Thursday, August 31, 2006

Christ Church


So I'm still re collecting the trip to England. As I mentioned before, I was shocked at how far the English have fallen from its rich christian heritage. We took a trip to the world famous Oxford University. Little did we know that this was the former stomping ground of the world famous author, Clive Staples Lewis (aka CS Lewis). He was that crazzy cat who wrote, "Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Abolition of Man," and who can forget, "A Greif Observed." which was a personal favorite!

Who new that England would be the birthplace of J. K Rowling and her beloved Harry Potter books. Wonderful. Oh but this one is the keeper. Oxford has a place called Christ Church. It is where they filmed Harry Potter's 'cafeteria' scenes. In a church of all places. Can you beleive it? Those scenes with the flying witches and spell castings or in a Church that bears the name of Christ of all places.

Well that is England for you! So much to see and do. Go and see for yourself! There is much to be had there! Including the need of spreading the Gospel! Glad I had my helmet of salvation on!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Wesley on Money

Wesley gives a thorough, and challenging, list of things a Christian should not do to earn money, and I encourage you to see if you agree with him. And he is all too aware of the dangers of pursuing riches for our own benefit. But, as we work for the Lord, Wesley states "let nothing be done by halves, or in a slight or careless manner. Let nothing in your business be left undone if it can be done by labor or patience."

Rule Number Two

The second rule is to "save all you can."

Here's where the rubber meets the road. It's a whole lot easier for me to work hard than to hold back on my spending. The thought, "Well, I've worked hard to earn this, so I should treat myself" has crossed my mind more times than I care to admit.

When Wesley admonishes me to spend nothing "to gratify the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, or the pride of life," I wince. Good grief, am I not supposed to spend money on anything? Does he want me to wear sackcloth and live in a shack and only eat bread and milk? That's just so ... Puritanical!

But then the thought drifts into my head: Maybe I could use a little more Puritanism in my finances?

What we need to realize, Wesley says, is that most of our spending is the equivalent of throwing money into the sea. We spend it and it's gone, with nothing to show for it. That's a tragedy when you consider that some of that could be going to kingdom work.

It's not just the waste, though, that should keep our spending in check. It's the cruel truth that our spending only increases our discontent. Just like the Turkish Delight in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe left Edmund even hungrier before, our purchases can leave us wanting more.

Have you ever purchased DSL only to suddenly realize how your computer needs to be upgraded? Or bought new furniture and taken it home only to see how shabby the things around it looked?

"Nothing can be more certain than this," Wesley warns. "Daily experience shows, the more [our desires] are indulged, they increase the more.... Had you not then enough of vanity, sensuality, curiosity before? Was there need of any addition? And would you pay for it too?"

Wesley's bottom line is that money is precious. Not precious in a Gollum, Lord of the Rings kind of way. But precious in that we only have so much, and we must use it wisely.

Rule Number Three

The third rule is to "give all you can."

After all, if we stopped at gaining and saving, we'd end up no better than Ebenezer Scrooge. Instead, the first two simply make the third rule possible.

First, Wesley states, your duty is to provide for your household "whatever nature moderately requires for preserving the body in health and strength." The emphasis for me here is the word "moderately."

After that obligation is met, then you "do good to them that are of the household of faith." Then, "if, when this is done, there be an overplus still, as you have opportunity, do good unto all men."

This was an interesting perspective for me from Galatians. It reminded me that while I am to look after the lost, I am especially called to look after the needs of my fellow Christians.

It also brings up the question of how do I do good unto all men?

A few years ago, my husband worked for a company which placed a heavy emphasis on giving to a particular charity. They had rallies, department captains and incentives, such as casual clothing Fridays, for those who gave.

Despite the pressure, and ensuing considerable flak that my husband received, we decided not to give. We were concerned that some agencies whose goals we didn't share would receive our donations.

But we didn't want to stop there — to just "get off the hook" with our principles. Instead, we took the money and gave it to ministries we did agree with — ministries who were concerned with eternity. That way, we knew we were doing good unto all men and Kevin could wear his dress clothes on Friday in good conscience.

So, we are to gain all we can, save all we can and give all we can. Or, as John Wesley summarizes his rules at the end of his sermon: "No more sloth.... No more waste.... No more covetousness!"

