Summer with People

I should firstly update you in my brother-in-law who is recovering well and had 95% of the tumor removed from his brain. I praise God for hearing the prayers of people we had praying all over the world for Derek. We were able to spend some camping with them this summer so I'm thankful once again for family and health.

The first few months of my summer were spent in Fort McMurray Alberta, a city notorious for low quality of life contrasted by the current financial goldmine found in the oil industry. Thankfully, God was gracious in helping my resist being sucked into the vortex of materialism during my stay but was able to minister to coworkers in Sportchek and Pizza Hut. I was reminded that regardless of where I am I need to preach the gospel and be about His Kingdom work. I met some wonderful people including muslims and mormons who I learnt and was inspired by. I still do pray that their eyes would be opened to Christ and that the enemy's deception would be shattered. I truly value my time with my friends Mike and Blair who I got to help move into their new house.

Then off I went to South Korea where I spent two weeks visiting my girlfriend Joie's family and getting to know them. Also, Joie and I went down to Daegu city where I had spent a year a half doing ministry at Dreem Church. It felt like just yesterday that I was in Korea with all the wonderful Koreans God put in my life to love and live amongst. Daegu is like a second home for me and I'm so thankful that the Lord brought me back there to remember the call He's placed on my life.

Now its back to the books!
This year I'll be learning the ancient language of Hebrews and hoping to better understand the Old Testament of the bible which I love so much. More importantly, as God has shown me through this summer how much he loves people. College is a place of study but more importantly a place of transformation. I can't wait to see what God will do in our individual lives and community.

Please pray that our hearts would be lit on fire with a love for the lost and that our studies would lead to deeper worship.

Confident Stability in God

I want to thank you for your continued prayers for my brother-in-law Derek who has been back home with my sister and their family for a couple weeks now. Due to the size of the tumor, the neurosurgeon's have determined that surgery will be the most effective way of removing the majority of it, which will hopefully eliminate the possibility of him being put through chemotherapy and radiation. Derek will undergo brain surgery on Tuesday, June 12th in Vancouver under Doctor Toyota. (Derek loves Toyota trucks...its a sign!)

Despite the arduous mental battle of our family and friends having to process such an intense and potentially lethal health problem, God has been faithful to the promises in his word to never leave or desert us and provide the peace that transcends all understanding. Our family and close friends would all agree that God has been undeniably present through this terrible situation to rally His church towards prayer and good works. It is incredible to see how God uses His people to be the instruments of his comfort, compassion and love. Christian believers from all over the world have been interceding and standing in the gap for Derek in these last few weeks. What a profound truth to know that the God of the universe hears and responds to the cry's of His people. I have been able to see once again the furious love of the Father who cares for us more than we could possibly imagine.

So how do we find stability in a time of crisis when we're faced with uncertainty?
Paul who wrote the book of Philippians in the context of being held as a prisoner being beaten and starved gives us helpful teaching on how we can develop spiritual stability.

Harmony in the Church 
And I exhort you too, my genuine yokefellow, help these two women to keep on cooperating..." Phil 4:2-3
Loving, peaceful harmony is a stabilizer. When you are in such an environment you are surrounded and supported by other believers. Enjoy the unity, peace and love of the church!

"I Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice" Phil4:4
God does not expect that we jump for joy at the various crisis' that come our way but urges us to find joy in our relationship with Him despite any circumstances. Have joy in knowing that you have a firm, secured and privileged relationship with God knowing that he is aware of you and you are aware of Him. This priceless relationship transcends any trial, difficulty or circumstance. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Learning to accept less than you deserve. "
Let all men know and recognize your unselfishness"(Phil4:5)
Paul speaks of the spiritual qualities of humility and contentment. When we can get a proper understanding that we actually deserve nothing due to our sinfulness we can begin to cultivate an attitude of expecting nothing and demanding nothing. If we wrongly assess our sinfulness we can come to the conclusion that we deserve every positive outcome. This attitude breeds an unstable life since it misunderstands the brokenness of our human condition. Friends, we deserve nothing but punishment, guilt and death; therefore everything that does come our way is a pure gift of grace.

Resting on a confident faith in the Lord "The Lord is near" Phil4:6
Because the Lord is near we don't need to be anxious about anything. The way you handle problems is a reflection of your view of God. If you understand God's power, promise, resources, purposes and plans towards you then where is the cause for anxiety? God is sovereign, loving and uses everything in our lives for his glory and our good.

