Friday, February 25, 2005

God and Pastors

It is not your pastor's responsibility to heal you.
It is not your pastor's responsibility to make your life perfect.
It is not your pastor's responsibility to change your husband
It is not your pastor's responsibility to change your wife
It is not your pastor's responsibility to change your kids
It is not your pastor's responsibility to change you!
It is not your pastor's responsibility to perform miracles.
It is not your pastor's responsibility to raise the dead.
It is not your pastor's responsibility cure your diseases.
It is not your pastor's responsibility to have all the answers!
It is not your pastor's responsibility to read your mind!
Your Pastor is not God.
Your Pastor is a man.
Your Pastor is human just like you.

What is your Pastor's responsibility?

To guide those who look to Jesus for the answer.
"It is better to trust in the Lord than put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8

Monday, February 14, 2005

Love, Love, Love!


"36Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? 37Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
(Matthew 22:36-40)
Today is the day of Love. We celebrate love and with the ones we love. But do you know what will happen to the love of many in the last days? "The love of most will grow cold..."
(Matthew 24:12)
Can you see it happening today? Aids are at epidemic proportions in Africa and not enough is being done. North Korea has halted talks over their Nuclear Capabilities. Children of the Tsunami are being victimized and exploited in child labor and prostitution. People are still being killed in Iraq after the democratic elections.
There are many examples. How do we react to it? Many of us still drive our SUV's and live in our 2 floor rooms with our 4 course meals. Some of us live in the lap of luxury. We buy closets full of cloths and cupboards full of food. We go into debt over senseless things that don't have any practical use in our lives. We even take people to court over trivial matters in hopes of gaining more money. O the insatiable greed for more. Greed is like filling a bottomless pit.
Sure more can be done and it is within our means but what are we really doing? Do we truly care? Do we weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? (Romans 12:15) Do we give to our friends when it is in our power to do so? How about how enemies?
Today is the day of love. Wouldn't it be great if the world nations overcame other opposing nations with love. Imagine if nuclear countries abandoned their Nuclear Weapons plans and built orphanages instead or fed the hungry? Imagine if they started.
Many of us Christians sit, wait and watch. But do you now what? Today we can make a difference. Just try it in one person's life everyday. Try a small act of kindness to a friend or even a stranger or better yet an enemy. And how fitting if we did it today on Valentines. What would happen? Well we were once enemies with God but God still showed us the love (Romans 5). What would happen if we obeyed the most important commandments in the Bible? I think we'd see God's kingdom on earth. We'd answer Jesus' prayer for a change instead of Him always answering our prayers.

"Happy Valentines Day"

What a beautiful day huh? In case you forgot it is Valentine’s Day. Some of you may be saying, “O Gosh, I forgot all about it! I gotta go and get flowers and chocolates and dinner and etc…” while others may be saying, “O, I got to go and get that bucket of Chocolate Ice Cream and have a pity party and cry over some ‘romantic’ movie.” There are so many different ways to celebrate. There are so many reasons for the season.

I was in India last year and Valentine’s is a new concept being introduced to the people. I’m not sure if everyone there understands how it is celebrated. My dad was reading the paper that told about this man who was madly infatuated with this woman. Valentines came and he made his intentions known to some damsel. She wasn’t very interested or impressed with the guy and kinda let him down. So how did he react? He cut off her hand! OUCH!

Also there was this Internet group that was planning to celebrate Valentines in another way. There was this guy who was trying to rally this group together to commit suicide on this day. He got caught and is in custody with the police now. Wow.

My Dad has a different way of celebrating. He usually comes with flowers, wine and chocolates and presents them to my mom. She starts of being bitter but later she reluctantly accepts. Dad’s quite the honey dripper.

