Month: January 2015

What’s the strangest thing that has ever happened to you at church? I bet you’d have a hard time beating Eutychus’ story. The Apostle Paul was in Troas for a week of special meetings. Being a preacher Paul kept on talking until it was close to midnight. The room was lit with oil lamps which meant it was getting stuffy. No doubt everyone was getting a little tired. Eutychus was sitting on a window ledge, perhaps for some fresh air. He grew drowsy and nodded off to sleep. Then he fell out of the window. He fell from the third story and was pronounced dead. But Paul went down and prayed over him. “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him” said Paul. (Acts 20:7-12) They all went back upstairs to eat and talked until the morning. It was a night they would all remember. Luke records that the people went away comforted. They had seen God at work in a mighty way. Only God can effect a resurrection and this strengthened their faith. They could have full confidence in the message of Jesus since it was backed up by miracles. Our Creator is able to bring life out of death. Certainly God brings us spiritual life. We were dead in our sins but God has given us life. We are a people of the resurrection. Not only our spiritual life but in so many aspects we look to God to bring life out of death. Sometimes it’s our hopes and dreams that are dead. They’ve fallen out of the window and landed lifeless far away from us. We think nothing can be done. But then we hear the word of God speak, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” Don’t forget that our God is a miracle worker. The situation that looks hopeless can become hopeful when God is at work. So the lesson is – don’t fall asleep in church and look to God who brings life out of death.

Did you hear about the boy who got an invoice for missing a birthday party? Yep, it’s a true story. Five year old Alex had agreed to attend Charlie’s party last weekend at a local ski hill. But on the day of the party decided he would rather go to visit his grandparents. So Charlie’s parents sent an invoice for 25 dollars for a no-show. According to the media that’s when things got nasty between the mothers on Facebook. Now there’s talk about going to small claims court. The online debate over the matter is majorly heated at the moment. It’s hard to comment on a situation like this without knowing all the details. It’s not like I need to pick a side or anything. What’s most unfortunate about this situation is the attitude and behavior of the parents, both sets. For better or worse, parents are the first role models we have in life. We’ll probably never really understand the full impact our parents have on us. But in handling this situation both sets of parents are modelling some very unhealthy behavior for their children. I don’t mean to pick on the parents. I know it’s the toughest job in the world. It’s easy to lose perspective and want to fight for what we think is right. As I read the about the story it just reminded me that I need to be careful about what I model to my children and others. Paul makes it clear in Galatians 5. The fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” These are the qualities that Christians should be known for. Our children are watching how we handle pressure, how we respond to disappointment and how we treat others. We aren’t always going to get it right, no one ever does. But we can pray for the Spirit to keep producing that fruit so that we are able to model Christ-like character to the world around us.

A week ago was the terrorist attack on Paris. It was followed by two days of tension and more violence. After a march for unity on Sunday people are finding it difficult to settle back into old routines. The French government has deployed ten thousand troops to provide extra security. Across Europe there are growing fears of ‘sleeper’ cells and the possibility of more attacks. It’s not just Europe that faces these challenges; Canada and Australia have also been dealing with violent tragedies. While the media was focusing on Paris over 2000 people died in Nigeria in senseless acts of war. Students in Pakistan are getting ready to return to their school where over 130 died in December. It’s upsetting to read and hear about such horrible situations. The turmoil in our world can seem overwhelming and frightening. The most frequent command given in the Bible is “Don’t be afraid” or “Fear not.” There is a lot to fear these days. Our fears might have to do with personal safety and the stability of world order. Or our fear might be much more personal. We can fear failure, intimacy, disapproval, unemployment or being alone. There is simply no shortage of things we can be fearful about. No wonder the Bible tells us so often to ‘fear not.’ What does it mean? Jan Johnson writes that “Don’t be afraid” is “Trust me!” turned inside-out. In other words, what God is saying to us is that we need to be actively trusting in him. The 23rd Psalm reminds us that the Lord is our shepherd. He is the one overseeing our care and we really do have everything we need. When we are not afraid we can lay down in the green pastures because we have nothing to fear. We can’t control the world around us. We can’t force people to be nice towards us and meet all our needs. We can’t protect ourselves from the painful realities of life that might come our way. But we can trust in the shepherd of our souls. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Even in the darkest moments the Lord is present to comfort and guide. We do well to remember that and let that truth settle into our spirit.

I live in the city now but I was raised in the country. I love the countryside however I never really liked some of the smells associated with country living. I have to hold my breath when entering a barn, it’s just unpleasant. I remember the days when the wind shifted direction and the smell of the pig barn at my grandfather’s wafted into the house. It wasn’t pleasant either. But for other people those are the smells of things familiar and homey. Smell is a powerful sense. The Bible talks a lot more about smells, aromas and fragrances than you would probably guess. In the Old Testament the sacrificial worship involved not just following the right rituals but incorporating the right aromas into the offering. Offerings that were presented in the right way were a pleasing fragrance before God. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that our Christian lives smell. Not that we are stinky but our life gives off a spiritual scent, an aroma. We can’t hide it. “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15,16) Our lives are an offering before God, an aroma that is pleasing to him. But others can sense it as well. Some people like it and others don’t. Some people are interested in our spiritual life, our walk with Christ and want to know more. Others treat us like we haven’t had a shower in a month and want nothing to do with anyone who is Christian. What makes the difference between these two groups? Well, it’s not us, according to Paul it’s them. Some people will find our lives a pleasant smell, a fragrance, which makes them want to come closer to Jesus. Others will be repelled because of the condition of their heart. We can’t determine their response. Some people will be attracted to your Christian walk and others will be disgusted. Don’t take it personally. If you are truly living for Jesus then it’s the aroma of Christ they are rejecting and not you. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can stop praying for them. You never know, their sinuses might just clear up one day and they’ll ask you what that wonderful smell is.