BIG Prayer

Hey Bloggers...or readers.
Ok, so sorry for slacking off here.  Yikes!  Maybe if you compiled my tweets that would make up for it. 
Back to what's happening lately, and yesterday!  Wow! We've been going through a series on Sunday mornings with Gateway Church called, "BIG Church."  It's all about how the church is so influential and important because of Jesus' great commission for the church. 

Yesterday, we looked at "Big Prayers." 
Have you ever said a prayer?  For sure!  I haven't met anyone who hasn't said some type of cry out to God ("Oh God" or "Help me").  Unfortunately we often forget the power of prayer in the every day grind of life.  Unfortunately we can leave God off to the side, when life is going fine, but then call on him frantically only during emergencies.  He becomes more of a "911 God," rather than huge and influential all the time.  A challenging revelation for me was that the nature of God's greatness and power doesn't change, it's just my view of God that changes.   So if the same God who spoke creation into existence, is still willing to listen to me for any request, what an opportunity we have! 

Kind of like the kids song we used to sing growing up, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God cannot do, for you!" 

So, the next time you are feeling like you are in control of life...pray to the God who is far greater and more magnificent than you, as he is waiting to hear from you and share with you. 
OR...if you are struggling, know that God also is willing and waiting to hear what is going on in our life.  He is able and willing to walk through you in your pain and help you find perspective. 

God is so BIG! 
Ephesians 3:20 always inspires me, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...."

Amazing Grace!

Been sitting in Vancouver today and chewing on some meaty topics of belonging, acceptance and where we find our identity.  Here is a great quote (open to your feedback about it)

"Christians who are no longer sure that God loves and accepts them in Jesus, apart from their present spiritual achievements, are subconsciously insecure persons–much less secure than non-Christians–because they have too much light to rest easily under the constant bulletins they receive from their Christian environment about the holiness of God and the righteousness they are supposed to have. Their insecurity shows itself in pride, a fierce defensive assertion of their own righteousness and defensive criticism of others. They come naturally to hate other cultural styles and other races in order to bolster their own security and discharge their suppressed anger. They cling desperately to legal, Pharisaical righteousness. But envy, jealousy and other branches on the tree of sin grow out of their fundamental insecurity.

It is often necessary to convince sinners of the grace and love of God toward them, before we can get them to look at their problems. Then the vision of grace and the sense of God’s forgiving acceptance may actually cure most of the problems."

-Richard Lovelace

You are invited to an Easter Sunday Service...moving, memorable and all about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus! Free Brunch @ 9:30am  Service @ 10:30am.   (Kids program for ages 1-Gr.5).
Corner of 8th & Roger St.

Christmas....all about Christ!

A Christmas Greeting!
....and a reminder of the upcoming Christmas "Pageant" for kids ages 1-12 during the Dec. 23 Sunday Service.  Kids please arrive at 10am to get dressed up in a shepherd, wise men or angel costume.  Then from 10:30-11am the kids will act out the Christmas story.....after that the kids will be dismissed for kidzlife and we'll continue on with another sermon in the series called "Rescue."
Also, YOU...are invited to Gateway's Candlelight Christmas Eve service from 7-8pm.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Marriage Matters....oh yes there are many

So what's with marriage?   You may be reading this and think one of 2 views....marriage is important and key OR marriage is irrelevant and a waste of time & money.

Now as I have been studying and sharing in a sermon series about why marriage matters....and the matters of marriage, I have really heard some fascinating and painful stories surrounding marriage.

When you think about marriage, the good or the bad, it's easy to take credit or to dish out dismay, but hold on!  As I heard the quote, "one unhappy single person who gets married doesn't make that person into a happily married person, but just an even more unhappy person who is now married."

The other reality of marriage is that it basically magnifies the brokeness and weakness in a person's life.  Say, if you had some insecurities about your looks or your were greedy before marriage, once married, these traits will now look HUGE!  It's kind of like the analogy of your heart being like a bridge (take the orange bridge in Port Alberni).  From a distance the bridge can look pretty solid, but under the weight and load of a loaded logging truck, things are a bit different.  The areas of weakness and cracks, weren't put their by the logging truck, but were made known by the logging truck. 

So....marriage is like a logging truck going through your heart. 

Well, before you say, "Forget this marriage stuff...." Hold on.

There is hope....because God created marriage between a man and a woman.   I repeat God created marriage as a gift and plan for humanity! 

