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

"Jesus you are..."

A couple weeks ago during our Sunday service we had an open prayer time. This prayer time started by sharing some prayers on a sheet of paper on our table, and then I would go and ask a few people to yell out what their prayers were.
Most responses were the usual (and yet still important) - for example - "God you are....creator....wonderful...powerful...faithful." Then we went on to talk about, "Jesus you are... & this is when the surprise came, when a young man shared, "Jesus you are....frustrating."
A bunch of people let out a chuckle, but this feeling of Jesus being "frustrating," was important to hear as following Jesus is not always a walk in the park. The Bible is filled with people who were willing to be vulnerable and honest with God.
Take a listen to these words of angst towards God:
"I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” Psalm 42:9
"You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" Psalm 43:2

These are just a few examples where followers of God were a bit "frustrated." So often we come to Jesus and realize a God that calls us to love Him and be devoted to him more than anything, means we will for sure be throw off our usual routine more than usual.

The interesting part of our faith journey is that in the end, we always come back to the important reality that God is still God and His will (as frustrating & annoying as it may be) will always continue.
May your prayers, and expressions of worship be open and honest, but always end up with trusting God who is faithful and always there for us.

Being Together

What is the church? And really do we understand what we are supposed to be representing? Do you ever head into a store in a big mall and wonder, "What in the world is this item doing in this store?" I remember going to a store when I was growing up, and you never knew what was going to be in that store - they had a lot of weird and crazy items, and yet I never bought much from there, b/c I guess I never really knew what to expect if I purchased the item there.

For me, it seems too often the church (not a service on a Sunday), but a group of people who are forgiven by Jesus and claim to have a new savior & king, forget what it is supposed to be representing. The apostle Paul makes the calling of the church pretty clear when he says, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). Wow - so this group of people are actually a people of worship. They are defined by how they live together and care for others, and most importantly represent Jesus.

So if you know Jesus, you can't be alone. Paul clears this up by saying, "You" which is plural, are "God's temple." So we are the church....together. So really it isn't an option of how am I feeling or do I have time, but we are the church when we are together. And to clarify this togetherness doesn't happen too well when we sit in rows, but community happens more effectively when we are in circles. Are we willing to sit and listen and love and care for one another.

I am challenged to think more about the church being us, rather than a production. I am challenged to see the church grow, by our willingness to show love to one another, rather than flashy programs. How do you see the church...being the church together?