Video from Kid's Mini Christmas Concert

To protect our kids you'll need a password to play this.  Passwords are only given to members of our Church family.  To request the password, please email clint@parksideonprentis.ca.

What Joy

I'm preaching this Sunday on joy.  It's the third week of advent and we are lighting the "joy candle".  A week ago I wasn't going to preach as I didn't feel up for it, but over the last couple days, my heart has grown with anticipation to share the joy I have been experiencing in the midst of a horrible situation.

I've realized that the tears I have shed haven't been out of despair or pity, but out of a deep gratefulness for the hope I have in Christ.  To know that nothing this world throws at me has the power to change my destination feels like being in a bunker while bombs are going off outside.  To know that God has and is experiencing my pain allows me to embrace Him in the same way I embrace my wife.  To know that God is just gives me peace by realizing that healing will come, whether it be on this side of life or the other.  To know that God knew about this situation before either of us were born brings an ability to trust Him and His ways.

The bottom line is that no amount of darkness can consume the light we have in Christ.  The hope we have in Him out shines every trial.  In fact, the trials we face help us realize this to a greater degree.  I can honestly say that my hope in Christ is greater in and through this than it was before and for that reason I feel blessed and experience true joy.

It's similar to how I feel about our Church and family.  I loved them deeply before, but now I realize to an even greater degree how awesome they are, and I love them even more.  This makes me smile.

Thank you to everyone who is praying and fasting for us.  Your love and involvement means a lot.  Your faith is inspiring.

I've asked Carmen D. to sing this song at Church this Sunday as it has been an encouragement to me and goes nicely with our focus this Sunday (see "video" below):

Joy

December 12-18, 2010
Advent: Week 3

KNOW | Study
Read Luke 2:8-11; John 15 & 16; Hebrews 12:1-2.  Take time to read these portions of Scripture.  Observe each time you see the word joy/rejoice and reflect on the cause and effect of joy in the life of a Christ follower.

GROW | Discussion Option #1
What makes good news, good?  What is it about a news story that makes it good or bad?  What good news have you had in your life?  What emotions did it evoke?  Did your good news ever overshadow the bad things in your life?

GROW | Discussion Option #2
How can a Christian rejoice in all sufferings endured for the sake of the cross even when it seems unnatural (in a worldly sense) to do so?  Read Romans 5:2-5 and Hebrews 12:2  to get greater perspective on this question. 

SOW | Application
Rediscover the Good News of Jesus.  Take time this week to come before Jesus and invite Him into your life.  Repent of the damage you have done in your life and caused in others.  Ask for His forgiveness and He will forgive you.  Ask Him to baptize you in His Spirit.  Begin to sing personal songs of praise to Him rejoicing not only in the good work He has done in your life (i.e. forgiveness), but also in expectation of His return and our eternity with Him.  Ask Him to lead you and follow where He guides.

Christmas 2010

Sunday, December 12
Advent: Week 3 (Joy)
 Join us at 10:00am for our Sunday gathering!  Our kid's will be signing a number of Christmas songs.  Pastor Clint will be reflecting on the unique nature of Christian Joy.

Saturday, December 18
Benefit Concert
Join us at 7:00pm for an evening of music (Willy & the Wannabees, Karin Olsen, Tony O'Hara, and Isaac & Catherine Dagneau will be performing).  Please bring non-perishable items.  All proceeds will go towards our Christmas Hampers and Mission Christmas Bureau (City Hamper program).

Sunday, December 19
Advent: Week 4 (Peace)
Join us at 10:00am for music and a message by Catherine Dagneau on peace!

Friday, December 24
Christmas Eve Service
Join us at 6:30pm-7:15pm for a time of Christmas carols, Scripture reading, and reflection on the birth of Jesus.

Love

December 5-11, 2010
Advent: Week 2

KNOW | Personal Study
Read 1 John.  Take time to read this awesome letter.  1 John reveals much of the truth of who God is and what God means to those that know Him.  Read through it a few times this week and make notes as you go.  Don't be afraid to stop on a phrase and ponder its meaning and application! 

GROW | Discussion Option #1
Compare and contrast the differences between the world's definition of love and Christian love.  When someone says, "I love McDonald's cheeseburgers" and then in the next sentence says, "I love you so much", how does that change your understanding of love?