That line reminds me why I never liked classic sermons, but why I'm learning to appreciate them (wouldn't my boss be proud!). In a nutshell, they're hard. They challenge me on the very things I'm not used to being challenged on. They hit subjects that my 21st century ego may think I don't need, but which are the very blind spots which can get me into serious 21st century trouble.

As Wesley rightly points out, "Brethren, can we be either wise or faithful stewards unless we thus manage our Lord's goods? ... Then why should we delay? ... At this hour, and from this hour, do His will: Fulfill His word, in this and in all things! I entreat you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, act up to the dignity of your calling!"

Thanks for the talking to, Mr. Wesley. I will.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

The Judgement Seat of Christ

"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Ephesians 4:16

...there are a number of points I want to explore.

The first is teamwork. The Oxford English dictionary defines team, "as a set of people working together." Why? They are one. This means that each person surrenders a high profile. For those who have an ego problem, this is quite the task! You say, Well, this won't apply to me, I don't have a problem with ego. Don't you? Let me ask you a question: if you look at a group photograph you are in, whose face do you look for first?

The bruised ego.

The winning team is one who puts winning ahead of personal profile. When one member is more determined to get recognition in the team, the result is losing. What is it that causes disunity in the church everytime? It is the bruised, vindicated ego. In order for a team to be a team, there must be a willingness for each to have a low profile.

So the operative word is one, leads to another word, surrender - of seven things. First the surrender of identity, second, the surrender of independence, third, the surrender of individuality, fourth, the surrender of inflexibility, fifth, the surrender of indifference, sixth, the surrender of inequality and seventh, the surrender of personal interest.

From The Judgement Seat of Christ, by R. T Kendall

Movies

I gotta admit that I just love watching movies. But only certain kinds, mind you. I don't like the
gratuitous violence or sensual types. I don't like the ones that inflame the flesh and feed carnal desires. No thank you! But luckily there are some good ones out there. They are hard to come by but once you see one, it is all worth it.

Movies have changed so much now. With all the modern advancements in technology we can do things with movies that we were only aloud to imagine in the past. I have noticed one thing really missing though. Real substance with great plots and interesting characters. Recently, I watched the new Star Wars movies. The special effects were amazing in the last two. Each frame looked like a painting almost.... But it lacked one thing. It didn't have those loveable characters and those outrageous personalities all clashing. There wasn't that amazing chemistry like in the originals don in the 70's and 80's.

Sure, the originals didn't have all those fantastice special effects but the characters of Hans Solo and Princess Laya and Luke Skywalker kept you at the edge of your seat. What will they say and do next you might ponder. There was a definite plot and a wonderful scheme about the whole story line. But this was lost on the new ones...

Now you look at all the modern movies which are actually using the old story lines and heroes of the past. Check out all those comic book movies like X-Men and Spiderman and Superman and so on. Who can forget Lord of the Rings? They combined the great plots and characters of the past with great special effects. And most of them had vieweres come see them again and again. They kept you coming back for more because they were so good!

Have you noticed that nothing really new is being introduced in terms of plots and characters? There are some exceptions like those Pixar films which are so good. But I haven't seen much outside of that... Have you? When will we see a new superhero who will out do Superman and Spiderman in the box office? How about movies with great plots and storylines like Lord of the Rings? Well I guess we'll have to wait and see or make our own movies in the mean time.

Great Teachers

There are so many great teachers out there. I'm blessed to have so many come into my life. They just love to challenge your world view and turn your perspective right side up. They are full of profound wisdom and are eager to help you learn and grow and expand your understanding.

What I love the most about great teachers is that they are never threatened by tough questions. They don't get defensive or try to escape the point you are making. They encourage your thoughts and help you stay focussed. They even admit it if they don't have all the ansrews. They also want you to challenge what they say. This is to serve their desire to make you shrewd and not be so simple minded as to believe everything that is said!

Have you met the other kind of teachers? They are filled with pride and they never admit when they are wrong and won't for a second show any vulnerability. Their vast knowledge really compensates for the lack of self esteem. The avoid the tough questions by mocking you if they can't ansrew them. They try to put you shame and try to make you feel stupid for thinking out loud or for having an opinion that is different from their agenda. They are petty at best and shallow at worst. Do you know any?