So Dad decided to give me some ‘advice’ on celebrating. Well, I’m not sure if it is called advice or nagging when he says, “When are you going to get married and settle down and yadda yadda yadda!” I told him that I have never been happier in my life. The degree is finished, I get to do tons of ministries, I have a lovely roof over my heart, a 3-course meal (sometimes more), and a vehicle. I just cleared my VISA card and I don’t have to worry about mortgage, mouths to feed, bills, dates to remember etc. etc. etc. Life has never been better. I can take a deep breath and Praise God! They’re very few people who are as blessed as me. Dad chuckled and mentioned how my fore fathers gave blood, sweat and tears to make it so I try not to take it for granted.

Then I found an article at church celebrating Valentines. It celebrated some truths for singles about marriage from Bill and Lynn Hybels, which I will share with you:

1) Marriage will not end one’s loneliness. Apparently there are millions of lonely people who are in ideal marriages

2) Marriage will not heals one’s brokenness. Only God can do that he, “ heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:2)

3) Marriage will not always ensure one’s happiness and according to the Hybels, in Fit to be Tied, “…an unhappy single person will be an unhappy married person.”

4) Marriage is not for everyone. Jesus and Paul spoke about the advantages in ministry as singles.

Now don’t get me wrong I’m not against marriage in any way but I wish we’d realize the Valentines could be a day to celebrate for us singles as well. Check out Paul and Mother Teresa who have had happy single lives for God. They did a grand work for the Almighty and aren’t they awesome models to follow? Their lives changed the face of the earth. We singles need to rise up and tell the World that Valentines is a festive day for celebration for us as well. This day can be a day to gain a new inspiration for ministry and also a day to count our blessings and make light of the advantages of serving God with little hindrance. It can be a day to regather a new momentum and gain a better perspective. Then we'll be able to rejoice and say, "What a wonderful day it is!" and "Happy Valentines Day!"

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Forgiven Sinners vs the Proud

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”


49The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 7:44-50)


Who can appreciate mercy and grace more than a sinner? Did you know that there is a wage to sin? The Bible says that, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are all guilty of committing some form and evil and sin against God. And what does sin deserve? “For the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23) What a heavy price but if you are a holy God you will have no love for any kind of evil. Are you nervous? Do you feel anxious? Stay calm and keep reading because there is more to God. He’s provided a solution.

God is actually a merciful God. They say that mercy is not getting what you do deserve. As we said before, “… the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23) But God paid the wage with the death of His son Jesus. His death on the cross paid the wage for the evil we have done. Sin, which we all committed, deserves death but Jesus took that wage upon himself with his death. We did not get what we deserved. This is God’s demonstration of mercy.

Not only is God merciful but also He is gracious. They say that grace is getting what you don’t deserve. “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God paid the debt for our sin and even offers us another gift, which is eternal life. We get something we do not deserve. What a merciful and gracious God!

Well there a people who cannot a appreciate grace. They are usually called the proud. They are people who think highly of themselves and boast in their own accomplishments and success without the awareness or appreciation of God. They seek to glorify self. They cannot always recognize the Holy Spirit’s conviction over sin or the joy of being forgiven. If they do feel some guilt or shame over their sin it can usually be relieved in pursuing more accomplishments or focussing more on the greatness of past glories. There is no sin in wanting to be successful unless it is motivated to exalt self above God.

I’ve met people like this. They have little compassion or concern for others and feel quite lonely and dead inside. They will only surround themselves with people who will affirm their glories and shun or shame those who do not. Poor souls. If only they will humble themselves and repent and turn from there sins. Then God can enter and relieve the loneliness and offer abundant life. But the proud never want to admit when they are wrong. It doesn’t affirm there self made glory. Turning from sin and coming to Jesus is to humbling for them. That’s why God must resist the proud but gives grace to the meek.

Friday, February 11, 2005

Miracles

Do you know what the requirement is for a miracle? It’s the impossible. Miracles are when the impossible becomes possible. Some examples of miracles are can be a healing that the Doctors said could never happen. It can be also be a situation that we thought would never turn out for good but does.

