Author: David Fortune

A little shout out to my parents, today they celebrate 59 years of marriage. It’s a great accomplishment in a world that often questions the value of marriage. I always find it funny when I hear comments like ‘marriage is just a piece of paper.’ Those people haven’t really understood the nature and reality of a marriage that stands the test of time. Marriage is so much more than just a piece of paper. When the Pharisees pressed Jesus on the issue of marriage and commitment he replied: “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?’” (Matthew 19:4-5) Christians believe marriage to be a God-created institution that is not only good for individuals, but is also the cornerstone of social stability and family. It is based on promises and life-long commitments, not feelings although feelings are important. Marriage requires a great deal of self-sacrifice and willingness to think about others. I believe it is one way in which we work out our discipleship and learn to bear the fruit of the spirit. We are more fully formed as humans when submitting to one another. It’s a place for intimacy and being known. Finally, marriage illustrates the relationship between Christ and his church. It’s true that marriage can fall below the ideals we hold, and many marriages come to an end for a variety of reasons. God’s grace and mercy is extended to those who face such disappointments and difficulties. Marriage isn’t the path for everyone. The bible also affirms single life. But marriage remains something to be valued and treasured, even if we don’t always like some of the limitations and challenges. It’s so much more than a simple piece of paper. It’s a way of life that changes us and develops us, affecting all those around us. So, for those of you working on your marriage, whether 5 months or 59 years – way to go, keep working at it! Celebrate all the moments along the way, knowing God takes joy in your union. 

A young father was taking time to teach his son about what a Christian should be like. The kind of character and behavior they should show. The father got a stab that he never forgot when the brief talk was over. The little boy asked, “Dad, have I ever met one of these Christians?” Children have a fantastic way of getting straight to the point, sometimes painfully so. They can see through the illusions that adults so often create. Their use of honest questions can make us uncomfortable. Throughout his ministry, Jesus had a way of elevating people whom the rest of society didn’t usually see, including children. When parents brought their children to him, the disciples – ever concerned with being important – sought to send them away. Jesus took the opportunity to teach the importance of children to the kingdom. “‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”  And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.’ (Matthew 19:14-15) It was a simple act. It took only a few minutes but, in that moment, Jesus bestowed incredible value upon children throughout all generations. How often are children considered to be a bother or a problem by adults doing important stuff? Value to God isn’t based on age or productivity. Children aren’t the future of the church; they are a vital part of the church. They are rich gifts, given to remind us that we too are children of our heavenly father. They have much to teach us about simple faith and trust. Sometimes, adults get too busy to acknowledge children. Make it a practice to let them know you see them and care for them. Learn the names of some children in the church or neighborhood. Give thanks for the young lives full of potential. Take a moment to let them know God loves them and so do you. “For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 

It wasn’t until I took driver’s education that I found out what a blind spot was. A blind spot is an area around your car that you can’t see by checking in your mirrors or looking ahead. You need to turn your head slightly to the left or right to make sure there is nothing in your way. The one thing I remember most from driver’s ed class is to make sure and do a shoulder check. I’m glad I got into the habit because it saved me from an accident last week. Blind spots also apply to other areas in our life. Those hidden things about us that others might see but we can’t. We might think that we are being kind and generous but aren’t aware of how we are really coming across. There are plenty of examples of people who think they can sing but when auditioning on reality television discover they weren’t so gifted. Sometimes we are aware of our blind spots, but we choose to ignore them because it’s just easier than making a change in life. If we want to do a quick ‘shoulder check’ on our hidden weaknesses we have three sources of help. Friends and family. We can ask those closest to us, the ones we feel safe with, if there are areas in our life where we might be lacking self-awareness. This isn’t fun but can be helpful. “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6) Scripture. When we open our hearts to letting the scriptures really search us, we can be caught off guard by seeing some unpleasant things in our life. God works through his word to help us see more clearly. “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.” (Isaiah 35:5) The Holy Spirit. This is part of the Spirit’s work, to examine our heart. The Psalmist prayed: Search me, God, and know my heart;    test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me,    and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) I’ve found that God answers those kinds of prayers more regularly than I would like. It usually means I need to confess and make changes. Failure to check your blind spot can be dangerous to you and to others on the road. Failure to examine your life can have similar consequences. Thankfully we don’t have to just take our chances.

