Author: content

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.            

In the tradition where I grew up we spent New Year’s Eve at church. Sometimes it would start early in the evening with a pot-luck meal together. Often there might be games or other activities. It was a time of fun and fellowship for the whole church family. As we got closer to midnight we would move into the church sanctuary for a worship service. There was singing and usually special music from someone in the congregation. But an important part of the evening was the sharing of testimonies and Bible verses, God’s promises. People would get up and share about how God had helped them in the past year. Or, perhaps they would share a spiritual lesson they had learned. It was a time to “bless the Lord and exalt his name.” Mixed in with the testimony time was the reading of Scriptures from the “Promise Box.” A Promise Box was a little container with small cards inside. On each card there was a Bible verse, a promise from God. People would take a card and read it out loud to the congregation. It was a declaration of God’s goodness towards his people, his promise to never leave or forsake us. I’ve discovered that people who take the promises of God seriously have a seriously joyful and contagious faith. They believe that God is for them and not against them. They believe that God has a plan and purpose for their life. They believe that no weapon formed against them shall prosper and that when they give to God the windows of heaven open and blessings flows out. They believe that God has given us everything we need for life and godly living. They believe that Jesus came to give them life and life more abundantly. New Year’s Eve was an exciting time. I got to stay up late and spend the evening with friends and family. But as I get older what I remember most is the sense of spiritual vitality that filled our church. There was a great sense of expectation, that God was at work and that we could enjoy him. In a cynical world it’s hard to value anyone’s promises. But God is faithful and cannot deny himself. So as we prepare to go into a New Year, why not take some time and meditate on the promises of God. “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” ascends to God for his glory.” (2 Cor. 1:20) Put your trust in God for the year ahead. His promises have never failed yet.

The kids wanted to know what Dad wanted for Christmas. Dad suggested that they get him a gift that the whole family could get something out of. So they did. They bought Dad a new wallet. It’s Christmas Eve and around the world there will be the giving of gifts. Some people will be running out today to get that last-minute gift. Others are excited to share their perfect gift that has been in the planning for some time. There’s a whole host of what I call single modifier gifts. There’s the cheap gift, guilt gift, easy gift, big gift, home-made gift, early gift – you get the idea. Sometimes we even have extra items wrapped just in case we forgot to get a gift for someone who pops by with a gift for us. That would be the ‘gift for a gift’ gift. But the best kind of gift is the grace gift. The gift we receive just because someone wanted to give it. We didn’t earn it; we didn’t expect it and we most certainly could never repay it. All we can do is take it and enjoy. This is the kind of gift that God gave us in Jesus. The gift of eternal life through Jesus is something we could never earn nor ever repay. God simply wanted us to have it. It’s so amazing that Paul calls it an indescribable gift: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15) It’s so generous and overwhelming that we’ll never come to completely understand it. Most importantly, it was exactly what we needed. This Christmas, as you sit surrounded by various gifts – don’t forget to give thanks for the gift of salvation. It’s the gift that goes on giving. Have a wonderful Christ-filled Christmas.

Christmas, we are told, is a time for peace and joy; a time to celebrate and enjoy the blessings of God. But that’s only part of the Christmas story. We like to pick and choose our Bible verses looking for words to bring comfort. If we take the time to read the whole account of Jesus’ birth there are also some unpleasant parts. In the gospels we discover that the first Christmas also included sorrow and pain. If we keep reading long enough we come to this verse in Matthew: A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. (2:18) While the Wise Men usually appear in our nativity scenes we tend to leave out Herod and his henchmen. However there is no avoiding it, in the midst of our lovely Christmas story there is a horrible massacre of children; the suffering and pain of innocents. This isn’t supposed to happen when the Messiah comes. We don’t like stories that cause us discomfort. That’s why it is so difficult to watch the news of 132 children killed in Pakistan yesterday. Taliban terrorist attacked a school and walked the hallways shooting children at random. It’s hard to imagine the pain and suffering so many families are feeling today. It’s so senseless and makes us so angry. How does this happen? When will it ever end? This is the season of Advent. Advent is about preparing for the coming of Christ. And he did come, as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. Scripture tells us that he will come again. As believers, we long for his second coming, when his Kingdom will come in its fullness. Until then, evil, sickness and death remain with us. We cannot deny that. But sorrow and grief do not have the final word. With his first coming Jesus defeated the power of sin and death on the cross. His resurrection is proof that victory is guaranteed. But we live in ‘this present age’ – between his first and second appearing. We are waiting for “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13) At his second appearing he will put away evil forever. While we wait we must not lose heart. We will mourn with those who mourn this Christmas season. We will pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. And we will pray ‘maranatha’ – come quickly Lord Jesus.