Thank you for your prayers and love for the Lord. Your commitment and diligence inspires me. Please continue interceding for Derek as he prepares for surgery in a week. May we trust in the goodness of the God we serve and rest in his love.

"Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" Phil 4:6-7

Prayer for Derek

Dear family, friends and blog followers

I would humbly ask if you would rally along with my family and I in interceding for my brother-in-law Derek who had a seizure the other night and is found to have a tumor in the back of his brain. Please join us in bringing him before the throne of God and petition for his healing. We are expecting God to put his glory on display and manifest his healing power. May this be an opportunity for all to see the love and power of God.

Derek has received an MRI but now we are waiting to hear the results. Pray that this tumor is not cancerous but can be removed without complication.

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace shall be yours, that tranquil state of soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace that transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" Hebrews 4:16

Growing up as a pastors kid

Often, people perceive the concept of growing up in a pastor’s home in a generally negative way. For example, you’ve probably heard stories of children who had a distant, preoccupied pastor father, or those who had pastor dads who held impossibly high expectations.

Thankfully, this has not been my experience as a pastor’s kid. I can’t think of a better way to “raise a child in the way they should go” than to be raised in a healthy and vibrant Christian community. I myself, now at age 24, have had the profound blessing to be raised in the context of such an environment within the body of believers who took a genuine concern and responsibility for my spiritual life. Church has been and will always be my family and a place where I can find encouragement, support and spiritual nutrition in my walk with Jesus.

As a young boy, it was in church that I was guided through the Bible stories of people who obeyed God and experienced blessing, and those who disobeyed and suffered the consequences. Most importantly, I learned about a God of mercy and love who sacrificed His only Son Jesus to save me from the penalty of my sin. When I was seven, it was in a Sunday school classroom that I made the decision to invite Jesus into my heart and apologize to God for the bad things I had done.

The body of Christ was truly a community around me while I was growing up. For example, when I took an interest in music, it was a church member who gave me a guitar and taught me not only how to play skillfully but to do it to the glory of God. When looking for a job, church members stepped in and taught me their trades. After I graduated from high school and got involved in missions, the church prayerfully and financially supported me. This and countless other instances of direct church involvement have marked my life in a significant way.

I am deeply grateful to have been raised as a pastor’s kid within the community of the church and can confidently testify to God’s active grace in using the church to raise up and edify its people. I can’t imagine where I would be in my faith journey without the constant involvement of committed people that gave so much to me.

CHRISTENDOM AND BEYOND

 

Christendom, which was generally understood in both spatial and political terms, became referred to as Beyond Christendom in the twenty-first century. Since there is now no country that considers itself a Christian nation, the dream of a truly universal church has become a reality due to the churches mission of spreading the gospel during the nineteenth century. Although the nineteenth century was marked by the Industrial Revolution which promised the world happiness and abundance, the ideology backfired and escalated into both the first and second world wars. Nevertheless, Protestantism made a great advance during this time through riding the wheels of colonialism and economic imperialism and left a lasting stamp on the life of the church. The church, more than any international organization, corporation, or political movement, was able to cut across national boundaries, class distinctions, and potential allegiances. Unfortunately, in the twenty-first century, the age of Christendom had passed largely due to the end of the Constantinian fusion between church and state, and between Christian faith and cultural and social practices. Much of Christianity was essentially absent or ignored by most forms of mass media and in much of social and family life because of modern thinking which changed the world view of most people in traditional Christendom. Suddenly, influences such as secularism, Darwin’s theory of evolution, astrology, spiritism and even Gnosticism replaced the worship of Jesus Christ.

It is a staggering reality to follow just how impactful the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution was in shifting the minds of those within Christendom. While it cannot be said that all believers within the church fully allowed themselves to be swayed by modern thinking, the rapid decline that occurred among Christians during that time points to the proclivity of man’s fallen nature towards pleasure and independence. I think the nineteenth century was a positive time in history since it allowed for missionaries to more effectively reach the nations with the gospel but negative in the sense that the state became increasingly more secularized and unconcerned with holding the biblical standard of right and wrong. Nevertheless, God is faithful to build His church and continues to hold her together regardless of Satan’s attempts through social, political or intellectual means to tear her apart. It is an absolute miracle that the church has kept on throughout the turmoil of its history and is an encouragement to us now to persevere despite the pressures of the world who seeks to conform us into its image. The believer can know that, although Christendom is a thing of the past, that Christendom beyond is just another sign before the return of Christ. We must persevere in an age of tolerance and immorality and remember the history of our good God who refuses to forget His bride but persists in using her to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Although we, in western civilization Canada do not presently face the oppressive regimes of communism in which our ancestor’s did in both World Wars, we must deny the god of this world who has blinded peoples minds to the truth of the Good News (2Cor 4:4). 