He first said there would be this incredible union where 2 would become one.   The physical, emotional, spiritual, financial oneness that God has created us and allowed us to experience is a beautiful and amazing gift.   This gift of oneness is symbolic of  how God is in perfect community and unity between the other members of the Trinity (Son & Holy Spirit).  (Now to clarify, God doesn't want to have sex with us).  
Marriage for sure then, is a daily opportunity to share our weaknesses with another person....and then ask God and them to have the grace and mercy to bear with us as we love and serve them for God's glory!

You are invited to Gateway's Easter Service!

Come out to Gateway's Easter Service - Sunday
Free Brunch - 9:30am
Service @ 10:30am
at the John Paul Catholic School (8th & Maitland)

Coming out of the box!

Last week's sermon, we started the tough series called, "Good Grief." We dealt with looking at the value of sorrow. Have you ever thought sorrow was worthwhile to go through?

We had examined how our culture views sorrow (ie. hide it, get over it, replace the loss), and comparatively how God shares with us about how to deal with sorrow.

Jesus gave a powerful example of dealing with sorrow in his reactions to the death of Lazarus (John 11:1-37). Jesus heard the news of his friend dying and he was struck by literally "snorting like a horse" (Greek word explanation of "deeply moved in spirit"). Then Jesus also, "wept" - which meant to cry quietly. Jesus seems to give us some freeing examples of inviting us to take time to grieve the losses we face. To take time and process who we have lost and the pain that has come. (yes we may not know the reason for the death, but we know there is a sense of sorrow for us).

As I ended the sermon, I called everyone to share the comfort that we have received from God with others. I compared the usual reaction of sorrow, to be like hiding in a box.....so I climbed (squeezed) in a little box....to illustrate the way we may feel alone and isolated in our grieving, and then invited the people that come together each week in our home for prayer, support, Bible study & mission (aka a Life Group) to help me out of this situation. They came forward and ripped off the box....put their hand on me, and helped me out of this lonely state.

Do you need to take time to grieve over a loss?
Do you have someone around you to rip off the box or to be with you in your "box?"
Do you believe God can comfort you?

A New Year...and some big questions.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's hear...another year, 2012! Have you found yourself saying, "Wow, where did 2011 go?" I sure couldn't believe how fast the month of December went. Gone....but what lies ahead? What good things will be waiting for us?

What good will you experience in 2012? Now when you hear that question - do you perhaps answer - a raise, a new relationship (hopefully not if you are married :), or some new opportunities? But did you ever think that 2012 could hold something good that at first looks horrible?

Do you ever consider that 2012 could be a year of experiencing some pain...which maybe causes you to ask some big questions? So often people ask me, "How can a loving God allow suffering and pain?" This is a very good question....and in many ways I don't know the answer; however, starting this Sunday, January 8th I will be sharing a sermon series called, "Good Grief: figuring out how the goodness of God is present in times of suffering & pain."

What's the biggest question you think needs to be tackled (even if you don't think it can be answered)?
Post them here or email me....

the joy of serving :)

Do you ever go to a restaurant and say, "Wow that service was horrible?" Or you go to a hardware store and you try to find an employee and say, "Where is the customer service...it is bad!"

It's very easy to recognize poor service. But enough about the negative, but what makes up good serving? Well, this past week I was able to be part of a team that found out the joy and satisfaction of serving. A group of friends gather at our house once a week to hang out, pray for each other and learn what it means to be servants of the Most High God. So as we talked about an area we could share and serve in the community, the area of VAST came up.

VAST is a school set up for kids who don't "fit in" (using those words sensitively and lightly) the regular school system. As we got to talk with the principal, we heard of some great opportunities to come alongside them. One of the areas we were able to step and serve was at their Christmas Party. We were asked to help with some set-up and cleaning of tables. (now I have never been much of a "crafty" guy, but thankfully some creative ladies stepped up with some phenomenal centerpieces).

Once we arrived at the hall, it was fun setting the stage for an amazing meal for the students. Our team came together as we knew our mission and came with energy ready to do whatever we could to help the staff from VAST. Now, it was truly amazing the overwhelming response of thankfulness that we received (as that certainly wasn't our goal). But I sure did learn, that when the goal is clear, and our hearts/ attitudes are ready to serve with joy....God will do the rest!

What a blessing & joy to serve!
As you approach this Christmas, look for opportunities to serve with a group of others (I'm guessing you will have a lot more fun when others are working alongside you).

Thinking like God

When you wake up in the morning...what drives you? What gives you purpose? Perhaps the alarm clock screaming at you pushes you to get out of your horizontal coma? Or maybe the realization that your job is waiting for you (and will happen even without you).