It was a hot summer night and the kids couldn’t sleep. Not only was it hot and humid but the mosquitoes were out in full force. Mom, Sandy McIntosh, finally had enough of the kids complaining about the heat and the mosquitoes. She couldn’t do much about the temperature but she could provide relief from the pesky bugs. She got up and without turning on any lights went to the kitchen and grabbed a can of insect repellant. She went to the kids’ room and sprayed them; then sprayed the whole room for good measure. In the morning, in the light of day, she discovered to her horror that she had covered her kids, the bedding and the room walls with blue spray paint. She is quoted as saying, “It did smell kind of funny.” Problems happen when we don’t see clearly, when we operate in the dark. The coming of Jesus, his advent, is compared to the dawning of a new day. One of my favorite Christmas verses is Isaiah 9:2, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Author C.S. Lewis builds on this verse when he writes: I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else. If we don’t know Jesus then everything else in life is simply in the dark. His coming, his birth, was the beginning of something new. Because of his birth we have the opportunity to see God, to know him and to understand him better. And because of that, we can see everything else.  

I’ve been doing my devotions from 2 Timothy for several weeks now. It’s a short book full of relevant and encouraging information for all believers but especially those involved in some kind of ministry. I’ve been using John Stott’s commentary on the book as I go along and it’s been an insightful time. I’m learning a lot. Here’s one of my take-a-ways: While the Christian life is full of joy and wonder there will be hardships too. Yep, the Christian life isn’t going to be lived out in a rose garden. I’ve always known this but Paul pulls no punches in telling Timothy that we will face many challenges. Jesus made it clear to his disciples when he said, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) No hedging that statement. So why are we still surprised when trouble appears? We tend to convince ourselves that being followers of Jesus means we never have a rough day, no trouble can touch us. Or, that because we had a rough day we must have done something wrong, something sinful. Both conclusions are flawed. Hardships and troubles will come for many reasons and most of them have nothing to do with us personally. We just find ourselves in the midst of them. The question we have to ask ourselves as believers is not “Why did this happen?” but rather, “How with God’s grace will I respond to it?” It’s an opportunity to rest and trust in Jesus. It’s a chance to grow spiritually and demonstrate how being a believer makes a difference. Jesus does seem to promise us that there will be trouble. However, the rest of the verse goes like this, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Isn’t that encouraging? Yes, there will be trouble but Jesus has overcome all of it. That’s why we can face the challenges of today and tomorrow – Jesus has overcome. In the realm of things that really matter and make a difference Christ is victorious. So we take our hope from this, one day at a time. That’s enough to keep on going.

This weekend my youngest child turns 13. That means that for two weeks I will be the father of four teenage children. Then in mid-December my oldest daughter turns 20. How did this happen? I mean, when did this happen? It seems like only yesterday I was getting my driver’s license, heading off to university and dating a beautiful girl named Rhonda. Now I have four children who are growing up way too fast. My theme song these days seems to be “Sunrise, sunset.” Life is moving so quickly. A few years ago someone shared this little saying with me, “When your children are young the days are long but the years are short.” I can now confirm that is the case. I find myself wishing I could go back and spend more time with my little children. I keep wondering if there was more I should have done and if I am doing enough today. Not everyone will be a parent. God gives each of us different gifts and opportunities. But of all the roles I play in life – son, husband, friend, pastor, citizen – none carries more meaning than ‘father.’ For better or worse I have been and am the primary influence on four amazing young people. The reality of that can be harsh some days. Nothing I do will have more lasting significance and impact than how I relate to my children. It affects not only them but future generations as well. That’s sobering. Parenting has never been for the faint hearted. It’s the toughest job out there because the stakes are simply too high. My children are growing up fast but my job is far from over. There is no retirement from parenting, it’s a lifelong calling. I am reminded that as a parent I need to model myself after my heavenly Father- the only perfect parent. Daily I need to seek him out for strength and direction. I need to learn of his patience, kindness, forgiveness and gentleness in caring for children. He is always ready to help. The years are short but with God’s grace my children are training me to become a good father. They bring me joy and happiness I didn’t know possible. Truly the Psalmist was right when he wrote: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” (Ps. 127:3)