We can never truly see the face of God until we are faced with impossible odds. When God makes the impossible possible, we get a small glimpse of what he looks like, what he can do, and who he is. This usually happens when we bottom out or come to the end of our self, or when we have done everything within our means to make the most out of and impossible situation. When we are in a situation where we need something or someone more powerful than ourselves to take over, we get a chance to see God in a tangible way..

But what do we do in the meantime? After, we’ve prayed and fasted and read the Bible, got the advice from some godly friends, and kept ourselves free from sin, what do we do next? What do we do when we’ve done all we are meant to do? What do we do when we are in the gap between the promise of God and its fulfillment?

There are many options. We can double check to see if we fulfilled all our responsibilities. Or we can give in to worry that we didn’t cover all our bases. We can start to doubt that God can come through. We can get depressed by assuming the worst. We have so many options.

Well the Bible talks a lot about having to face odds that are stacked against us and it offers a different solution. The Bible says that we should do things like wait which has some tangible benefits to help us on our way, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) We get knew strength when we wait on God

The Bible also says that we should also have something called faith, which is, “… being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).” But even our faith can be challenged at times. So what should we do? How do we get more faith? According to Romans 10:17, “… faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

As we read the word of God we meet other people who were in the same predicament. Like Sarah who wanted a child but was too old to, or Moses who had to lead a nation through a sea, or David who needed deliverance from enemies. What ended up happening when they waited on God with faith and hope? God came and saved the day in perfect timing. He came and delivered what he promised. We have seen God in a tangible way now. We know it can only be Him because after all he did what we couldn’t do. He gets all the glory. He made the impossible possible, which is a miracle. So what happens to us? Our faith EXPLODES! The next time that w are faced with impossible odds, take it as an opportunity to see God face in an unquestionable way.

Monday, February 07, 2005

Ecclesiastes and Geography

"All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again." Ecclesiastes 1:7

Did you know that Science has proven the Bible? It’s not talked about to much but it is true. The author of Ecclesiastes talks about rivers returning to its source. This is actually what science has discovered and called the hydrologic cycle. We may have been taught it in elementary school or even at Geography class. It talks about rain falling in the earth forming streams and rivers which eventually empty out into a lake or ocean. Here the sun heat causes it to evaporate and once it evaporates, it takes on the form of clouds which becomes so saturated that they eventually rain down on the earth. This rain becomes the source of water for rivers which empty into lakes and again and the cylce continues.
Well this cycle is mentioned in the Bible in Ecclesiastes. Did you know? During the modern age, we were convinced that science was the ansrew and that faith is useless including faith in God's Word. Christians have put there faith in the Word of God as truth for centuries and here's an example of Science actually proving it.

Karl Marx and Christ

“… union with Christ consists in the most intimate communication with him, in having him before our eyes and in our hearts, and being so filled with the highest love for him, at the same time we turn our hearts to our brothers whom he has closely bound to us, and for him whom also he sacrificed himself…”

These are some words from a school-leaving essay by a school boy in 1835 at the age of 17. Karl Marx is his name. The same one who’s books changed the face of the world, and in who’s name had countless Christians and people of other faiths slaughtered.

It’s from God’s that Fail by Vinod Ramachandra
The quote was pulled from Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, “Collected Works”
If you can, check them out!

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Pole Dancing Minister

This is an article from The Now Newspaper. Check out the website at www.thenownewspaper.com

On a pole-dancing mission: Ordained minister joins with Cloverdale entrepreneur in fitness venture

