fear, which is fortified by presence of others and God.

Our provincial health minister recently owned to "drug addiction" in his past. He "came out" because he recognizes there is a lot of hurt in the world, and much of it is masked by drugs (or addictions, or medication).

God grant us the courage to change the things we can, the serenity to accept the things we cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Courage to carry on....

2006-05-12T09:25:00.000-04:00

Seriously.....sometimes you gotta' get stuck in order to get unstuck....

2006-04-30T21:36:00.000-04:00

It's been a while....

Sometimes you gotta' get stuck in order to get unstuck. Have seen graphic examples of this in others and myself recently.

Moving on requires humility - pride is systemic.

Is possible through grace - how important grace becomes, every day.

And what about the faithfulness of God....

We pray, get answers and don't accept them.

Sin management, managing God.

Sometimes you gotta get stuck, really stuck, helplessly stuck, in order to get unstuck.

Ecclesiastes is a dark book, and by its darkness, points us to the light.

Desire......

I'm starting to sound like an artist....an artist who has tasted grace once again, the banquet has been prepared.....

The darkness....sometimes in getting stuck, we can get unstuck....grace....grace....

You could have the whole world, and lose your soul...

2006-04-05T10:04:00.000-04:00

A young spiritual pilgrim seeks out the holy man and finds him in his sparse digs - "wise man where is your stuff" - the wise man responds "where is yours". The young pilgrim replies I'm just passing through - the wise man replies "so am I."

Heard a choir sing an old gospel tune "Give me Jesus" on Sunday. During this Lenten time there have been times of creating space for Jesus, some irritations, weariness, tension, but there has been Jesus.

O how I love Jesus, I'm desperate for Him, I'm lost without Him.

PAPA

2006-03-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

Some heady days recently:
- amazing time with family at son Josh's wedding (we love you Jennifer),
- God drawing so very close at Innovare 2006, a conference I convened for youth, youth leaders in Canada and Bermuda - God is faithful.
- then three days at a conference with three heroes: Larry Crabb, Gordon MacDonald, and Dallas Willard - all of these men have impacted my life significantly, and there we all were in the same room drinking from the same spirit.

I am humbly learning God's ways, discovering his presence, and seeking his power/glory.

I've got 6 months blogs in my head right now, but I'll settle for Crabb's acronym on prayer - relational prayer:

P - present yourself as you are - don't fake it - as you are, God can take it - right now.
A - attend to your view of God, is it a twisted one in your image - or will "the real you meets the real God."
P - purge all relational sin - get things right- right now.
A - approach God to get what He longs to give.

Abba Father, Daddy, Papa hears, and knows, and longs to give us what he wants us to have and what we need. It's not always what we want, but he is smart, good, and dangersou. Bless him!

Fat Tuesday - Ash Wednesday

2006-03-02T09:10:00.000-05:00

Even after 7 years in Quebec, becoming relatively adept in the french language, I never connected Mardi Gras (the party) with the literal translation - "fat Tuesday".

People get all juiced up, indulgent, before and on Tuesday knowing that lent/self-denail is approaching - hmmm....

In some churches on Ash Wednesday you go and receive a mark of the cross on your forehead from the ashes of the previous years Palm Sunday fronds that were burned. You bear the mark, you're reminded of Christ's journey.

Lent - we commence a time of remembering the passion of Jesus, the triumphal entry, but the events surrounding his death on the cross. It's sobering stuff, time for self-examination, discipline, meditation, renewal - sounds like something we should observe.

From now to Easter Sunday do something unique to remember the walk Jesus walked. It's not a hype thing, an alternate life-style, it's a focus - ie. I'll spend time with a friend, I'll go to this film festival - not a fat tuesday, ash wednesday trippy thing - it's a focus - let's do it.

Here's a hard-core prayer from the Ash Wednesday reading, Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

"Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forigivness; through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Loved by God with an unending love....

2006-02-21T15:04:00.000-05:00

Imagine how much a persons’s life would be changed if he trusted that he was loved by God?

· He could interact with the poor and show no partiality,
· He could love his spouse easily and not expect her to redeem him
· He would be slow to anger because redemption was no longer at stake
· He would be wise and giving with his money because money no longer represented points of
· He would give up his formulaic religion, knowing that checking stuff off a spiritual to-do list was a worthless pursuit
· He would have confidence and the ability to laugh at himself
· He could love people without expecting anything in return.

