Get Outside

It is a beautiful, warm, sunny day and I am listening to the many sounds of birds sitting amoung the fresh blossoms on the trees around me as an early spring comes into full bloom. I am sitting on my balcony with a cup of coffee and my laptop open realizing that I am way too distracted by this glorious day to try to come up with a topic for my blog this week. But it has just hit me that maybe that in and of itself is enough for this week. It is brilliant out. It is beautiful so get out and enjoy it. I don't need to point out all the analogies to be drawn between spring, new life and our spiritual journey. I don't need to remind you of all the passages in scripture that talk about creation and nature and how it can be a useful tool for our spiritual life. I don't need to tell you how it can be good for you physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. In am reminded, however, that we in Ontario are reading about getting a failing grade when it comes to encouraging our children to get enough physical activity in a day. So get outside. That is my blog today...get outside. Go for a walk, plan a hike, ride your bike, take your lunch break outside. Whatever or however you do it, get outside.

The Irony of Inclusivism

I rarely use this blog for political purposes and I hope that this post is not overly political, but I just saw some footage of the Premier of Ontario and there is a response to some of his comments that I could not help but post.
As a bit of background, there is controversy in Ontario about some new health/sex-ed curriculum scheduled to be introduced next school year. This curriculum would include bringing this education to children as young as grade three including such controversial topics as gender identity. Surely teaching about gender identity to such a young audience is going to be a controversial subject and I don't think that I am incorrect in stating that it would be more than just faith based groups that may have serious and legitimate concerns. It was while taking questions regarding this subject that Premier Dalton McGuinty made the comments to which I would like to respond.
Now, right off the bat I should disclose my bias and be open about the fact that we have chosen a home based education for our children. We have been educating our children from home for a number of years now. It was not actually primarily a faith based decision to do so originally as we withdrew our children from public education for a number of other reasons including a major health crisis for one of our boys. I have to admit, however, that one of the things we have appreciated the most about a home based education are the opportunities that it has provided in the sphere of faith. With that aside, I return to the Premier's comment that has so captured my attention.
In responding to questions about the controversy, the Premier made the comment that if any parent is uncomfortable with what is being covered by the curriculum then they have the right to withdraw their child from such classes. My response to that comment is this, if the only option available to respect an individuals rights and freedoms, be they religious or otherwise, is to have them not participate then that is not inclusive. If the only way to meet someones needs is to tell them not to come, to not include them, then that is not inclusive! And here is the irony, this curriculum is being introduced, in part, to be inclusive. The only response, however, as to how to accommodate the diverse beliefs and needs of our community is to be exclusive. There is an inherent paradox to inclusivism that is politically incorrect to bring up, but that is a reality none the less. If we are not honest about it, it will only lead to serious problems in practically applying our philosophy. The paradox is that inclusivism would tell us that we are all entitled to our own thoughts, philosophies, lifestyles etc. but what happens if I disagree with that concept? Someone might have to disagree with me because our ideas are directly contradictory but at the same time agree with me because every person's ideas are valid...and there is the paradox. So practically speaking what are we to do when when worldviews conflict? If we are being totally inclusive, how can one person ever say to another that your idea is wrong? How do we choose what side to represent in a public school curriculum? I think that the realization that I am coming to is that based on our current understanding of inclusiveness, we can't. At some point this is going to blow up in our face. We are aiming for an impossible ideal that will only frustrate us the more we try to achieve this thing that we will never be able to achieve. I don't mean to be pessimistic. I don't think all hope is lost. I do think that there needs to be some honest reflection about what we are aiming for however, and a realistic look at what it means for so many different ideas, thoughts and philosophies to co-exist.
As I stated before, I have chosen a home based education for my children. I have already withdrawn them from the public education system. If my child were in the public system and this curriculum were introduced I would seriously consider withdrawing them from the times that it was taught. What I would not do, however, is turn around and say that this was being inclusive. It is exclusive, period. What it is is a direct example of how we are seeing more evidence that religion is being discriminated against. I know that at one time Christianity was seen to be the dominant culture in Ontario. The reality, however, is that the pendulum has swung, and this big monster called Christianity that so many people today seem to be trying to slay is by far the minority. Many of its beliefs are slowly and subtly being undermined and challenged. The reality, no matter how subtle and incremental it may be, is that there is increasing discrimination against those who follow the teachings of Jesus. Please don't misunderstand, I am not complaining. I am certainly not saying I expect everyone to believe the way I do. I would love to share with them what I do think and why I think that way but I don't expect everyone to agree. Nor do I want to force people to live as if they did. But what I am asking is that we are just honest about the fact that there is increasing discrimination against Christianity. Let's just call it for what it is please.