By Simone Blais

It only takes a short conversation with Jan Janzen to realize she's a pole-dancing minister - and proud of it.
Janzen, an ordained, non-denominational minister, is the brains behind A Pole Lot of Fun Enterprises Inc., a party company that has supplied poles for living rooms across the country and franchised the industry around the world, allowing women to try their hand at whirling and twirling around what, in the past, has been considered a pole reserved for exotic dancers.
Janzen first became aware of pole dancing when she was invited to a friend's stagette party.
"I walked into this room and there was this pole in the middle. I couldn't believe how unnerved I was," she admits, adding she's not usually afraid of taking risks. "I have walked on fire, I have jumped off a cliff, I got in a plane and went to Africa by myself, and yet this stupid piece of metal had me uncomfortable. That fascinated me."
Janzen noticed how she and the other women, initially shy and embarrassed about pole dancing, completely transformed by the time the night was over. She asked one of the women who taught the lesson for a business card - but went away empty-handed, as they didn't even have cards.
That got Janzen's brain working overtime.
"I went home and got into bed, and the business plan came flying into my brain for the next four hours," she recalls.
Within two weeks, the Belcarra resident had attracted an investor in Colin Sprake, a Cloverdale-based entrepreneur whom she met at a networking event.
"I usually don't get involved in trendy products," says Sprake, a veteran of the mining industry, "but this one intrigued me."
The company's head-office franchise is registered in Surrey. Since Dec. 1, Janzen and Sprake have sold their pole-dancing business concept to eight franchisees in Ontario, New York, Texas and other areas, according to Sprake.
Janzen credits pole dancing's newfound popularity to daytime diva Oprah Winfrey, who paired with stripper Sheila Kelly to do a segment on pole dancing a year-and-a-half ago.
"When Oprah did it, it was kind of like God spoke," she says. "Barbara Walters pole danced on The View. Sheila Kelly's doing it, Angelina Jolie's doing it, Kate Moss, they're all doing it.
"People really started looking at the fitness side of things. They're tired of the Pilates and the yoga and the step class. But now, there's this thing out that's a bit naughty - not because it is, just because that's the perception of it."
What makes the activity so appealing to women, according to Janzen, is that it incorporates a sensuality into exercise.
"People have taken that sexuality and sensuality out of being a woman, and I think we're at the time to bring it back. I just want to see it brought back in a wholesome, respectful, honourable way."
-with file from Tom Zillich

Innocent

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are – yet was without sin”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)

I guess that means that Jesus was completely innocent if he was without sin. We often associate innocence to a baby or a child. They are harmless with pure motives. They are usually quite forgiving and sweet. They haven’t been completely hardened by sin and corruption and the evil in the world.

Now think of someone you care about? Are you a parent? How do you feel when someone harms your children whom you care and love? Maybe a stranger offers them an apple with a needle or pin inside or starts swearing at them. How do you feel when someone punches your children and beats them with a reed? Or beat them with a whip nine tails that would expose vital organs. Maybe put a crown of thorns on their head and drape there body on a cross and nail them to it. How does it feel to see children take on this punishment that they did not deserve because they are innocent.

Do you feel angry? Do you feel sad? Do you feel broken? Do you feel mad? Well someone has had to go through that a couple of thousand of years ago. We were the ones who made Him go through it. Not very fair is it?

This person was Jesus and Jesus was even more innocent than children. He committed no sin. He was completely righteous. Hold on a sec now! He was tempted in all ways as well. Does this mean that every kind of temptation to trip him was being done? I don’t know? Can you think of some? Lust, greed, murder, jealousy and so on…
Well, I thank God that Jesus raised from the slow painful death on the cross. God used it to pay the price for all the evil we done to Him and each other. He used it to restore His relationship with us. What a mighty God we serve? What a God!

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Heroes

Sometimes we hear about someone who does something outrageous. They fight for a worthy cause, challenge the status quo and make a difference. People like Billy Graham who spread the gospel to billions, or Mother Teresa who picks babies out of the garbage and loves lepers with words and deeds in the name of Jesus. We call them heroes.

We get inspired. We get passionate. We almost stand in awe of these people. Hope starts to flood in with ideas and possibilities of making the world a better place. Yes we can make a change. We can make a better tomorrow for our children. It can happen. It is possible. We are charged with a new optimism and a living hope. We are charged up and ready to go. We are like a stick of dynamite!