But how often do we wake up and think like God?

Peter had a stirring conversation with Jesus which went like this: From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23)

Jesus has explained to Peter that God was sending Jesus to the cross to suffer, but Peter, couldn't comprehend this idea....NO WAY! This isn't going to happen, says Peter....but immediately, Jesus puts Peter in his place, "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Ouch, just when you think Peter would be understanding the great and sacrificial call on Peter's life, then he thinks about his own needs, about what he can see (no way, I don't want my friend, leader & mentor to suffer). I can surely relate to Peter.

Too often I see a situation and see things through what I can predict can happen. I see a difficulty in relationships through the predictable and safe, rather than the wild and miraculous....which God is all about doing!
So, a quick thought for today, what would your day or week look like if you thought and believed more about God's plans than yours? What would your perspective be if you had faith God was still able to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine?

Serve somebody

Bob Dylan writes a great song called, “You gotta serve somebody.” The lyrics go like this: You may be an ambassador to England or France, You may like to gamble, you might like to dance You may be the heavyweight champion of the world. But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed. You're gonna have to serve somebody, It may be the devil or it may be the Lord. But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

All of us as humans serve someone or something….like it or not – that’s just what we do. So when Jesus shows up and tells his followers – to stop aiming for a position of honor, but look for opportunities to serve and be humble, how did they react? How do we react?

For sure it’s one thing to say that we are willing to have a savior who forgives our sins; however, it is more of a challenge to realize that we have a new master & king who calls us to trust and obey him every day of our life.

Jesus says in Luke 14:11, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This verse speaks of a way to help and serve others rather than thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to.

Even more we must wrestle with the thought that being a servant to God is a much better choice than being a servant to our own selfishness and tendency to be a people pleaser. Galatians 1:10 says, Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

What a radical shift from being lured into trying to get the approval of our friends, family, co-workers and rather choosing the desire to serve Christ. Every day we will be faced with the opportunity to go along with slander, gossip, greed, pride, rather than realizing that our identity comes from what Christ has done for us.

Ponder this quote about the Love of Jesus for us… Rebecca Manley Pippert says “whatever controls us really is our god.” By contrast, Jesus’ ownership of our lives is not a control that manipulates us or takes away our dignity...He governs our lives the right way: by being who he is without compromise and by insisting we become all that we are meant to be. And he tells us this can occur only through following him, obeying him and maintaining a living, passionate kinship to him....God created us for himself. If we are living with any center other than Jesus, we will be living incompletely....[H]e is the only one in the universe who can control us without destroying us. No one will ever love you like Jesus.”

Will you believe that Jesus can be the best master to serve?

Born Identity

What does it mean to be born again? Is this some term that only fanatical Christians are classified under ("born again Christians)?
In reading through John 3:1-10 - there is a dialogue between a religious leader, Nicodemus & Jesus, which challenges how we define ourselves. Jesus tells Nicodemus (and us also) that "no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3). In 2011, when it is more common to talk about the rebirth of a company (through a new marketing strategy), a spiritual rebirth may be a bit more of a stretch for some.
Also, the process and action of being born again, is initiated by God....not us. Hmm...so much for thinking that we can do enough good things to make it into heaven, but rather we must trust in the power of Jesus and what he has done on the cross to save us.
So, once we receive this new life, we move from having an allegiance of an old king (Satan) to the King of Kings (Jesus); we move from the kingdom of darkness, to the kingdom of light. All of these promises are so encouraging and amazing.
If you want to hear more about this new birth and the changes our identity takes click here: http://www.gatewaychurchpa.ca/sermons.htm (click on Sept. 25 - Identity).

On mission together....

On Friday, Naomi and I took on a monumental task together. As the weather was looking promising, and our motivation was enought, we started a hike up Mt. Arrowsmith (5967 feet). If you have ever been to Vancouver Island, you will see this magnificent peak. The route we took, called the Judges Route, is a steep ascent that had our muscles burning quickly (1km elevation gain in 6 km).
So as we headed up and up, I was reminded how we needed each other. Our mission was clear...to get to the top of the mountain, and we encouraged each other that we could do it.

I am reminded how we are able to lean in and help each other when we realize our common mission as followers of Jesus. This mission, to make disciples who are making disciples, is a call for everyone to participate in. As we understand and participate in the mission we will all grow in our care for each other and love for one another.

Let's join together in sharing the good news of Jesus. We get to live out...."Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19