God bless the good ones. They go out of there way to hear you out, teach you and even correct hoards of assignments. Did you know that they usually get more homework than us students? I don't understand how they spend their weekends marking away. But anyway God bless you all for your service and know that you are making a difference. Thanks for coming into my life!

Saturday, August 19, 2006

God's Redemptive Plan

God's redemptive plan included everyone! It included Israel and all the nations for the world. Take a look at the following Bible verses:

"Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other." (Isaiah 45:22)

"1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3)

"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations." (Benesis 17:4)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:11-13)

God wants to reach the whole world. That includes all of South Asia and the Diaspora! Praise God!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

O England....

Oh England, how we sorrow for you! What has happened? We remember your past and the greatness of the Christian witnesses that have come out of you! Who can forget John Wesley, and William Booth, George Whitefield, and Charle H Spurgeon! But now things have changed! The Muslims and Sikhs and Hindu's and Carribean Cultural Centers and trying to rule over you. The bride of Christ is be converted into pubs and bars! BUT WHY?

It doesn't have to be that way. You Christians can rise up and change the world. You can win back England! You can take back your land for Jesus Christ. Remember these words:

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matt 16:18)

Have faith my dear friends. You can do it!

"...3who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Matthew 11:3-40)

We are behind you and we know that the battle isn't over yet while there is still a today. Keep pressing on! The battle belongs to the Lord (1Samuel 17:47). Hope is not lost!

Spiritual Giants vs Spiritual Babies Part 2

Spiritual Giants are an amazing bunch! They speak of different things compared to the babies. You know the babies when they speak about there the 'lesser' things. The babies love to dominate a conversation and talk about the accomplishments and titles they have earned. They talk about themselves and they give little regard for other people. They like to parade themselves and have other people praise them. They are unlike the giants.

But the giants are much different. They speak about vision and not compromising no matter what. They talk about the burden to reach the lost and what is at stake when we don't rise up to the challenge. The talk about our capacity to make a difference and do great things for Christ and how we can win the victory no matter what the odds. They talk about rising above and overcoming and peservering no matter what! They love to engage in dialouge and talk of the vision a neighbor has. They offer a listening ear and a humble heart and words of encouragement. Oh, how I love to be around giants. I can be around them for hours! You see nothing but love and joy and peace in them. They want to touch the very heart of God! They want to only glorify his name and not be noticed one bit. They don't care for the praise of man or the applause of people. They work and sweat and give it their all and than in the end, they say that can't talk any credit for the fruit. They are humble and only want to point to God to take the credit. They truly deny the self and crucify pride.

To all the giants! We see Christ in you and are inspired! You thrill us! You give us a passion and hope and zeal to change the status quo. You remind us that things can change for the better and that there can be success no matter what. We love you!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

United Church Onlin

United Church turns to web in its biggest effort to reach out to non-churchgoers
12/08/2006 1:44:00 PM


TORONTO (CP) - The United Church of Canada is harnessing the Internet in its biggest effort ever to reach out to people beyond its doors in hopes of filling empty pews.

ERIC SHACKLETON
A research team has spent the past year developing a website aimed at persuading more 30-to-45-year-olds to consider making the church their spiritual home. A prototype of the site, www.emergingspirit.ca, is now up and running.

The church plans to spend at least $9 million on the initiative, which also includes ads in national magazines and training programs to help congregations develop their welcoming skills, says Rev. Keith Howard, executive director of Emerging Spirit, the group overseeing the project.

"In terms of actually trying to meet people beyond the church itself, this is our biggest undertaking ever," said Rev. Jim Sinclair, the church's general secretary, who is responsible for day-to-day operations.

Recent figures from a Statistics Canada study, Who's Religious, suggest that more than 40 per cent of 30-to-45-year-olds don't attend church or other religious institutions. However, as many as 50 per cent take part in personal religious activities at least once a month.

The church wants to engage in a conversation with people in this age group "who we find share many of the values of the United Church and are very interested in the spiritual life in their own way," said moderator Rev. Peter Short, the church's top official.

To get this conversation going and to help structure the website, the church hired pollster Environics Research Group to conduct an online survey and to do less formal interviews with people on the street.