The Week After Easter

So, it's the week after Easter. The Easter Bunny is no where to be found, the store displays have come down as fast as they went up and the remaining chocolate is on sale at rock bottom prices. It is amazing how fast Easter comes and goes. We really have not found a way to exploit this holiday economically with nearly the same success as some other celebrations. The great thing about this holiday, when approached from a spiritual perspective, however, is the way that it does go on...forever. On Easter Sunday, we in the Christian faith celebrate the day that Jesus was raised from the dead. It is the most important date on our calendar and the most important event in history. I was remarking to someone the other day that I find it funny that people can complain that Jesus coming back from the dead is scientifically impossible but rarely do people point out the scientific problems of a bunny that lays eggs. Jesus' resurrection, however, is a point at which we must come to a decision. The apostle Paul wrote that "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile" (1 Corinthians 15:17) Why is it so important? I can think of three things to start with.
Firstly, the resurrection validates that Jesus was who He said He was, that his teaching has validity and authority and that we can trust what He said. If I am called to submit my life to the authority of an individual, if I am to call someone Lord, then it is important to know that He can be trusted with my allegiance, that he was not a liar or crazy.
Secondly, if the resurrection give credence to what Jesus did and said in the past, it also reminds me that I worship a living saviour, who is currently reigning from the throne at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2), who is interceding for us (Romans 8:34), and who has promised to always be with us (Matthew 28:20). He is not dead but alive and He longs to work with us and through us and is with us in good times and in bad.
Lastly, the resurrection gives us hope for a glorious future. We are promised eternal life, and Jesus' resurrection is a foreshadow of what is to come, a promise of what we might expect. Jesus is the firstfruit that points forward to the bountiful harvest to come when all who put their faith in Him shall be resurrected on the last day. If we should die before Jesus returns, our souls shall be in heaven with the Lord. Jesus has also promised that He will return. I know that different denominations and theologies differ in some of the specifics when it comes to the end times, but there are a few things that most Christian teachings agree upon. There will be a resurrection in which the dead will be raised imperishable and those who have not yet died will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52) and that there will eventually be a New Heaven and a New Earth that come together in which believers will live eternally in the presence of God (Revelation 21:1-4).
So Easter is a big deal, confirming the past, comforting us and giving us purpose in the present and giving us hope for the future...and eternal future which means that our celebrations for Easter can go on and on and on.

Taste the World

This past weekend our church marked Good Friday with our fourth annual Taste the World event. Our church members came together to host approximately 20 booths representing the different cultures within our church family providing samples of food from their ethnic background. We invited our Milton community, hosted a Good Friday service followed by the festival of food. We also had entertainment as we welcomed an Indian dance academy as well as an Irish dance academy.
As I reflect on the event, and the hundreds of people who attended I find myself thinking about our theme verse and the reminder of just how relevant the Gospel message is today, for me, in my particular context.
I live in Milton, which was declared he fastest growing community in Canada after our last Census. One of the areas in which we are growing most is in ethnic diversity. Minority groups seem to be growing exponentially and I cannot think of a more ethnically diverse place anywhere. So what does this have to do with the Gospel being relevant? It is here that the theme verse that we picked for our event speaks most clearly to me.
In Revelation chapter five, we are given a glimpse, a window if you will, of worship in the heavenly realm. In verse nine we are given the words to one of the songs being sung. These words are addressed to the Lamb, who is Jesus:

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."
Rev. 5:9

This passage reminds me that Jesus is worthy. Our word "worship" actually comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word worthship which means to declare something or some one's worth. Jesus is worthy of our worship.
The passage also shares with us the gospel - that Jesus offered himself as a substitute and took upon himself the consequences of our sin and by doing so redeemed those who would believe in him. He took the consequences and paid the price for humanity that we might be brought back into relationship with God and live in that relationship for eternity.
The passage also reminds me that Jesus died for people from all ethic backgrounds. The citizens of the kingdom of God are and will be the most diverse community imaginable. So as I see this community grow around me and become more and more diverse I am reminded of our mission here in Milton. I am reminded that this Gospel message we proclaim is extremely important and relevant to our present situation.
I have come to see our Taste the World celebration as important. Yes, it is a lot of work and yes, it is not a traditional Good Friday service that many churched people are familiar with. It does however, cause us to reflect upon what Jesus has done for us by dying on the cross for our sins. It allows us to remember, to celebrate and to give thanks. The added feature, however that I believe it offers to us as we celebrate, is that it challenges us to see the direct relevance to the community around us, it affords us an opportunity to get a glimpse, albeit limited, at the kind of kingdom community God may be assembling, it reminds us of our mission to this community and it provides us an opportunity to proclaim the message that we celebrate each Good Friday.
So, along with the food, that is why I love Taste the World and why I look forward to our fifth annual celebration.
All this before we even get to Sunday morning, focus specifically on the resurrection of Christ and continue the celebration that we started on Friday!

