I was privileged to preach at the funeral of a friend and fellow servant in ministry this week. It was probably the largest funeral I’ve ever been involved in to which my friend would have been impressed to know that so many cared! It was a great funeral!
However I’m finding myself very low and sad. My sense is, that I’m mourning the loss of someone that was very much a part of my life. He was part of the Search Committee that brought me to Rymal Road Church more than 15 years ago. Over that time he has supported and encouraged me through many difficult situations that Pastoral ministry often brings. Although we had our differences at times, once a decision was made, he would stand behind it. Over the years we had together in ministry there were only two times I had to approach him and reprove him on some point. Each time we were able to discuss and clear the issue respectfully with never a hint of any animosity. This always spoke volumes to me for this has not always been the case when I have had to reprove leaders in ministry (which is a difficult thing to do). My friend was a solid Christian, a deep thinker and wise in making leadership decisions. He always brought to the table a respect and clear thinking on the issues being considered. We will all miss his influence and support!
As I deal with my own loss; I’m also trying to comprehend the loss for the family and the congregation as a whole. Who can understand? But my faith and the scriptures tell me plainly that God is in control and He knows and sympathizes in our loss. Our hope and all of life is totally in his hands and we must trust Him! The scripture that comes to mind is “Be still and know that I am God”. Therefore I will be still and in the quietness of that stillness I hear God’s whisper….. “I am with you!”
Thank You Lord for allowing me to have such a good friend and supporter. I miss him!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Letting Go
Although life has much to do with acquiring; it has just as much to do with relinquishing. We acquire life and a family. As we grow and mature we acquire knowledge, understanding, other relationships and of course material possessions. But there also comes the time for relinquishing all these things as well as life itself. As I have watched people face death, you see how gradually everything is let go; even the last breath. But we usually do this unwillingly.
But the call of Jesus Christ is also a call asking us to relinquish. Before death forces us to relinquish our all unwillingly; Christ asks us to relinquish all to Him willingly. And if we do; death’s relinquishing power is gone, for we have already given our life away and paradoxally at deaths call receive eternal life. Here death has no power.
But make no mistake; the call of Christ to relinquish our all to Him is just as costly. Before any resurrection there has to be death. Christ calls us to accept our death to all our acquisitions so that He alone becomes all we have! Death to all our knowledge, understanding, hopes, dreams, relationships, possessions - we relinquish it all to receive Him!
As the Apostle Paul attests, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV) Christ living in me is the resurrected life. It begins in this life and carries us over into the life to come. “Christ lives in me” when we have come to that place that we relinquish all we have and all we are! We must let go of it all in order to gain all the more (that is Christ)! Amen.
But the call of Jesus Christ is also a call asking us to relinquish. Before death forces us to relinquish our all unwillingly; Christ asks us to relinquish all to Him willingly. And if we do; death’s relinquishing power is gone, for we have already given our life away and paradoxally at deaths call receive eternal life. Here death has no power.
But make no mistake; the call of Christ to relinquish our all to Him is just as costly. Before any resurrection there has to be death. Christ calls us to accept our death to all our acquisitions so that He alone becomes all we have! Death to all our knowledge, understanding, hopes, dreams, relationships, possessions - we relinquish it all to receive Him!
As the Apostle Paul attests, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV) Christ living in me is the resurrected life. It begins in this life and carries us over into the life to come. “Christ lives in me” when we have come to that place that we relinquish all we have and all we are! We must let go of it all in order to gain all the more (that is Christ)! Amen.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Rest for the Soul
Many of us are tired and exhausted from the hectic pace of life. With instant communications, vast internet data and our consumer appetite; we find our lives often running on empty. Physical exhaustion is the obvious sign; but there is also a more sinister symptom; exhaustion of the soul.
There can come upon us an inward exhaustion towards life itself. The struggle to be and become a person of worth, success and contribution. This is the battleground of the spirit world. Cosmic forces of good and bad battling over the soul. Most are not even aware of this battleground. Within our personhood we strive and seek often for that which is unknown. But God knows and he is calling to us to come unto Him. Jesus calls “Come to me….. and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV) To find rest is also to be at peace. In coming to Him, following His ways and learning from Him we will find a rest for the soul that brings peace within.
