A WORD FOR 2019

I believe that many of us are spiritually dehydrated. [Physical] "Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated." - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086 Left unaddressed it can lead to serious and life-threatening complications. On Sunday, I shared that the natural symptoms (early manifestations and warnings) of physical dehydration parallel the spiritual. Symptoms include: Extreme thirst [you feel that you are spiritually in a dry land; that you are parched; that you are tempted to drink or having been drinking liquids that will lead only to further dehydration.] Less frequent urination [unable to regularly discharge toxins and they build up; there's a toxicity - a darkness - a cloud - a bitterness [...]

A WORD FOR 20192018-12-31T13:42:32-07:00

IS IT A TRICK OR TREAT?

Christian parents struggle with Halloween. It's a day where our city celebrates (plays with) evil and death. It proves the blindness and naivety that much of our world has to the reality of Satan/evil (as well as the good side of the spiritual). Like Christmas, it's history and contemporary practice is a melting pot of morphed beliefs and practices. Each person has a unique (tailored or naive) perspective on it and its various traditions. And like Christmas, it can be used for good or bad. (Christmas can be wonderful if you forget about the people that suffered to make your Walmart toy, the impact that toy will have on the planet, the materialism and entitlement we teach our children in that season, and the debt that we incurred from buying it). Don't worry, I still think Christmas is [...]

IS IT A TRICK OR TREAT?2018-09-27T12:02:24-07:00

Christians & SOGI

[Background: SOGI stands for Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity. It is the name for recently approved resource for BC teachers (public and private). You can read all about it at www.sogieducation.org.]. Every Christian should be deeply troubled by the health of the church and our society. Troubled but not frantic. This a response to Christians that, like Chicken Little, believe the sky is falling due to SOGI. First, the sky isn't falling and it is falling. Christians that believe the Bible, know that the sky is never really falling (in a chaotic sense) because Jesus is at the helm and He is working an eternal plan that is good. And yet, Christians that believe the Bible, know that the sky will fall (is falling) and that in those days (the here and now) Christians will get caught in [...]

Christians & SOGI2018-04-24T07:39:50-07:00

SIX WAYS TO MAINTAIN ATTACHMENT WHEN USING DAYCARE

The issue of how to care for children while pursuing career has been with us for many decades. We know what parents prefer: 76% of Canadians believe it is best for children under six to be at home with at least one parent. If parents cannot be home, they prefer options closest to the home environment, starting with relatives, then a neighbourhood home daycare, followed by other arrangements. The last choice for their children is centre-based daycare. Yet the same issue remains regardless of what form of care we must use, be it relatives, small neighbourhood daycares, a nanny, family members or centre-based care. How do we successfully pursue and maintain good attachment for small children? What does good attachment even mean? This article offers suggestions in response to these questions. READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE: https://www.cardus.ca/research/family/5144/six-ways-to-maintain-attachment-when-using-daycare/

SIX WAYS TO MAINTAIN ATTACHMENT WHEN USING DAYCARE2017-10-26T11:51:28-07:00

HANNAH’S TRIP TO MEXICO

I received the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Vicente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico from August 2-16, 2017, with a few people from our youth group this year. Members of our group joined with other church groups and together we journeyed South on a coach bus. Travelling together brought me so close to people who, two weeks earlier, were strangers to me. I wish I never had to leave this group of people because they have really become family to me. I didn't think you could become so close to people in that short amount of time. Some may think that the bus ride would be terrible, but the bus rides were some of the best bonding times. At the orphanage, we stayed in the visitor centre. Every day, we would eat our meals in the [...]

HANNAH’S TRIP TO MEXICO2017-08-29T15:04:05-07:00

RESOURCES ON HOMOSEXUALITY

In preparation for Sunday's message, here are some of the resources I found helpful: Is God Anti-Gay?: and other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attraction by Sam Allberry "Updated and revised edition 2015 It's the hot topic of the moment. Christians, the church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes towards homosexuality. And there is growing hostility towards those who hold a different view to the culture's. So is God homophobic? And how do we relate to both Christians and non-Christians who experience same-sex attraction? In this short, simple book, Sam Allberry wants to help confused Christians understand what God has said about these questions in the scriptures. Drawing on his own experience, he offers a positive and liberating way forward through the debate. This revised and updated version includes [...]

RESOURCES ON HOMOSEXUALITY2017-07-15T17:08:20-07:00

SHOULD CHRISTIANS GET MARRIED?

1 Corinthians 7 is written as a response to some of the questions/views the church had about sex. Some thought sex was dirty (v.1); while others believed that because it's a sacred act, they shouldn’t stay married (‘one flesh’) with an unbelieving spouse (vv.10-16). Paul’s response is revolutionary for their day and ours as well. First, he says, sex in the context of a Biblical marriage isn’t dirty (vv.2-5). After all, if we remember from chapter six, sex is a gift from God designed to bring us closer to God and our spouse; as well as to show us that oneness with God and our spouse produces life. The Christian view of sex isn’t that it’s dirty, but that it’s sacred. No one on the planet has a higher view of sex than the Christian. We’re not narrow-minded, [...]

SHOULD CHRISTIANS GET MARRIED?2017-07-11T16:40:32-07:00

CHAINSAWS IN THE KITCHEN

Let's talk about sex. There are tools and then there are power tools. A power tool, unlike a hand tool, can do a lot of good or a lot of bad in a short amount of time. Take a chainsaw, it can cut a tree in a matter of seconds, but bring it into the kitchen and it's nothing but a mess. Casual sex is like a chainsaw in the kitchen. Sex is a power tool that in a matter of moments can do lots of good or a lot of bad. As humans, we were designed by God, just like a chainsaw was designed by its creator, for certain purposes. To use our bodies, brains and other components in ways other than our Creator intended causes all kinds of damage (to ourselves and others). A chainsaw used [...]

CHAINSAWS IN THE KITCHEN2017-07-04T15:35:45-07:00

THE MIND OF CHRIST: AN INSTALLATION GUIDE

Dovetailing with Sunday's message from Paul's words (1 Cor. 1:18-2:5) it's easy to talk about the mind of Christ, but it's another thing to install and operate the mind of Christ. Receiving the mind of Christ is a gift of grace accessed in response to His invitation to salvation through faith. It begins by hearing the Gospel and responding - by giving over one's life in faith to Jesus Christ. In that exchange, we are born again; made a new creation in Him. He gives us His Spirit to minister to ours. It is impossible to have the mind of Christ apart from His Spirit and His Spirit dwells only within those who He has made new. Additionally, we are to daily call out to God to pour out His Spirit on us that we might be equipped and [...]

THE MIND OF CHRIST: AN INSTALLATION GUIDE2017-05-24T09:50:16-07:00

THE DAY AFTER AN ELECTION

How is a Christian to live out political election results? We update our prayer lists. "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4 NIV) People of other political parties and religions are not the enemy; they are the ones we are called to love. It starts with prayer and aligning our heart with God's. We learn from those who voted differently than us. "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." (Proverbs 18:15 ESV) It's in our [...]

THE DAY AFTER AN ELECTION2017-05-10T12:05:17-07:00

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