GROW | Discussion Option #2
What is the Church known for in the world's eye?  Does this view match what the God's purpose is for the Church?  What does your spouse know you for?  What do your kid's know you for?  What does your neighbour know you for?  What do your co-workers and boss know you for?

SOW | Application
Love someone this week in the same way you have experienced Christ's love.  I suggest you start in your home.  Take what and who you have in Christ and pour that same kind of love out on them.  Exert patience, kindness, forgiveness (the mercy and grace kind), self-sacrifice, and generosity.  If a week is too much of an onerous task, try it for just one day.  Pick a day and love that person as much as Christ has loved you.  See how it goes!

Hope

Advent: Week 1
November 28 - December 4, 2010


Personal Study
Read Romans 5:1-5; Hebrews 6:13-19; Ephesians 2:12; Luke 2:8-11; 1 Tim. 6:17.  Take time to read and reflect on these passages.  Meditate on these words (focus, repeat, ponder, reflect, and apply).

Discussion - Option #1
If there was no God how would that change the way you see your life?  If God wasn't good and loving, how would that change the way you see your life?  What big questions of life does God answer?

Discussion - Option #2
How is Christian hope different from the world's definition of hope?  What is it about Jesus' birth that defines those differences?  What about His death and resurrection?  What about His return?

Application
As we use the Advent calendar to help us to see and follow Jesus, where is He leading you this season?  Take time to reflect on your calendar over the next four weeks and determine what things are for Jesus and what aren't.  Do the things that fall on the Jesus side (and do them well) and leave behind those things that He isn't calling you to be/do.

Advent Challenge

Over the next four weeks, we will begin walking through the season of Advent.  Advent means  "coming or arrival" and in the Christian context this is the time in the calendar where we remember Jesus' first arrival as a baby and then prepare for His second arrival (His return)!  The Church designed Advent to help prepare people for the arrival of Christ by focusing on Him and what He means to Creation.  Our perspective is that the season of Advent is needed more than ever as our culture pushes further away from the influence of Christ and marches on to greater self-indulgence.  During this season, our Church will focus on Jesus by reflecting in who He is and what He means.  We will do this by emphasizing the Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace we have in Christ.  As we spend time preparing our hearts for His arrival/return He will change the way we see ourselves and others.  Our response to His presence will change the way we look at presents.  Our hope is that this Christmas we will spend less and give more... and we have some really great ways to join together in doing this:

Christmas Hampers
We are collecting none perishable food items to be distributed to families in the community (in cooperation with the food bank and Christmas Bureau).  Hampers will be packed with food and gift cards!. All to be delivered on December 16, 2010.  Questions? Contact Dave Parsons at 604-814-3538.

StreetHope Christmas Dinner
StreetHope is running two sittings of Christmas Day dinner (2:00pm and 4:00pm).  If you are able, would you consider cooking Christmas dinner with about 8 extra people in mind?  Prepare the dinner and then bring it down to StationX (North Railway) before one of the sittings.  All extras will be given out as leftovers or delivered to the disabled.  StreetHope is also in need of volunteers for this event as table hosts, kitchen help, and cleaners.  If you are interested, we would appreciate as much advanced notice as possible to help with the planning.  For more information contact Becky Brisson (604-820-0922).

Start a new Christmas tradition...
Eliminate traditions that are wasteful (from a time, financial, and spiritual perspective) and begin new ones that emphasize your love for God... His love will pour out of you in generosity, time, and energy given to others.  Here are practical ways this could look... spend less time at the mall and more time shoveling your neighbour's driveway... buy a smaller tree and give the remaining money to someone else... buy less presents for your family and buy some for others... spend less time decorating and more time being together...

Have a Merry Christmas!

Gifts or Presence?

This Sunday we begin Advent!  Advent is season in which we prepare/wait/remember/celebrate the birth of Jesus.  As we enter this season how will we prepare/wait/remember/celebrate?  Will we do what our neighbours do or will we be intentional about allowing the life and love of Jesus to be experienced in the way He is calling us?