It would be quite beautiful really.

Donald Miller “Searching for God knows what”

You have loved me even before I existed,
And knowing this,
I can place my trust in your love
And set aside every fear.

Catherine of Siena

I can't get no satisfaction....

2006-02-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

God,

I want to want Thee,

I long to be filled with longing,

I thirst to be made thirsty.

SALVATION ARMY GRID BLOG

2006-02-03T14:16:00.000-05:00

Talk is cheap.

In the final analysis once cannot live byslogans but only by a wisdom born of life experience.

Since life is complex, a simplistic gospel will soon be irrelevant.

Christians seem to be adept at sloganeering and much preaching is slick and simplistic

Reductionism unsuccessfully tries to overcome the polarities in which the Christian must live. It therefore makes the disturbing good news of the New Testament a good news that fits our cultural expectations. In doing this, it robs the gospel of power.

God sits high, looks low - reveals himself to the most learned mind and the humble servant

Take time to listen, ask questions - in listening we can more effectively discern.

The Habit of Holy Thought - AW Tozer's the man...

2006-01-27T11:31:00.000-05:00

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. --2 Corinthians 10:5

What we think about when we are free to think about what we will - that is what we are or will soon become....Anyone who wishes to check on his true spiritual condition may do so by noting what his voluntary thoughts have been over the last hours or days. What has he thought about when free to think of what he pleased? Toward what has his inner heart turned when it was free to turn where it would?

When the bird of thought was let go did it fly out like the raven to settle upon floating carcasses or did it like the dove circle and return again to the ark of God? Such a test is easy to run, and if we are honest with ourselves we can discover not only what we are but what we are going to become. We'll soon be the sum of our voluntary thoughts....

The best way to control our thoughts is to offer the mind to God in complete surrender. The Holy Spirit will accept it and take control of it immediately. Then it will be relatively easy to think on spiritual things, especially if we train our thought by long periods of daily prayer. Long practice in the art of mental prayer (that is, talking to God inwardly as we work or travel) will help to form the habit of holy thought.

"Oh, Lord, You know the constant struggle so many of us have with our thought life. You know how often our thoughts do indeed settle on rotten carcasses. Take control of my thoughts today, and move me along in the development of the habit of holy thought. Amen."

“The future belongs to those who give the next generation reasons to hope.”

2006-01-10T15:11:00.000-05:00

I am convinced that Generation Next is going to impact the kingdom of God in this world.

They want to be real, (transparent), relevant (living, speaking a life that people can understand, that makes sense, that makes a difference) and relational (connecting, loving God, neighbour as self).

The gods of technology, politics, and even church are failing. If you want to change the world you have to learn to change yourself first.

“Only a Jesus faith reflected in a Jesus lifestyle will cause men to think again about the claims of Christianity.”

As we keep totally focused on Jesus, and follow him, fall in love with him, do what he says, we discover who God is, who we are, and what our unique calling is.

“The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Dare to resist, dare to oppose, dare to walk the new way. Dare to build the new. If God is for us, who can be against us?

We must remain obedient to the holy vision. God help us.

Renew the mind - life-long learning credo

2005-12-28T09:53:00.000-05:00

Books I read in 2005

1. Mission to Oz - Mark Tabb
2. Retrofuture - Gerard Kelly
3. The Body Broken - Benson
4. Facing Ali - Brunt
5. Sabbatical Journey - Henri Nouwen
6. God in the Alley
7. A generous orthodoxy - Brian McLaren
8. The Third Peacock - Robert Farrar Capon
9. Buck Naked Faith - Eric Sandras
10.The Five people you meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
11.In the Name of Jesus - Henri Nouwen
12.Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
13.The Kite Runner - Hosseni
14. Dancing the Dream
15.Nine things you must do - Henry Cloud
16.Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
17.Blood and Fire - Hattersley
18.To be Told - Dan Allender
19.Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
20.SoulTalk - Larry Crabb
21.Glimpses of Jesus - Brennan Manning

These are high impact winners - Fiction "The Kite-Runner *****
Non-fiction: SoulTalk, Retrofuture, Buck Naked Faith, Generous Orthodoxy, To be Told, Sabbatical Journey, Glimpse of Jesus *****

An extraordinary year for books and insights, challenge - can't wait for 2006 - got a stack on my desk! Bless you one and all.