Songwriter Cafe

Last night I had the privilege of playing a songwriter's cafe for the "Annex" which is a group from a local church that meets each week at the local coffee shop. My friend Cam who hosts the event each week, invited me to come and play some music and share the thoughts and ideas behind some of my songs as a part of a recent series that they have been going through entitle "songs that make you think." This is the flyer for the series that appeared on their web site:













I love the "church? (we think so)." Even though this is an offshoot of the larger church, that meets in a coffee shop and not a sanctuary, that shares music and coffee and discussion rather that sermons, pulpits and choirs, I agree that it is church. I am reminded that church is people. The Greek word in the New Testament that would be translated church actually refers to people- those who are called out. The church is the collection of people who follow Jesus. We are the church whenever we gather together in the name of Jesus, whether that be in a traditional church building with steeple and sanctuary or a sports centre for Sunday worship. We are the church when we gather in the name of Jesus at a coffee shop or a home to discuss things of life and faith as we wrestle with living out our spirituality in this world. We are the church when we gather in the name of Jesus to serve those in need or to love our neighbour or to enjoy fellowship together. We, who are followers of Jesus, we are the church.
This is a great reminder as we enter this week in which we will remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and celebrate His resurrection on Sunday. Jesus did not die for a building or a program but for people, the people that God loves so much that he would send his Son and whom the Son loved so much that he would offer himself in our place. It began with two people, Adam and Eve, who walked intimately with their God. Their sin in the garden, among other things, meant that the relational intimacy that they shared with God was severed, an effect that would be shared by all subsequent people thereafter. Jesus offered himself and took on the consequences for sin that we deserved so that we might have peace with God, that we might be reconciled and brought back into relationship with God. People matter to God, we matter to God and the cross is an overwhelming proof of that fact.

The Sugar Bush

It is a favourite annual event for me, when we head to the sugar bush to learn about the history and process of making maple syrup and then sample some of the good stuff. This past weekend I made the visit with a group from our church for one of our Worship with Creation events. I found myself reflecting on the process and being amazed at how God has orchestrated such an amazing biological process that would serve two integral and yet distinct purposes.
The trees undergo a biological process in the spring during which the warmer spring temperatures help the tree convert starch that was stored for the dormant winter period, into sucrose which is dissolved in water to make sap. A combination of below freezing temperatures at night (which causes water to be absorbed into the roots) and higher temperatures during the day (which causes pressure in the tree) make it so that the sugary sap flows. Interestingly there is a very short window of time when the sap is good to make maple sugar products, for when the buds finally develop the sap content changes. The tree has its own process that it needs to undergo in order to continue its cycle of life.
I find it amazing to think, however, that this process is also critical to the development of maple sugar products. We have come to think of maple syrup, or maple products as a treat. There was a time, however, when for First Nations peoples and for early pioneer settlers, these sugar products were integral sources of nutrients and energy helping many to avoid starvation and death in the harsh conditions. God saw it fit to lead humans to discover the the sap of these trees and to develop a process to boil it down and get the needed sugar.
God developed the trees and their life cycle and he did it in such a way as to provide humans with what would be an integral part of their diet. It is amazing to think of the detail, the intentionality and the care with which God created. As we look closely at all that God had created it always seems to lead to a sense of awe, wonder and worship.

Thoughts from St. Patrick Day

Well yesterday I spent the day with my good friend Mike traveling around with my youngest daughter's Irish Dance school and playing fiddle music for the dancers as we celebrated St. Patrick's Day. We had a great time! The day has come to be a celebration of all things Irish, when everyone can be Irish for a day and come together to have fun and celebrate. For me, however, the day also reminds me of some important principles that I am reminded of when I stop to consider the origins of the day, and the story of the person who lays behind it.
Before green beer, or green frosted cup cakes, before Shamrock Shakes and "Kiss Me I'm Irish" T-shirts, before all that is St. Patrick's Day as we celebrate it today there was I guy named Patrick. There is much legend and story that seems to shroud the history of Patrick including stories of driving snakes from Ireland and using a shamrock to teach about the Trinity. There are a number of points that seem to be generally accepted, however, that are gleaned from letters written by his own hand. Some of these points would include the fact that as a teenage boy, he was kidnapped from Britain and taken to Ireland as a slave. After about six years he would escape and make his way home. Patrick would enter the ministry and eventually accept the challenge of taking the gospel to Ireland, returning to the country where he had been held as a slave. To me, this is a fascinating story.
It is a powerful story of forgiveness. Is this not a needed reminder and example for so many in Northern Ireland, and really, all of us the world over?
It is a story that once again demonstrates that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him.(Romans 8:28)" It is amazing to think that even years of slavery could be used for good as preparation for the amazing mission that Patrick would later undertake.
It is also an amazing story of mission, and an example to inspire us to ask "where is it that God is asking me to take the gospel?"
Those are just some thoughts that I have had as I reflect on the day that was.