Watch this video from the Advent Conspiracy (thanks Tyler O. for sending this to me):

The Best Christmas Book

Well, I know this is a little late, but in case the topic of Christmas has ever fascinated you, this is the best book I (I have only read five books on the topic) have read on Christmas.  I can't believe how ignorant I was about the season I love so much.

For example, did you know....

• For three centuries Christians did not celebrate Christmas at all (in fact it was banned in England and New England.
• Dickens, Queen Victoria, and Prince Albert did more for the current development of Christmas than any other force.
• Roosevelt changed the date of Thanksgiving in order to lengthen the Christmas shopping season.
• Coca-Cola helped fashion Santa Claus's look in an advertising campaign.
  

It's a quick read with a great summary of the origin, history, and development of Christmas.  Forbes also has a good chapter at the end of what to do with all the information (i.e. how to respond to Christmas from a Christian's perspective).  The annotated bibliography and index are both gold... worth the price alone.

Every pastor should read this book as it will make them much less ignorant about the traditions and history of the most celebrated time of year.  Buy it here or borrow it from my library.

How do you respond to Christmas?

Advent: Week 1
This morning begins a four week countdown to Christmas.  Some of us will respond in panic, others with a lacustre 'bah humbug', and the rest have already been listening to Christmas carols since September (when Costco put out their trees).

Whatever your response, I hope that you will use our use of Advent to increase your faith in Jesus and not the season.

For those of us that go into panic mode, start by stopping.  Reflect on what is important and get rid of the things that aren't necessary.  Take out a calendar or paper and organize the next four weeks giving extra effort towards making things simpler.  Perhaps this is the year you don't mail out Christmas cards, or you scale back all the dinners and parties, or you buy less, or??

For those of us that have a 'bah humbug' attitude (this comes and goes with me depending on the year), let go of past experiences or the present stress of this year's situations and embrace what Christmas is really about... Jesus coming to save us!  Allow the hope that we have in Jesus to fill your heart and your life.  Also, keep a safe distance from people in the next category :).

Lastly, if you are a Christmas fanatic and love every minute of the season... try being more sensitive.  Help out the "Chicken Little's" of the first category; step carefully around the "Scrooge's" (unless you want egg nog in your face); and then, if you want an extra challenge, try reflecting on your motives to see where your heart should be adjusted.

Here's to a season that can make or break us... the decision is all ours!  Much love, Clint.

Waiting Well

Sunday's message wasn't recorded so I put some of my notes down here:

Waiting Well – November 29, 2009
Psalm 25:1-5


Introduction

• People and churches celebrate Christmas in different ways.  Usually it all gets lumped into the title of ‘Advent'.'
• Ultimately advent calls us to a place of expectant waiting.
• Waiting is an inevitable part of the Christmas season.  It is an inevitable part of life.  Life really is all about waiting.  Life is comprised of line-ups.  We can’t change that fact, so we have a few options:
  

          o Get in a different line
          o Leave the line
          o Take a shortcut or budge
          o Get angry and blame others
          o Enjoy the moment and be patient

How can I enjoy waiting?
Waiting well has everything do with perspective and God’s Word is the best place to get it...

Psalm 25:1-5, NASB
"…To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day."

Have you ever asked yourself why you dislike waiting?

• We fear we’ll miss out; or
• We are greedy and we want what we want right now
  

Aren’t these fears and greed similar to the Garden of Eden?  Adam & Eve feared that they were missing out, instead of waiting and trusting God.

Our dislike of waiting comes ultimately from fear (lack of God’s love [1 John 4:17-18]) and distrust.


v. 1      "…To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul (being, life, self, person, desire, appetite,             emotion, and passion).

v. 2      O my God, in You I trust (confidence, security, rest).  Do not let me be ashamed (shy, humiliated, or seen where it looks as though God has disregarded or forgotten me)

• When someone budges or takes a shortcut AND it works…  they don’t seem to suffer any consequences… it makes us seem like fools… fools for waiting in line with the rest, fools for not being bold enough to take a step, fools for waiting… the result is we are ashamed (humiliated).
• The psalmist is saying “may I not be humiliated for not forcing or budging my way in the line-up of life.”
  

Do not let my enemies exult over me.

What goes through your mind when someone budges in front of you?
“What makes them so important?”