The Light shines in the darkess...

2005-12-24T16:49:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, when you're tired, or you slow down and get in touch with your feelings, or when you read a newspaper, things appear dark.

All the muzak, and external forces and activity seems to bring it into focus, unless you medicate.

When we are being renewed inwardly in our minds, in our spirits, we know that the light shines in the darkness. Light of the world - here we are to worship - come into our world, shed your light - we need you, oh yeah, we need you.

The hopes and fears of all the years...

2005-12-23T10:02:00.000-05:00

Ah the Madonna will have joy this Christmas - she is plugged in, she is connected! She must have been "nice" -got her i-pod!

It is more blessed to give than receive - time, positive regard, attention, space, understanding, compassion, a hand up when someone has fallen, listening, stopping to think, consider, act.

Connections are crucial - rooted in God, clothed with the graces of Christ - issuing in a grateful heart - healing words, hopeful words.

The gift of self, not comparing with others, but being present with others. Life-affirming, not avoiding, not fixing, but being present - incarnation, immanuel, Hopes and fears met in Jesus, thanks be to God!

Light and life, healing - God usually loves through us...

2005-12-14T08:39:00.000-05:00

Some children see him lily white,
The baby Jesus born this night,
Some children see him lily white,
With tresses soft and fair,

Some children see him bronzed and brown,
With dark and heavy hair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down;

The children in each diff'rent place
Will see the Baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heav'nly grace,
And filled with holy light.

O lay aside each earthly thing,
And with thy heart as offering,
Come worship now the Infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight!

The darker the night, the brighter the light shines - shine Jesus shine in us, through us, where we need to be.

God in the face of a child....

2005-12-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

As they journeyed homeward o’er moor and fen
It wasn’t the anger of Herod then
Which haunted the thoughts of the three wise men;
And it wasn’t a Mother who smiled;
Nor even a Baby’s unwinking stare
As the rushlight gleamed in that stable bare
On the glittering gifts they brought Him there;
It was God – in the face of a Child.

There’s a pilgrimage for us all to make,
A star to be followed, a road to take
Ere our search be ended; and hearts may quake
At a prospect so daunting, so wild.
But our mundane lives will be rich and bright,
Transformed by the glory of Heaven’s light

If at Bethlehem on this Christmas night, We see God – in the face of a Child.

We are not alone - God knows, God understands, he has walked where we walk, he is with us (most often through other people). The light shines in the darkness - thank you O holy Child of Bethlehem....

Do you love well?

2005-11-28T15:38:00.000-05:00

Someone has described a saint as an extravagant lover of God and people.

Just listened to a CD of J. Heron who works in Vancouver's east side (along with 84 other not for profit groups) who asked those at the Mosaic church planting conference, (and all those who will have heard it by CD - "Do you love well?"

When Paul was finally accepted by the apostles after 14 years (Galatians 2:1-10), the only thing they challenged this former persecutor of Christians and keeper of the law - "Continue to remember the poor".

James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". We have sometimes majored on the latter and forgotten the former.

I have really been challenged about fathers and children, my relationship with my children, and specifically sons, who may one day become fathers, and with my father.

Honouring our father and mother is huge - the one commandment with a promise - long life at that.

J. Heron says 80% of those who suffer in the east side of Vancouver are foster children. I wonder how many spiritual foster children we have.

There's a link here -loving God well, loving our kids, and parents well, loving the poor well. The church should be leading the way.....

It takes courage, looking inside, looking at our past, looking at Jesus, and then looking at others.

God help me to love well - I am loved well by you - may my heart and mind and body unite in affirmation of this truth.

REAL-ATIONSHIPS

2005-11-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

Ah the creative juices flow - a new word!

Brennan Manning "A Glimpse of Jesus" is stirring up a lot in my spirit, almost too much to take - when we go deep we stir up, and we start confronting strong-holds - the way out is not more will-power, but humility before God and others.

We can experience the compassion and unconditional acceptance of Jesus Christ only when we feel valued and cherished by others.

(Have I experienced the message “God loves you” through people” REAL-ATIONSHIPS)

The quality of a Christian’s presence in the assembly, his relationship to God, and to his brothers and sisters, is key.

The value of community worship in the sight of God – independent of the quality of music, effectiveness of preaching, imagination of the the service and décor – is measured by the quality of life and love in the community of faith.