Only a determined effort to remain in Him (John 15:4) will be sufficient in waging the war we face against the world, the flesh and the devil. May this generation be one who stands on the authority of scripture and refuses to compromise God’s standard for right and wrong. May we remember that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:12) and be intentional, through earnest prayer to seek the heart of God in knowing how we might live in this cruel and wicked generation (Matt 12:39). 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. " Ephesians 6:12

"Weak Season"

One aspect of life here at Briercrest that I've found to be rich is daily chapel. From Monday to Thursday we gather together as a school and spend time worshiping God and hearing from His Word. Today's message, from our chaplain Cal McFarlane, introduced the Season of Lent that begins today on Ash Wednesday.

As an illustration for Lent, Cal brought his pet Labrador on stage and showed how excited and preoccupied his dog was from concerning itself with its master. The dogs tail wagged hysterically while it quickly paced back and forth on the short leash it was given. Cal rightly observed that the dogs mannerisms often reflect the spastic pace of many of our Christian lives. We are in a constant state of preoccupation with the things we invest in and the reality is that often God is pushed aside or wedged into the middle of our engagements.

After getting a hold of his dog, Cal put a muzzle on the dogs snout whose mannerisms became suddenly different. Instead of its spastic energy it was calm, attentive and humble.

This is what the Season of Lent is intended to produce in us as we prepare for Easter Sunday. Since our culture and churches are becoming increasingly secularized, this discipline of Lent is a helpful means in which we can stop, sacrifice our time and passions, and consider the weight of our sins. This is a time where, just like the muzzled dog, we can shut up, confess our total inadequacy before God, strip ourselves of pretense of righteousness, of pride, perfection tendencies and remember how needy we are for Him.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" Psalm 51:1

This produces a quiet expectation and a sanctification of the Holy Spirit to purge the things that do not reflect the character of God and build us up and make us more into who we truly are, a creature made by God intended to respond to Him.

I hope you can take this season of Lent as an opportunity to be receptive and cooperative with the Holy Spirit. Let us be still and concern ourselves with the heart of God and repent of the things He exposes in our lives that aren't from Him.

It will be on Easter Sunday, as Cal shared, that we will truly be able to celebrate the resurrection of the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world.

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:16-17

An Evaluation of Pastoral Self-Leadership and Church Health in Church Plants

         In this article concerning pastoral self-leadership and church health in church plants, the author provides statistics of how most Protestant denomination memberships are declining due to the advancement of the ever-changing post-modern era in which we find ourselves. After claiming that the church has “lost touch with the communities they are trying to reach,” he asserts that churches must change in order to carry out the Great Commission effectively in the twenty-first century and beyond. One way this change needs to happen is the planting of new churches in which he believes will allow the Lord to do a “new thing” (Isa. 43:19). New church leaders are learning that the gospel is best preached through the medium of culture and so many churches are now moving into schools, civic auditoriums, movie theaters, hotels, funeral homes, and industrial warehouses. The author then speaks of the qualifications that distinguish a pastor from an effective church-planting pastor. A church planting pastor, he insists, demands much more of a person since it requires hard work, enduring loneliness, adaptation, self-initiative, self-motivation and a high level of faith. The idea of self-leadership, which is the leadership people exercise over themselves, is an ability he speaks of that is of highly important in becoming a church planting pastor. This psychological study has proved that those who can lead and influence themselves produce positive results in their ministry pursuits. Throughout the remainder of the article, the author dives in to what the ability of self-leadership entails and defends this method as not being just another example of the “unbiblical individualistic American spirit of every person for themselves” but ensures that self-leadership is in the context of community. This method is designed to enhance the empowering of leadership and passionate spirituality so that pastors can effectively lead healthy churches of the twenty-first century.

