Monday Morning Thoughts

Yesterday was a good gathering.  I really enjoyed our time in worship through music.  I loved hearing about the miraculous healing of an eye. Carmen's testimony was authentic and encouraging.  She hit it out of the park with her song... it should be recorded and shared with the world.  I think that it would be a huge encouragment to millions of people.

Not feeling too hot about my thoughts as I shared them yesterday.  A number of people have given me verbal feedback of how they appreciated the words shared, but I feel I was a bit too harsh at moments.  A sermon should never be a rant and it had flavours of that.   I won't get a chance to hear it again until Friday (it will be posted then) so I'll have to save my final reflection until I hear it again. I've been working on using notes less and spending more time in preparation; perhaps the casualty of less notes (at this point) is accuracy of delivery and therefore fairness to the text and my responsibility.

Following the service I  got to enjoy a great lunch at Mr. Mike's with our Elders.  We have the best Elders in the world.  They are so humble and gracious.  There is no political or religious agenda, just a sincere desire to love and care for others the same way Christ has loved and cared for them.  They are all giants in the faith and I look up to them very much.


On a less serious note, I had a chicken club sandwich at Mr. Mike's and it was awesome.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy their food, so I think I'll have to head back there soon.

Following our Sunday lunch I headed back home to swap car seats (I HATE doing that... my knuckles seem to get cut every time) and pick up the kidlins.  We hopped on the five o'clock ferry and set sail for Campbell River.  I'll be here for a few days with the kids so Angela can have a break from being the world's best mom and our kids can spend some time with their Nana and Papa.  I'll have to watch what I eat because most trips to my parents results in an extra five pounds.

Funny story... as we were waiting to disembark from the ferry, Charlie got that look in his eye and filled his diaper with some ripe smelling poop.  I looked at the vehicle lineup and thought I could change him in time.  So there I was leaning back from the driver's seat, changing his diaper, Ruby freaking out in the background, "Dad!! Poop is going to get everywhere", when the vehicles in front of me start to exit the boat.  I had enough time to wipe his butt clean, but in the process get poop on my thumb.  I launched his bare bum into his seat, wiped the majority of the poop off my thumb, and drove off the boat.  I quickly realized that this particular terminal went right on to a public road, so I had to quickly pull off annoying all the ferry traffic, slap a diaper on Charlie, get both kids buckled, talk Ruby down from here OCD leanings, clean my thumb properly, and merge back into traffic.

I am looking forward to this week.  I hope you are looking forward to yours.  With Christ, the best is always yet to come!  I hope you are 'open for business' this week as you allow the Spirit to lead, empower, and grace you with the gifts and presence that those we come in contact with need so much (Acts 1:8).

 

Are You Ready for Mother's Day?

There is an aspect to Mother's Day (and all holidays for that matter) that is annoying.  Commercialism is near the top of the list of reasons.  It's subjective allowance to treat our Mom's less lovingly for the other 364 days of the year is also valid reason.  Then there is the less seen hurt that exists around all holidays.  Anytime one promotes something, there is a reaction by those that don't have that something.  Negative reactions usually ensue such as hurt, bitterness, longing, jealousy, apathy, anger, etc.  For those that fight those responses it makes 'celebrating' that much more difficult.  Relational holidays (such as Valentines, Mother's Day, etc.) polarize our responses even more than other holidays because personal relationships are connected to them.

Where does the Church to come into all of this?  As Christ's body we should respond to everything in a way that fits the heart of the Father as revealed in Jesus.  Furthermore, we are people of the Spirit, who is God working within us to reveal His heart in every situation.  Therefore we are to be sensitive to God's Spirit at all times, knowing that each situation is different and therefore requires a different response.  I think there are times and environments where celebration of our Mom's is good and right.  I also think that there are times and environments where greater sensitivity towards those that find days like Mother's day difficult, is needed.

To the Christian (and the Church) it is obvious that we should honour and serve everyone at all times... with our thoughts, our words, and our actions.  To the Christian is inherent that we should regularly honour and thank those that are in our life.  For the Christian doesn't need secular holidays to remind them of these things, but only the presence of God dwelling within them.  With that being said, however, I don't think it is wrong at all to use what Hallmark meant for profit and turn it around for God's good.  Each and every day (even Mother's Day) is an opportunity to celebrate with those that are experiencing good times and be present with those that are finding the day difficult.  Jesus is present in both circumstances when we are present with those we share life with.

So my challenge this weekend and every day is to give permission to Jesus to love our neighbours however they need to be loved in the present (that includes our Mom's too)!