A preacher got himself in trouble last week over some comments on social media. His remarks were unwise and drew a lot of attention to him and his ministry. When people started looking at him a little closer, they discovered that his church had an attendance of about fifty people, but he referred to himself as ‘an apostle’ and ‘father to the nations’. There’s nothing wrong with pastoring a small congregation but calling yourself ‘father to the nations’ is a little grandiose.   I have never quite understood people who feel it necessary to go overboard when describing their accomplishments. Confidence and self-awareness are good traits, but humility is often lacking in our world.   The Apostle Paul (a real apostle) had it with self-promoting false teachers and apostles who were influencing the church at Corinth. Their claims to power and greatness were all based on the wrong measurement. Paul refused to play the game of comparison. He knew what God had called him to do. He knew his limits and more than that, he knew when to acknowledge his weaknesses. In powerful words against false teachers, he writes: “Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!  We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NLT) His opponents were commending themselves on how important they were. Boasting about their impact on the world. Yet, Paul says God doesn’t measure one’s ministry based on what is happening somewhere else. God wants us to be faithful in the spot where he has placed us. Are you serving God and being faithful to him, right where you are today? Don’t go looking to compare or measure your spiritual growth or service with other people. That is unhelpful. If you are being faithful and serving in the place where God has put you, then he’ll take care of you. There won’t be any need for empty boasting. Just a great sense of success. 

As con games go, this is one for the books. Criminals set up a fake cricket league to scam gamblers in Russia. The hoax set up a false version of India’s Premier League and filmed bogus games in a farmer’s field in Gujarat.  Local people were paid five dollars a game to masquerade as players and fans. They created several fake teams and used a soundtrack to create the noise of cheering fans. These fake games were then streamed live on YouTube to unsuspecting betting operations in Russia. For all intents and purposes, the Russians believed they were watching legitimate Premier League games. As bets were placed in Russia, accomplices would communicate with the game officials, who would direct players to score a certain number of runs. Several people in India have been arrested and charged but there’s no report on how much money was made off the scheme. It’s another illustration of how just about anything in our world today can be copied and falsified. Increasingly, we wonder how we can tell the real from the fake. Deception like this is not new. We are warned in scripture to pay attention and watch for people who would destroy our faith. Paul routinely warned about false teachers and preachers.  For example: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) There’s no need to panic, but we do need to be aware that the enemy will always try to confuse. It’s an old game and we need to be on our guard. Praying for discernment should be part of our regular practice. In a world where everything is getting more complex, we need to practice discernment and test the spirits. Thankfully, part of the Holy Spirit’s work is to help us in this area. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t suggest you take any bets on cricket games in Russia.

Years ago, there was a kind village dentist who passed away. As the family was sorting through his belongings, they discovered several bags of old teeth, filled or capped with gold. The man had often paid his patients for their old teeth and then put them away in a box. When someone has a tooth pulled, it is usually because the tooth is bad or rotten. And indeed, there was plenty of evidence for that. They looked awful and ugly. The family wasn’t sure why their father had bothered to keep these teeth. Then one family member suggested that the gold might be valuable. After making some contacts, they found a company to buy the gold. The teeth were broken up and the gold refined with high heat. After the gold was melted down and evaluated, the family received a payment of $4000 (a size-able amount in those days). God has a way of seeing the value in each one of us. Yes, he sees the ugly rottenness that must be chipped away. Then he refines us to make us what he wants us to be. Through the work of Jesus, we are made new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) We become children of God with value and beauty. Restored in the image of God, gold as refined by fire.

3 Reminders for Back to Work or School For most of us, the summer vacation is over or at least coming to a close. September is often the beginning of a new season or new yearly cycle. Most of us find ourselves going back to work or back to school. As we do, here are 3 things to keep in mind. We are a blessed people. If the world was a village with 100 people, then 53 of those people would be living on less than $2 (US dollars) a day. 16 people would have access to the internet and 18 people would be illiterate. Sometimes we think of work or school as a grind, but in reality, it is a great privilege to be able to get up each day and work or learn. People around us need encouragement. Being part of a community of faith means that I’ve had a lot of people encourage and support me over the years. When a crisis hits, I have many places to turn. This isn’t the case for some folks who will be sitting beside you over the next few months. Be willing to be vulnerable and open to others. Share a bit of life with them. They might just need to hear about the hope that is within you. You aren’t going in alone. Over the summer I read a couple of quick fiction books. You know the kind where the action hero is all alone and has to prevent the world from being destroyed. (Don’t judge me.) Those stories are obviously fiction. Yet many people feel like they are the action hero who is all alone and battling against the world. You aren’t alone. The year ahead may be challenging but you aren’t going in alone. Whatever you are facing in the next weeks or months ahead, this promise of God has often been repeated in Scripture to his people: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Dt. 31:8)