            I appreciated the psychological idea of self-leadership from this article and found it to be very helpful for involvement in Church ministry. I agree that much of the fruit our lives produce come from the way our minds are conditioned to think. I also agree with the author that the shift from investing into church health rather than church growth is very important. Beeson’s 8 church health characteristics of authentic community, empowering leadership, engaging worship, functional structures, intentional evangelism, mobilized laity, passionate spirituality and transforming discipleship should all mark our churches. These characteristics assume an active role in all aspects of church life rather than a narrow-minded pursuit of growth and numbers. While considering the idea of church planting, I began to be intrigued by the idea of starting a new community of faith and could understand how starting a church from the ground up might be an effective way to infuse new life and passion into what God intended for His church. The church does not need new structures and programs; the church needs a transformation and renewal of the way we think (Romans 12:2). This self-leadership model gives us practical steps to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). I firmly believe, as Christians, that we need to live a life of discipline. This discipline comes, not only from our daily commitments and devotions but a discipline of guiding our minds in the right way to think. We need the mind of Christ so that we can know what Jesus would do in the context of our culture. This assumes a deep relationship with God through the reading and meditation of His Word but also a radical dependence and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. This is why I don’t consider self-leadership to necessarily be a new idea but a scientific acknowledgement of what God has already set before us in His Word. May we, through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, train our minds to think like Christ and therefore be the church God intends us to be in this era of history.

Caring For The Flock

 

            Out of all the books I have read in attending pastoral theology, David Larsen’s Caring for the Flock stands out as an invaluable resource in the practice of what it means to be a shepherd of the flock of Christ. While I feel called to be involved in pastoral ministry, it comes with deep fears of inadequacies that leave me wondering how I might ever steward such a great task as leading God’s people. Nevertheless, through this book I was encouraged that although pastoral ministry is no small commitment, God provides both the spiritual and the physical resources accomplish what He has preordained us to do.

            I responded with Larson in how “our Christology shapes our ecclesiology…All Christians are to be walking the way of the cross in self-giving, bearing the marks of the crucified Christ”. In the consumerism of North American culture, commitment, ownership and sincerity to the death and life in Christ is often neglected due to the idolatry that divides such a commitment. Spirituality and being identified with Jesus becomes popular and usually the most expressive and brilliant minded people rise to the top while not truly possessing a love and devotion to Jesus. “We must beware of an elitism which will only deal with cutting-edge people”. If our view of Christ is not that we have been crucified to our own, self-driven pursuits, we will miss the true identifying factor in what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Walking the way of the cross entails a daily commitment to a death of self, a conscious, intentional devotion and obedience to Jesus in hearing the voice of His Holy Spirit. Achieving success in the ministry does not hinge on numbers but on obedience. As a pastor, am I willing to suffer and see little to know obvious growth in my ministry as my portion in obedience to the crucified Christ? On the other hand, am I willing to be crucified with Christ in the midst of God’s blessing and success in the ministry? How we see Christ is absolutely important to how we approach church. It is imperative that the church reflects Christ while also remembering, “He is the foundation and chief cornerstone” who promises to build His church.

            One thing I am growing to appreciate is that “structure is unavoidable; effective structure, like effective form, can greatly enhance function and content”. While some have become opposed to such a structured, program orientation to church thinking it is sucking the Spirit-led, organic intention out of the church, I agree that it is impossible to have church without structure. While I sympathize with those who criticize the churches liturgy that have become dry and meaningless, we cannot dismiss the necessity of handling our churches with responsible order. As pastors we need to be constantly seeking the Lord as to whether our structure is enhancing the environment for the Spirit of God to move or if it is becoming routine and does not point the Christian to Christ. Structure is a useful tool in which to divert the attention off the Christians scattered and busy lives towards intentional focus on Christ and God’s Word. I like how Larson summarized the dangers of either leaning towards the “invisible church” the results in an under-emphasis on structure and “visible church” which might result in an overemphasis on structure. The pastor needs to carefully consider how much space he is giving the Holy Spirit while responsibly administrating a proper framework for the church to be in.

            I disagree with Larsen in where he concludes that the pastor-teacher “has no higher responsibility than the faithful and dutiful preaching and teaching of the word of God” and that “the feeding of flock of God must be at the head of his agenda”. Paul clearly expresses in 1 Timothy 3 that the pastor-teacher must pursue integrity in all aspects of his life not only in the obvious roles of pastoral ministry. While I agree that preaching the Word of God is an enormous and essential responsibility, the pastor-teacher must reflect the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3. Too often, especially in the lives of many prominent historical figures such as John Wesley and A.W. Tozer, the family is neglected while their preaching is exceptional. This is unacceptable and, in my mind hypocritical. The pastor-teacher must be concerned with “the whole Christian education enterprise” and be “dependent on the enabling of the Spirit of God” but must also practice that which he preaches. Finally, I do not dismiss the author but am cautious in using language that implies the pastoral roles must be elevated over all else.

