I remember listening to John Piper at our annual convention of churches in 1999 at Parksville Baptist Church on Vancouver Island. Something funny I remember is him saying was that we are often Chronological snobs. What he meant was that we are always reading the latest trendy and current best-sellers and igoring masterful works from the past. Chronological snobbery.
This morning I read part of a free E Book (in PDF Format) by Charles Spurgeon. He was a preacher who lived in Englad in the 1800's. What I read was from 1896. The Lord spoke to me so clearly through what Spurgeon spoke all those years ago:
I had never known sin to be so "exceeding sinful" if I had not known God to be so perfectly holy. I had never understood the depravity of my own nature if I had not known the holiness of God's nature. I am persuaded that there is no great actual distance between earth and heaven: the distance lies in our dull minds. Have your hearts right with Him, and He will visit you often, until every day you shall walk with God, as Enoch did, and so turn week-days into Sabbaths, meals into sacraments, homes into temples, and earth into heaven. So be it with us! Amen.
—CH Spurgeon
www.spurgeon.org is a great collection of Spurgeon material from of old. I will be going back there quite often to do some more devotional reading.
Nuff Said
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Starbucks or Timmy's?
Yesterday was a Pro D day.
As far as I know there weren't really any of those when I was a kid at school. Maybe there was one day, here and there, where teachers took a seminar. But the kids really have it good these days eh? Stat holidays (Thanksgiving Monday etc.) and these Pro D days. Cool.
When it's a Pro D Day I take that day as my day off that week so I can spend time with my family. I followed my wife and daughters around Malls, Wal-Mart and Superstore.
Waaay tired at the end of the day.
But I got to go to Starbucks. Twice. It's actually a good thing I can only go to Starbucks once in awhile - I went waaay too much when we lived in Prince George. Having said that (about going to Starbucks too much - my buddy Barry says it should be called Fourbucks), I got to thinking about why I enjoy Starbucks so much. Many fine Canadians I know would argue that Timmy's is better and more power to 'em. But at Starbucks the chairs are comfortable, they play music (some of which I like) and the atmosphere is "take-a-load-off-sit-down-visit-talk and stay ahile."
The seats at Tim's are hard and "hurry up and eat and move on." When we lived in Prince George we had the good fortune of having a Starbucks only one kilometre's walk from our house. So on an evening off, Sandra and I would walk there for a coffee date. We'd sit and chat and have a coffee or tea and, you know what, it was my favorite way to spend time with Sandra. Sicamous needs a coffee place like that. Nice Chairs to sit and talk to a friend over a hot cup of jo.
What if the church were more like Starbucks than Timmy's. You know, a foyer with nice chairs, good coffee, good music playing. A place where people came early to sit and have coffee, hang out, visit and stay for awhile. You know, instead of showing up at one minute past Ten or ten after ten during the second song and leaving after a perfunctory handshake at the door.
Nuff Said.
As far as I know there weren't really any of those when I was a kid at school. Maybe there was one day, here and there, where teachers took a seminar. But the kids really have it good these days eh? Stat holidays (Thanksgiving Monday etc.) and these Pro D days. Cool.
When it's a Pro D Day I take that day as my day off that week so I can spend time with my family. I followed my wife and daughters around Malls, Wal-Mart and Superstore.
Waaay tired at the end of the day.
But I got to go to Starbucks. Twice. It's actually a good thing I can only go to Starbucks once in awhile - I went waaay too much when we lived in Prince George. Having said that (about going to Starbucks too much - my buddy Barry says it should be called Fourbucks), I got to thinking about why I enjoy Starbucks so much. Many fine Canadians I know would argue that Timmy's is better and more power to 'em. But at Starbucks the chairs are comfortable, they play music (some of which I like) and the atmosphere is "take-a-load-off-sit-down-visit-talk and stay ahile."
The seats at Tim's are hard and "hurry up and eat and move on." When we lived in Prince George we had the good fortune of having a Starbucks only one kilometre's walk from our house. So on an evening off, Sandra and I would walk there for a coffee date. We'd sit and chat and have a coffee or tea and, you know what, it was my favorite way to spend time with Sandra. Sicamous needs a coffee place like that. Nice Chairs to sit and talk to a friend over a hot cup of jo.
What if the church were more like Starbucks than Timmy's. You know, a foyer with nice chairs, good coffee, good music playing. A place where people came early to sit and have coffee, hang out, visit and stay for awhile. You know, instead of showing up at one minute past Ten or ten after ten during the second song and leaving after a perfunctory handshake at the door.
Nuff Said.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Someone Real?
Yesterday I was in the store buying something. The clerk asked me how I was. I said "Good. How are you?" The cashier responded that she was , "fine." I think fine means Freaked-out, Irrational, Neurotic and Emotional.
However she was, I had lied. I was not good. I had a brutal headache that wouldn't go away and I could hardly think straight. However no one wants to listen to me complain so I try not to (although I am quite sure that I do it plenty).
Now putting my headache in perspective, in comparison to the rest of the world I have it great.