Participants were asked why they don't attend church, what they are searching for, what is important to them, what they don't like about organized religion and how they view the United Church, said Short.

"They don't tend to have a happy view of institutional religion," he said. "They tend to view churches as being judgmental, unwilling to listen."

The United Church, Short said, feels it has the right mix of policies - openness, welcoming those with various sexual and relationship preferences, and an approach that challenges traditional teachings - that this group should find appealing.

Statistics Canada's 2001 census indicated there were about five million people in the 30-45 age group.

"We'd like to offer an opportunity for them to try out a contemporary church congregation, and see if (their unhappy) impression might not be changed" through the website, said Short.

Now that the site's development stage is wrapping up, the next step is approval by General Council, the church's governing body, to extend the project for another three years. That's expected to happen at its next national meeting - it meets every three years - beginning Sunday at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., said Short.

Other items on the nearly 700 delegates' agenda will be the election of a successor to Short as moderator and the appointment of new general secretary. Sinclair is stepping down after serving in the post since 2002.

General Council will also consider proposals on how to best to implement the denomination's profile-raising campaign. Church members are excited about Emerging Spirit, said Sinclair.

"The reception across the church has been very enthusiastic. People have really seen it now transition into a considerable effort to work with congregations enhancing their ministry."

To grab people's interest, the site has a "much more community feel to it" than the church's regular website, www.united-church.ca, which supplies information about the church's structure, positions on hot topics, forthcoming events, and resources.

The Emerging Spirit site "will not have an overtly recruitment kind of orientation," says Howard. "It will offer people of that age group a place where they can discuss life ... moral ... spiritual issues" through blogs. There will also be polls on major issues, opinion pieces and links to spiritual sites.

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Five nominees for moderator of United Church of Canada

(CP) - The United Church of Canada will choose a new moderator to replace retiring Peter Short at the Aug. 13-19 national meeting of its General Council. Here are the five nominees named in advance of the meeting. Others may be nominated from the floor.

Jim Angus - A hereditary chief of the Gitxsan Nation in British Columbia and chair of the Gitxsan Treaty Society.

Patty Evans - Missionary nurse from Sutton, Ont., who served in Africa and is now a trainer for the church.

Rev. David Giuliano - Pastor from Marathon, Ont., and member of the General Council executive.

Rev. Peter Scott - Pastor who just retired as executive secretary of the church's London, Ont., conference.

Rev. Colin Swan - Director of the School of Theology at Iona College in Windsor, Ont.

Copyright The Canadian Press

Haggis

Have you tried Haggis? Well, I just came back from Scotland and a friend of mine decided to have some Haggis! He didn't know what it was but he has heard of it! It was a national dish apparently!

It came in a beautiful dish bathed in some kind of yellow sauce! It looked like flour that was poured out of a can but still took the shape of the can. My company gandered at it and kind of smirked to themselves.

There was Rajwin just munching away at his Haggis. He appeared to really enjoy it! He was just wolfing it down and rubbing it in the yellowy, white sauce so casually and neatly. It was unbecoming! Than he offered some to us and so I accepted a little portion. It tried it and it was quite crunchy with a kind of soury twist to it.... I had a questionable odour as well. The smell was like a washroom without the urine puck smell... I don't think I'll ever try it again.

But anyway enough about me, let's talk about Rajwin and his experience with Haggis. He didn't know what it was. The waitress came up to him and asked him specifically if he was enjoying it. He said, "Yes." But little Rajwin thought it unusual that the waitress would ask him specifically about his meal and even mentioned the name of it but she did not ask us about our meals specifically by name.

Later Rajwin asked some questions. He wanted to know what haggis was. We tried to explain but he wouldn't beleive. So after the meal of we went to Benergie from Bengal who told us the history of Haggis. It was a meal given to the Scots by the English who had plundered them. The story goes that the English ate all the best parts of the lamb and gave the rest to the Scots. The rest included the sheeps intestine (I don't know if they cleaned it first), the sheeps brains and eyes and even the testicles... Nothing was wasted! Even the blood was consumed by the eater. Rajwin was shocked and amazed. You should have seen his jaw drop and the "UUHHhhhh...." that came out of his haggis smelling mouth!

Well that is was our adventure with Haggis. Please comment below if you have any questions.