            To defend the author in my previous statement, Larsen does devote an entire chapter on The Pastor and the family in which I greatly appreciated. I wholeheartedly agree that, “Christian ministry in the church is always for and within the context of God’s purpose for the family”. In a time of complete destabilization of the family unity, no more must the pastor model a healthy, unified and cared-for family relationship. Husbands, including pastors, must love their wives and take the supreme responsibility of spiritually impacting the lives of their children. Pastors must advocate that “congregations need to be a rich resource centers for family development”. Children scarred by the effects of divorce should find church to be a place of healing and full of godly parent figures as well as adults who have divorced should find church to be a place where they are loved, accepted and led into a biblical understanding of a marriage and parenting commitment.

            Church discipline is also an issue Larsen addresses that I found helpful. “The pastor-teacher has the solemn responsibility of raising awareness levels through the teaching ministry and fostering a climate in which discipline can be courageous and constructive”. In this point I agree that the pastor must set the standard for a disciplined spiritual life. I am against pastors who take a moderate concern for the people and focus on running the functions of the church. The pastor must be thinking about his flock and the various life-situations they are found in so that he might have compassion and know how he might lead them. Prayer and a radical belief that God is working amongst his people should mark a pastor’s life. This involvement in his congregation’s lives is what gives him the compass in which to preach and lead from. In knowing the particular issues, sins and struggles his people face, he will be better equipped to supply the flock with the right biblical food. Corrective discipline is not a begrudging process but should be invited as a natural part of growing in holiness. Pastors need to be more intentional and less afraid of confronting the flock if he truly expects them to become more like Christ.

            Overall, I believe this book will be a priceless resource in pastoral ministry. A word I noticed repeated throughout the book is the word “responsibility.” Pastor-teachers must take responsibility for the flock just as a father cares for his children. There is no room for laziness or passivity. God is always working and people’s lives are messy. We need the spiritual eyes of prayer and resources such as Larsen’s book to administer the functions of being the church in the world.

Hope and Joy

Happy New Years!

Unlike most Christmas seasons that seem to be more of a distraction than a time of remembering, I was refreshed by the message of hope and joy in the birth of Christ this year. It seems the more I grow up and see the sad truth of the world spinning out of control the more I need to hear that there is hope and even joy available to me. But how?

 I couldn't help being fascinated by the wise men. These three guys were so intent on finding the answers to life through the means of astrology that they followed a bright star for over a year to see what it might show them. Little did they know that the answers to life weren't bound up in the sky but in the humble manger where God, the King of Kings incarnated to become a baby. It seems as though as the world becomes more and more captivating with its technological and scientific breakthroughs (deceiving us that these things bring true fullness in life!), the message of God becoming a baby becomes more and more beautiful and shockingly different. The wise men remind me of the folly of searching for meaning and identity apart from that which is found in Christ.

"In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song"

I would have loved to see the looks on these wise mens faces when they came face to face with God in that stable. Just like Isaiah who witnessed the glory of God and fell on his face in worship, so were the wise men's response one of worship and adoration. Is it ours?

When we come to Jesus we are confronted with the only remedy for our deepest soul's need. Forgiveness of our sin.

 We were helpless in our guilt from sin and couldn't reach God because of his impossible standard of holiness. Something needed to be done. It was God who SO LOVED the world that he sent Jesus to take the punishment we deserve - so that now - when God looks at us, he sees Jesus' perfect, sinless life. It was the ultimate switcheroo of our sin for Jesus' perfection. Now whoever believes in Him through faith will not die but will live forever. What a beautiful gift from a loving Dad!

"My comforter. My All in All. Here in love of Christ I stand"

I know that I have hope because God saw that sacrificing His only Son a necessary means to bring me back to Him. He cares for me!

I know I can have joy because Jesus took away my sin. Guilt is a natural outcome of sin and is debilitating in nature. When I come to the terms with my broken, unfix-able state and abandon my wicked self is the moment when I can live freely in the power of Christ. This freedom produces joy!

I hope this message never ceases to take your breath away.


"He [Jesus] had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process" Phil 2:6-8 MSG

Christianity is about a relationship with God through Jesus. Never allow anything to divert you from your insight into Jesus Christ. It is the true test of spirituality. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you.

May God pour his hope and joy into your life in 2012!