But I thought about the fact that I really do have someone I can be real with. I can tell my wife how I am really am, certain friends and God. I have an accountability partner with whom I share my real struggles and with whom I confess sin and stress and my prayer requests. I believe it would be a great thing for Christians, in this day and age, to have someone with whom they can be real.
Peter said these words,
7Casting the c]">[c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, d]">[d]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you e]">[e]watchfully.B)">(B)
The mundane, every day things that we go through do matter to God and they do matter to the people who care for us. When I am real with my wife and my friends and God I feel a burden is lifted."
Nuff said.
However she was, I had lied. I was not good. I had a brutal headache that wouldn't go away and I could hardly think straight. However no one wants to listen to me complain so I try not to (although I am quite sure that I do it plenty).
Now putting my headache in perspective, in comparison to the rest of the world I have it great.
But I thought about the fact that I really do have someone I can be real with. I can tell my wife how I am really am, certain friends and God. I have an accountability partner with whom I share my real struggles and with whom I confess sin and stress and my prayer requests. I believe it would be a great thing for Christians, in this day and age, to have someone with whom they can be real.
Peter said these words,
7Casting the c]">[c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, d]">[d]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you e]">[e]watchfully.B)">(B)
The mundane, every day things that we go through do matter to God and they do matter to the people who care for us. When I am real with my wife and my friends and God I feel a burden is lifted."
Nuff said.
Friday, September 11, 2009
9-11 Eight Years Later
It is 9-11. Eight years ago at 7am, on that fateful Tuesday morning, my Dad called me and told me that New York was under attack and the Twin Towers had fallen. I was dumbfounded and turned on the TV in disbelief. It was too much for my safe, Canadian mind to handle. That week they cancelled TV commericials and the News was on all day and all night as people tried to get a handle on what had just happened.
As I examine the last eight years and see the devastating effects of the war on terror I have to agree with the CBC political analyst who said that World War Three began on that day--but it would be a different kind of war--one that would last for at least twenty years.
Indeed, it doesn't look like the worldwide conflict is going to be done anytime soon. In the mean time I was reading 1 Peter again today and saw some stuff about Jesus and about how knowing Him should affect us as His Christians on earth....
1 Peter 2:23 23 - When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly. (Amplified Bible)
And how should Jesus' conduct affect my life when I am attacked?
1 Peter 3:9 9Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].
Kinda makes you go: Hmmm.
www.sicamouschurch.com
As I examine the last eight years and see the devastating effects of the war on terror I have to agree with the CBC political analyst who said that World War Three began on that day--but it would be a different kind of war--one that would last for at least twenty years.
Indeed, it doesn't look like the worldwide conflict is going to be done anytime soon. In the mean time I was reading 1 Peter again today and saw some stuff about Jesus and about how knowing Him should affect us as His Christians on earth....
1 Peter 2:23 23 - When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly. (Amplified Bible)
And how should Jesus' conduct affect my life when I am attacked?
1 Peter 3:9 9Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].
Kinda makes you go: Hmmm.
www.sicamouschurch.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sept.9.09
So! It is 9.9.9. I am sure that some numerical enthusiasts are excited for some reason about the number 9 times three on this ninth month of 2009. It think it is cool.
There is a new movie out today on 9.9.9. called ``9``. It is an animated feature I think.
This morning as I was reading 1 Peter 2 I was reminded that to be like Jesus will sometimes mean suffering an injustice. Peter reminds us to be submissive to the emperor. Read this:
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Back then, submitting to the emperor that God has allowed to be king of Rome, meant submitting to Nero. That dude was not a good guy.
The stuff that Nero did to God`s people and thousands of innocents was brutal. Christians back then had something to complain about. Peter told them to honor the emperor. That would take a lot of trust in the sovereignty of God and alot of grace.
So today, in Canada, this dude has nothing to complain about. And whether I am Canadian or American, my job is to live as a free Christian and to use my freedom to serve my nation and be an example of a Christian who shows respect to everyone, loves the church and even honors an
imperfect government. And when I compare what we got to Nero....no prob.
Nuff Said
So! It is 9.9.9. I am sure that some numerical enthusiasts are excited for some reason about the number 9 times three on this ninth month of 2009. It think it is cool.
There is a new movie out today on 9.9.9. called ``9``. It is an animated feature I think.
This morning as I was reading 1 Peter 2 I was reminded that to be like Jesus will sometimes mean suffering an injustice. Peter reminds us to be submissive to the emperor. Read this:
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Back then, submitting to the emperor that God has allowed to be king of Rome, meant submitting to Nero. That dude was not a good guy.
The stuff that Nero did to God`s people and thousands of innocents was brutal. Christians back then had something to complain about. Peter told them to honor the emperor. That would take a lot of trust in the sovereignty of God and alot of grace.
So today, in Canada, this dude has nothing to complain about. And whether I am Canadian or American, my job is to live as a free Christian and to use my freedom to serve my nation and be an example of a Christian who shows respect to everyone, loves the church and even honors an
imperfect government. And when I compare what we got to Nero....no prob.
Nuff Said
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