The body of Christ - His provision - the way out, the way in, the way through. Let's keep going!

Buck Naked Faith (doing/being real)

2005-11-09T14:43:00.000-05:00

Becoming real, being real. Looking honestly at ourselves, deepening our understanding of self and God, within the context of community.

“Deep within us our humanness is a profound need to be heard, and understood, not in part, but as a whole. Discover how to meet this need in yourself and in others.

No-one can develop freely in this world, and find a full life without feeling understood by at least one person. No-one comes to know himself through introspection or in the solitude of his personal diary. Rather it is in dialogue, in his meeting with other persons.” (Paul Tournier)

To those who want to further explore this "real" thing I once again heartily recommend "Buck Naked Faith".

SEX IS DIRTY - SAVE IF FOR THE ONE YOU LOVE!?!

2005-11-08T10:42:00.000-05:00

Ah that word has caused someone to linger a little longer over this blog.

Back from 4 day whirlwind tour to Western Nfld - Deer Lake Youth Gathering, at Cornerbrook Citadel for regional Youth Workers seminars, Sunday services in Stephenville and Cornerbook Temple. Stayed with friends, met new ones. Marvellous hospitality, people.

The burden of youth and youth workers is "traditionalism", religion. Some very thoughtful, passionate people are struggling with these big ones. It's not a regional thing anymore - it's bigger than culture and regions.

Real (authentic), Relevant (talking a common, understandable language - doesn't mean dumbing down Jesus, faith, the bible) and Relational (person to person, God to person).

This is the heart cry. God help us, it's not easy, but we have to start where we are.

Oh yeah I've got to talk about sex right? Everybody thinks about it, everybody in the church is afraid to talk about it. Repression, ignorance are unhealthy. Education, conversation are helpful. Generation next deserves better. That's what we all concluded at the seminar on Saturday. We're afraid to advertise it. It's okay to advertise, giving the context, values and God's view. It's great - in its place - sharing that comfortably, clearly, confidently is our challenge and our responsibility.

Not the mushroom treatment - keep you in the dark and feed you ****.

May it be the real me, talking to the real God, in real community! Wisdom, courage, patience come from your hand O Lord - thank you!

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

2005-10-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

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

2005-10-24T12:39:00.000-04:00

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.....

2005-10-17T15:45:00.000-04:00

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...

2005-10-13T23:14:00.001-04:00

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?

2005-10-11T07:10:00.000-04:00

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?

2005-10-07T15:27:00.000-04:00

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)

2005-10-02T18:59:00.000-04:00

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..."

Tragedy Sucks....

2005-09-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

Back from the West Coast - holy times...

...of "soul-talk" with Jesus' body (new friends) at a vocational retreat in Abbotsford;

...with my daughter at the Balmoral Hotel/War College, Vancouver's east side, in the cold, windy rain, and meth addicts and bodies posing as lives;

...lunch on a patio in the glorious sunshine with my brother who shared of a couple I know who have chosen to live a part;

...with a new youth pastor whose mission statement is "to keep following in love with Jesus, and lead others to fall in love with Jesus"

I'm back at the office (ouch) in Toronto...

...phone message from the pastor in Montreal - a young man with a free spirit, painful past behind him, whimsical smile whom our family came to love - killed in a traffic accident - family wanted us to know.

....phone call - the father of a good friend (an emerging Christian leader) had an aneurysm, is on life support...

Tragedy sucks - God shouts - I don't like the sound. Even after all these years of philosophizing and trusting, I still ask the why questions, but... I more readily move into the "to whom do I turn?" and "what do I do now?" questions.

Life is complex, life is simple.

Seize it - in the pain of it, the excitement, and the boredom; Seize God - in his mystery, his silence, his grace, his wildness.....

He desires you....he's calling us home....

David Ivany
Territorial Youth Secretary

"Leading people to follow Jesus..."
2005 YEAR OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH

It's all about hair, I mean heart....

2005-09-27T18:30:00.000-04:00

Hey my Buddie Kirk and I are sharing a moment of whimsy. We don't share the same hair-dresser, but we share a love of Jesus.

We both are into loving God with heart, mind and soul. We both know that God delights in our soul, that we need to follow our heart without hesitation, and to guard our heart, for it is the well-spring of life.

Young men visions; old men dreams - all for Jesus!