A couple in my home province of Ontario celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary this week. Clem and Millie Mintz are officially the longest married couple in Canada. Millie has Alzheimer’s disease now. Clem spends each day with her as they talk and listen to music together. Clem was asked if there was a reason that their love has lasted this long. “First thing is, you have to think of your spouse more than you think of yourself,” he said. “You have to put them first.” That’s good advice. No one goes into a marriage relationship with a plan to fail. People marry because they really do want to spend the rest of their life with that special other person. But it’s seldom smooth sailing. Marriage takes work and a determined intention to succeed. So how do we keep the magic alive? Recently I saw a headline that said, “11 things every husband should do for his wife every day.” 11 things! Every day! I don’t know; that’s a lot of things to keep track of. I looked at the headline and thought, “I can’t do that. It’s too much work.” So I was encouraged when I came across a new study that suggests there are only 2 important traits for a successful marriage. Two things! That I can do. So what are they? Kindness and generosity. Kindness and generosity. That seems so obvious, doesn’t it? This is probably the foundation of any good relationship. A healthy lasting relationship means you need to work on acknowledging your spouse, showing kindness to them and being generous with time and words. The researchers found that noticing the little things matter. A comment about the weather or an encounter at work might seem unimportant but paying attention to those interactions are critical to keeping the relationships going. We know that being rude, thoughtless and selfish will kill a relationship. Practicing kindness and generosity, actually interacting with our loved ones in this way, takes intentional work. Thankfully as believers we aren’t on our own. The Holy Spirit is at work within us to help us be Christ like in any situation. I believe that includes our marriage and other personal relationships. You are encouraged as believers to, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col. 3:12) This becomes part of our daily attire, what we need to put on when we get up each morning. Lasting healthy relationships take work, they don’t just happen. As Clem says, “First thing is, you have to think of your spouse more than you think of yourself.” Ain’t that the truth!

As Christians we can’t count on everything going our way all the time. Rather we need to train ourselves to be content in whatever our circumstances. We need to depend on the Lord for our joy. Along the way we need to watch out for things that can steal our joy. Comparing ourselves with others. This is so common and a huge joy killer. We start out thankful for what we have until we see what someone else has. Comparing ourselves to others will always leave us with a discontented spirit because there will always be someone else with more. This means we can’t enjoy what God has provided for us.  A constantly critical spirit. Some people see the glass half full and others see it half empty. How we perceive and judge reality around us is important. But a constantly critical spirit seems to disable any ability to see the beauty and good in God’s creation. We can’t enjoy the people in our lives because we only see their faults. If everything we smell stinks then the problem may be with our nose rather than with everything else. A critical spirit does not reflect Christ-like character and will not only bring us down but those around us.  A mindset of scarcity. I don’t know if you have ever seen those shows about people who hoard but it’s rather hard to believe. They can’t let go of anything. There are stacks of old newspapers, empty yogurt containers, clothes that no longer fit and more random items than you’ll find in a second-hand shop. They can barely walk in their home due to all the clutter. The hoarders are driven by a fear of scarcity; a sense that they must hold on to everything in case they need it someday. When our lives are driven by scarcity rather than trust in God’s abundance, it’s hard to experience joy. We can never rest in the sense of God’s provision and care. That robs us of joy.    Biblical joy is not based on our circumstances. In fact, James 1:2 tells us to consider it joy when we go through difficult trials and hardships. Scripture teaches us that joy is a fruit of the spirit, a product of God being at work in our lives whatever the situation that we find ourselves in. This is hard but important to remember. Joy doesn’t depend on me having more than others, it can’t develop if I’m always critical of everyone else nor can it characterize me if I’m driven by not having enough. I need to hold the things in this life lightly and look deeper at the spiritual work that God is doing in my soul. I can’t manufacture joy but I can let God produce it in me. Joy comes through our relationship with Jesus. My time and energy needs to go to knowing him more and worrying less about my circumstances. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Here in Switzerland there are three official languages – German, French and Italian. In the canton of Graubünden there is a fourth language, Romansh, which has official status. But those are just the official languages, the ones you find on the cereal box at breakfast. In addition to those, there are various dialects of Swiss German plus other languages like Arpitan, Franco-Provencal, Lombard, Walser and Sinte. The combinations are mind boggling to a uni-lingual kid from rural Ontario. The E.U. has 24 official and working languages but there are hundreds of languages and dialects in Europe alone. When you start looking at the languages of Asia and Africa the number grows even larger. All told there are over 6,800 living languages in use around the world today. There is a beautiful picture of heaven found in Revelation 7 where John sees a multitude of people gathered around the throne of God, people from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” They were standing in worship and saying “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne.” I said this is a beautiful picture because it is so inclusive of God’s love. He is not a tribal god, not focused on just one group of people, not partial to one language but the population of heaven is made up of people from everywhere. This month we are focusing on missions at Crossroads. We believe that God desires to see people saved from every nation. While we work daily in Switzerland, praying for neighbors and co-workers, we must also see the big picture of God at work in the world. Jesus told his followers that they would be his witnesses at home and in the outermost parts of the world. The mission of the church that began on the Day of Pentecost continues in our own era. It is estimated that 43% of the world’s people groups are unreached. An unreached people group is “a people group within which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians able to evangelize this people group.” In many cases there are no believers within those communities. It may be hard to believe but the truth is that in 2014 there are still people in this world who have never heard about Jesus Christ. There are still 1,800 languages that have no translated Scriptures. There is still work to be done in sharing the good news about Jesus. I hope that you’ll take part in our Missions focus this month. Take time to hear one of our guest speakers and learn more about how our church is helping to share the gospel. Missions is close to God’s heart, my prayer is that it will also be close to our heart.