Coffee House last night

Well, we did it. Our first meeting. Thanks to everyone that attended. It was a rich time for me personally to hear you all share as you did. Hopefully those that couldn't be there will consider coming next time or sometime in the summer.

Instead of the usual blog from the newspaper, I thought I'd share a thought that crossed my head last night about ONE of the many reasons that it was so good.

Paul warns Timothy in his charge in 2 Tim to be prepared to preach the Word because there will be a day when people won't listen to sound doctrine (or "TRUTH"!) but instead will gather around them people that will say what they want to hear. In other words, instead of pursuing what's right, we're just going to find people to justify what we already think or do. Instinctively, we are all like that. We don't tend to spend time with people vastly different than us. We tend to be with people that already think somewhat similarly to us.

But as I looked around the table (and as I think about the concept of church), we are all very different! I wasn't sure what others were thinking about what I was saying. Several times, I was aware of the fact that not everyone was agreeing with what was being said. Some of it was far from "what my itching ears WANTED to hear". But we were together searching for God - searching for sound doctrine - truth. And that is bigger than my opinion or anyone else's - except God's.

I've never seen iron sharpen iron before but I'm sure it's quite a sparkshow.

Our "generosity"

Christians are known for our giving. It's surprising that as much as society wants to separate "church from state", the society is quite happy when the church picks up where the state leaves off. Where would our world be without the church doing the social programs that we do? Where would our court system and political structure be without the church questioning the moral fabric of why we do what we do? Canada should be thanking the church because without us, our taxes would be double what they are in order to do half of what is available.

What's the rush

Before I start, I need to confess that I'm probably the last one that should be writing about this because, besides one other person I know here (who shall remain nameless), I have probably the heaviest foot in Duncan. It's getting better but it takes time to take Vancouver out of a man.
So now that that's out of the way...

One of the hallmarks of a Christian should be rest. That's what Sabbath, Sabbatical and Jubilee days are about (Lev 25). When we were created on the 6th day, guess what we did first? We rested. God's last day was our first. When Israel went to exile, how long did they go for? The number of years of missed Sabbaths. There are many many more verses and theological ideas to this but it's not by accident that its one of 10 commands that God includes in Ex 20.

Do people know us as a rested person? Or do we fly over the Hat as one of those "40 over" people? Do we know rest as a gift from God and not something we have to earn? Or are our identities tied to what we do?

watching sports

If you watch the news lately, it's hard not to know about the Under 20 World Cup being played in Canada right now. In case you don't know, the World Cup is the biggest sports event worldwide second only to the Summer Olympics. The Under 20 world cup basically showcases the talent of the up and coming soccer stars. In just about everywhere but North America, they would have no problem filling a stadium of 60000 for this event so perhaps rightly, this is a big deal.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the live fans on July 1st. After the frustration of standing in line and missing the first few minutes of the game, I was one of the people gripped by the level of play on the field. I'm not a soccer player and I don't think I've ever really watched a full game before but I must admit, this was pretty awesome. To be there watching it live with soccer fans all around is an experience I'll never forget. In my quest to see every sport played at its highest level, this is one I can cross off my list.

What I like about amateur sport - and this was no exception - is that it is so pure. Real genuine teamwork. A heart and passion to leave it all on the field each game. The line between success and failure is a matter of inches. Each goal that is scored is the best single moment in any athlete's life. Every defeat brings out a hunger to make it better next time (after the tears are wiped away). It's about as real human as we get.

In contrast, church can be so different. So phony. So individualistic. No one wanting to take a risk or a chance. No one talks about real life. No grace or forgiveness to help one another up to go make good next time. It can be so artificial, so routine, so sterile. When a goal is scored in any game I attend, I can't help but jump out of my seat screaming and looking for a high five. There's no worry about who's there and what I look like. So how come I don't do that during a baptism? This person has accepted Christ and crossed from death to life! The best I can do is a half hearted smile? What means more?

One of these days, if I get the guts, I might just have to preach with my face painted in God's colors.