We labour in our own strength; in our own wisdom only to find ourselves burnt out at the end of the day. Jesus says … “come to me…take my yoke” - that is my ways and connect yourself to me. Here is rest for the soul. Being in a relationship to the Saviour we can be free of our own striving as we learn from Him….to trust Him and follow Him.
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
Sadly the last line of this Old Testament text says it for many of us….we would have none of it!
There can come upon us an inward exhaustion towards life itself. The struggle to be and become a person of worth, success and contribution. This is the battleground of the spirit world. Cosmic forces of good and bad battling over the soul. Most are not even aware of this battleground. Within our personhood we strive and seek often for that which is unknown. But God knows and he is calling to us to come unto Him. Jesus calls “Come to me….. and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV) To find rest is also to be at peace. In coming to Him, following His ways and learning from Him we will find a rest for the soul that brings peace within.
We labour in our own strength; in our own wisdom only to find ourselves burnt out at the end of the day. Jesus says … “come to me…take my yoke” - that is my ways and connect yourself to me. Here is rest for the soul. Being in a relationship to the Saviour we can be free of our own striving as we learn from Him….to trust Him and follow Him.
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
Sadly the last line of this Old Testament text says it for many of us….we would have none of it!
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Pull Up Your Socks!
When I was 18 years old, a neighbour friend and I decided to coach an under 10 years softball team. One of our pitchers was extremely fast and accurate for the age group. It helped out that he had several older brothers who helped him master the skill of an underhand wind up pitch.
We were in the midst of a difficult game and were far behind on the scoreboard. The problem was that little Dougy wasn’t pitching very well this night. At a low point when Dougy was having a hard time; Mom shouts out from the stands, “Dougy, pull up your socks!”
So Dougy stops pitching; bends over putting down his glove and proceeds to pull up each of his socks. The crowd lets out a howl of laughter and poor Dougy had no idea why they were laughing!
Communication is tricky business. Speaking to be understood is not simple. As with little Dougy, we can often hear words and terminology that we don’t always understand and it can cause us to follow through in inappropriate ways.
It doesn’t matter whether its in a friendship, marriage or any other relationship; communication is difficult even at the best of times. What I say and what you understand can be two very different things.
It reminds me how God has communicated to humanity through the prophets, the written word and eventually through the coming of His Son. Christ came to show us what God was like. When you see the Son; you see the Father. For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. (Colossians 1:19 (TEV)) Christ went on to send us the Holy Spirit to be our helper and guide.
In all of this it seems to me that God has gone out of His way in order to communicate appropriately about Himself to us. Perhaps in all of our communications we too should “Pull Up Our Socks.”
We were in the midst of a difficult game and were far behind on the scoreboard. The problem was that little Dougy wasn’t pitching very well this night. At a low point when Dougy was having a hard time; Mom shouts out from the stands, “Dougy, pull up your socks!”
So Dougy stops pitching; bends over putting down his glove and proceeds to pull up each of his socks. The crowd lets out a howl of laughter and poor Dougy had no idea why they were laughing!
Communication is tricky business. Speaking to be understood is not simple. As with little Dougy, we can often hear words and terminology that we don’t always understand and it can cause us to follow through in inappropriate ways.
It doesn’t matter whether its in a friendship, marriage or any other relationship; communication is difficult even at the best of times. What I say and what you understand can be two very different things.
It reminds me how God has communicated to humanity through the prophets, the written word and eventually through the coming of His Son. Christ came to show us what God was like. When you see the Son; you see the Father. For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. (Colossians 1:19 (TEV)) Christ went on to send us the Holy Spirit to be our helper and guide.
In all of this it seems to me that God has gone out of His way in order to communicate appropriately about Himself to us. Perhaps in all of our communications we too should “Pull Up Our Socks.”
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