For the last three years, there has been a constant stream of construction in front of the building where our church meets. I thought the work was all to be finished in June of 2022, but apparently that only related to the tram lines. The tram lines are running again. There’s now a great new tram stop close to the building, but the rest of the street is still a mess. Lately, the endless sound of jack hammers makes me think they are doing more destruction out there than repairs. On a positive note, one of the strengths I see in Switzerland is that they really do invest in their infrastructure. Roads, water systems, electrical grid as well as trains and trams are all well maintained. It keeps things running on time. There is less time lost to accidents or breakdowns.  Having lived in a couple of countries that weren’t so keen on maintaining infrastructure, I do appreciate the Swiss way of thinking. Even if it seems to take way too long. There is a need for maintaining infrastructure in our private lives as well. Individuals have different approaches to maintaining good systems in life. Some people work hard, play hard and then break down because there was no plan for maintaining their health – either mental or physical. Others have an overly strict daily routine that keeps them healthy, but with little time to enjoy the rest of life. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. There is also work to do for our inner life. Some days we need to hang out a sign that says, “Temporarily closed for spiritual maintenance.” That’s a time when we stop other things and just spend some time with God. We read his Word and meditate on it without rushing to the next thing. We invite the Spirit to point out any areas that need work. Asking God to fill us fresh with passion and zeal for life. We don’t have to be ‘closed’ for long but every so often we need more time than just a quick devotional. We can work it into our schedule, or we can wait until something breaks down. The invitation Jesus gave to his disciples is also extended to us, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  (Mark 6:31) Don’t wait too long before spending some time on spiritual maintenance!

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.” I love summertime in Canada, but hate those little mosquitoes. I can’t remember how many nights I have gotten up, turned on a light and searched for that single mosquito that was making my sleep miserable. Although small,  they are powerful and have the ability to make people move. It’s a simple principle but an important one we shouldn’t forget. We aren’t too small to make a difference in the world around us. Small acts of kindness and support can make a big difference. Likewise, small acts of cruelty and harsh words of discouragement can easily put people down. Our actions matter and affect other people whether we always think about it or not. We shouldn’t discount our ability to encourage or discourage others with our words and deeds. Perhaps many of us would like to be remembered for making a big difference in the world. We look for the right opportunity and the right position from which we can do big things in order to impress people and God. Let’s not forget that while we are looking for those ‘big’ opportunities in life we have hundreds of ‘small’ opportunities to impact and change the lives of other people, especially the people we care about. You can make a difference in this world. You have the chance each and every day when you interact with people around you. Make the most of it.  “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

At some point in our lives, we all come to know a sense of lack. Some people grew up in homes where there was never enough food or money to go around. The sense of lack was significant. For others there was a lack of love or acceptance – no one ever seemed to care for them. As we grow older, we might sense a lack in our skills, abilities or opportunities to accomplish the dreams that we had. There are few people who have not experienced a sense of lack in either their personal or professional life. That sense that ‘something we need’ is missing. As Christians, we can also have a sense of lack from time to time. I speak with many people who want to be ‘good’ Christians but just don’t feel like they can do it. They suffer from a sense of lack; a feeling that they haven’t got all they need to live out their calling. They feel like they don’t have the right understanding or insight, they don’t have the right environment, or they can’t seem to overcome sin. Living out our Christian faith is challenging, and I do know how a sense of lack can handicap us. But Peter tells us that we don’t really lack anything. My favorite Bible verse is 2 Peter 1:3: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”(NTL) Peter clearly says that God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We tend to think that we are missing something. We tend to hope that someday we can find that missing ingredient and finally live a godly life. However, we don’t have to wait; we have everything we need now. This is an amazing revelation. When we come into a relationship with Jesus, we receive everything we need to be his followers. Nothing is lacking. However, we are usually unaware of all the riches that we have received. What have we received? Here’s a short list: grace, love, joy, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sin, acceptance, hope, spiritual gifts, relationship with the Father, the fellowship of other believers, insight into the Scriptures, and the power of prayer. We have all these things and more, but we can easily forget. Rather than living with a sense of lack, we need to list the blessings and benefits of our relationship with Jesus. We need to do a full inventory of what Jesus has given us. Take some time to meditate on that verse, the sense of lack will disappear.