As we begin to make a game plan and put passion into action, we get tested a bit. Are we really willing to pay the price for it? Will we stop at nothing to see a change for the better? Can we truly fight the good fight? Will we finish the race and complete what we started?

We get tested when our passion makes us hyper-sensitive. These tests can take on different forms. It can be a person who doesn’t agree that it can happen. It can be resources that won’t come through. Sometimes we get so passionately sensitive that we become offended by the tests. We respond by cutting off the dream or find a new fellowship. Sometimes we even give up and discouragement sets in and trauma and doubt. Could it all be for nothing we ask? Was I wrong? Can we really make this place a better world for tomorrow? Were the heroes really right?

But the tests are meant to strengthen our resolve. They test the work to see if it will last or if it is true and pure and right. Will we still stick it out? How do we stay in the race? What can we do to avoid discouragement and trauma? Expect it! Expect tests to come on the path. Find a way to respond in a productive fashion. A way that doesn’t compromise the vision but brings in more force and multiplies the momentum. We need to respond in a way that makes others catch the vision and maybe even dare to come on board. We need to be over comers and conquerors doing it with the right motives and means. Not conquering each other but conquering the unseen forces that work against us.

We also need to guide passion with wisdom and love. We need to have passion guided by a love that is not easily provoked. A love that bears all things and believes all things and hopes all things and endures all things (1Cor 13). A love that lays downs his/her life for a friend (John 15:13).

We need a model to follow as well. Jesus is perfect. He had the love and vision and he even laid down his life for it. When we study him, understand him, follow him and even worship him, we become like him. We heed his words which can increase faith. After we go through the tests that show if our work is true and pure and right, we realize that our vision was actually His. When we continue to obey him his resources become our resources! His Father our Father. His Spirit our Spirit. His passion our passion. Those heroes who inspire us, who fight good fights with pure causes with righteous means point us back to Jesus. And we live out what we were meant to live!

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

We seem to covet the famous. The ones with the killer looks, to die for mansions and bottomless bank accounts. They seem to have it all. But have you heard about some of their personal lives? Mel Gibson had it all. He had the bank account and looks and money and fame and so on. I seen him in an interview looking at a picture of himself on some popular magazine. It was a picture during one of the peaks of his career and where he just finished rocking the Box office with one of his action flicks. He captured the hearts of women with Colgate smile and the admiration of Men with his machismo, smart alec ‘can’t touch this’ attitude. But what was Mel thinking? He said that was the lowest point of his life. He was suicidal and in alcohol and prodigal living and felt empty and dead inside. How can this be? He had it all man! Well one night he had a Bible in his hand and came back to a faith in Christ that was introduced to him when he was a kid. What happened next? He was changed.

Later I saw an interview of Britany Spears. She has it all. Just like Mel, she has fame, fortune and a following. These people almost look bullet proof! They seemed invincible. They are set for life, a life without the hassle of making mortgage payments or getting the kids through college and so on. This is what we yearn for. A comfortable and easy life where we are the centre of attention and people covet us and admire us and maybe even worship us. We want this kind of rest from our toil and become larger than life. At least that’s how Hollywood portrays them.

Then the interviewer asked Britany about her old love and heart throb. Later you see her blushing, broken and embarrassed and in tears. She was filled with guilt and shame for a mistake she made that broke her relationship with that N’Sync dude. She was exposed and not so bullet proof as we think. Interesting…

Than there was another interview with Terry Hatcher. You remember here right? She’s was the babe on the old Superman show that was on in the ‘90’s I believe. She was the ‘bombshell.’ Whatever happened to her? Like Britany and Mel she had it all but talked about how she lost almost everything: her house, money, marriage and so on. You could see the emptiness in her eyes. Hard to believe that these people are only humans like you and me. They feel guilt, pain and sometimes feel insecure just like anyone else. When we see their true story, we don’t seem to covet them anymore. We might even seem relieved that are life was not as grim as there's.