• “I want to do what they just did.”
• “That’s not fair, I deserve to be ahead of them.”
• “I better do something and bring justice.”

Last year a 6’4”, 270lb Walmart greeter in New York was trampled to death by a line-up of people waiting to get in to the US Thanksgiving Sale.

What about the real line-ups in life.  What do you do when…

• Someone gets a promotion you were waiting for.
• Someone buys something that you have always wanted, but couldn’t afford or couldn’t justify.
• Someone has a baby and you’ve been trying for years.
• Someone’s kid is better at something than yours.
  

v. 3      Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;

We have to trust in God – that by waiting (even though at times it seems like we are behind and others are enjoying the benefits of their shortcuts) at the end of the day it will not be us looking like fools, but that our waiting on God’s timing will have been the wise choice.

Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

• People that budge or take shortcuts will get bitten.
• Sin is really taking shortcuts in life or budging…  it is taking control, not trusting God, and relying on your own understanding and greed to get what you want.
• Purity is all about waiting in the right line and in God’s timing.
  

v. 4      Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.

Continue to pursue God, obeying Him, following Him… He will place you in the right line and even though you may not understand why you are in the longer line, you can be confident to know that it will all work out in the end.

Waiting = TRUST
Budging/Shortcuts = SIN

v. 5      Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day."

Allow God to show you what line-ups are right.  Some, even if you’re patient, are just simply the wrong line-up (i.e. illegal/immoral activity; disobeying God)

We think we know better than God, but we need to be taught and to trust Him when He says wait.

Christians don’t see life as line-ups because they don’t see the front of the line as the destination.  They see their place in the line as the destination.  They seen an opportunity to trust God; to live in the moment; because they are confident in the hope they have in Christ.

That hope translates into patience, peace, and selflessness.  It translates into the perspective that if God wants me at the front of the line that bad, he’ll part the red sea to make it happen.  I’m not afraid that I’ll miss out because God know what I need and He’ll provide for all of my needs.

Bring on the line-ups because I can’t wait to trust God even more.

The Liturgical Year & Advent

I read this book, The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister (a Bendedictine nun) this week and found it fascinating!

Growing up in a pentecostal evangelical setting liturgical practices were as foreign to me as confession or buddhism.  While the majority of liturgical activities are simply tools that can be heart-felt, providing an avenue for spiritual growth, they can also tempt the believer into duty, religiousness, and irrelevance.

However, because so much of the traditional liturgy is new to me, I find it fascinating... but I can certainly see how if I grew up in a church where it was the norm, I'd be sick of it and looking for ways to be real.

My primary reason for reading this book was to find out more about advent.  Here are some interesting things I read:

• "Advent" is latin for 'coming' or 'arrival'
• it started in Gaul (France) at the end of the 5th century
• the purpose of observing advent is to learn how to wait and to prepare the heart for the significance of the season
• advent celebrates all that Jesus means (past, present, and future)
• advent points to the second advent (or the return of Christ)
• advent focuses on the joy of Christ
• the first week of advent reminds of the call/need for a Messiah and the peace that He brings
• the second week of advent calls us with John the Baptist to repent and prepare
• the third week of advent calls us to rejoice that the Lord is near
• the fourth week of advent reminds us of Joseph's doubts, Mary's struggle, Elizabeth's faith
• the mature Christian sees the empty tomb when they look at the manger
• the western church emphasized the humanity of Jesus
• the eastern church emphasized the divinity of Jesus (responding to cultural pressures that Jesus was simply a man)
• different cultures and church traditions celebrate Christmas at different dates (due in part to different calendar systems)
• December 25th was chosen as Christmas in the West because that was the day that the Roman empire celebrated the sun (Roman god Sol Invictus [Invincible sun]).  In 313 in the Edict of Milan, Christians could finally worship freely.
• In 321, Emperor Aurelian declared the day an official "day of rest".

Churches have taken the advent concept and created their own traditions.  I think this is perfectly acceptable and even think that churches should change their own tradition/liturgy in an effort to come at the faith and scripture from new and more meaningful approaches.

While there are parts of Christmas that drive me nuts, there are other parts that I love.  Discovering more from history's response has definitely enhance my understanding of the season and has increased my faith...  I hope your faith is increased this season too.