So what’s the point in all this chatter? I guess the point is that everything is not quite what it seems? Sometimes it just doesn’t add up. When we are brought to the end of ourselves like Mel and Brit and Terry, where should we turn? Who do we go to? What should we do? Well I for one would like to have love and joy and peace. This is what happens when we turn to Jesus and sow in the Holy Spirit he gives to us. Mel kinda mentioned it. So are you interested? Step aboard!

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

3 kinds of People

I've met all kinds of people over the years. They can fall into all sorts of categories, in fact I came up with three today. They can either be:

1) Takers
2) Takers and Givers
3) Givers

But God calls us to a much higher level. Take a look at what Paul said in the book of Romans, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Rom 12:1).

We are called to be givers. We are to offer our mind, body, soul, spirit and will to God. Now I know God promises rewards but wouldn't it be great if we weren't in it for ourselves for a change? We need to get rid of the old WIFM (What's in it for me) attitude. Wouldn't that be great?

I.D

I.D for Intelligent Design which is an argument that states that the origin of life, the diversity of speices, and even the structure of organs like the eye are so bewilderingly complex that they can only be the handiwork of a higher intelligence. Some suggest that this intelligence is God!

What do you think?

Cheap Grace

I was just reading some quotes from a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a Lutheran Pastor in Germany during World War II. He opposed the Nazis and was captured by the Gestapos and later executed in April, 1945.

He wrote a book called "Cheap Grace," which he defined as "preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus living and incarnate."

Does this kind of teaching exist today?

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Science and Faith

Just read the Time Mag on Happiness, which speak of some spiritual subjects. In 2003 a study involving 3,300 adolescents found that teens who attend services, read the Bible and pray feel less sad or depressed, less alone, less misunderstood and guilty and more cared for then non religious peers.

Another study showed that Protestants reported higher levels of well being than Catholics and even higher levels than Jews. One possible reason is that Protestants voiced a greater belief in an afterlife than did Jews. The study suggested that Protestants derive more joy in their internal faith in God, whereas Jews and Catholics draw more comfort from their religious communities.

Quite Interesting… What are your comments?

Inspirational Leaders Wanted!

Just the other day I was hearing a preacher preach an awesome sermon. He was speaking about the story of His glory. It had me at the edge of my seat. He was not from around here. I love hearing foreign missionaries preach. They seem to be more sensitive to see our idols and sin than we are. We can be too de-sensitized at times. Apparently here in Canada, our churches are known to be in a state of slumber. The church here seems to be like a sleeping giant. Maybe not all parts but definitely some.

I can’t remember all he said but I do remember this. The preacher went on to say that we need inspirational leaders. What is and inspirational leader you may ask? They are volunteers who say, “Something has to be done and I’m going to do it! I’ll do it whether my pastor or church or parent will do it or not!”

But so often we fall short of this. Instead we look at our vulnerabilities. We can’t measure up. We don’t have the charisma or the looks or the gift of the gab or enough education etc...

It’s not a question of what we don’t have but we can do with what little we do have. It’s not by power or might but by my Spirit. Remember what Jesus did with a couple of loaves and fish? He fed multitudes!

What kind of faith can you offer?
Offer God your pain, failures, traumas and weaknesses and remember:
A CAUSE NOT WORTH DIEING FOR ISN’T WORTH LIVING FOR!

Thank you, Alphonse for those inspiring words

Post-Pritam Depression

Mr.Bilson

I became a bumbling mess of tears and greif as I had to say "good-bye" to my friend and mentor Pastor Pritam Singh Sandhu!

P - Presistant
R - Risk Taker
I - Inspiring
T- Thrill-Seeker
A- Accepting
M- Meek

Thanks for encouraging me when I was down.
Thanks for giving me comfort when I was broken hearted.
Thanks for inspiring me to step out of the comfort zone.
Thanks for challenging me when I felt bold.

I will never forget you.
Thank you Jesus for Pritam