Credibility, wrote James Kouzes and Barry Posner “ is the foundation on which leaders and constituents will build the grand dreams of the future. Without credibility, visions will fade and relationships will wither.”[i] The root origin of credibility is credo and means ‘I trust or believe.’
Paul intuitively knew this. His advice to his close friend Timothy was clear: Be a leader; be a leader who teaches rightly, who lives rightly and who seeks to please God. And then, and only then, will you be credible enough to be trusted.
And the result is good. Problems resolve. Divisions dissolve. God’s people mature.
These are probably some of the reasons why Paul sent the letter to Timothy, who was leading a struggling church. The message, now codified in the Bible as 1Timothy, is the first letter in the New Testament that Paul wrote to an individual and not to a church.
It’s also the book my friend Joel and I have decided to study together. This is the first in a series of postings that will examine 1 Timothy.
Paul recognized Timothy’s leadership abilities before assigning him to pastor the church. Timothy “was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium” and “genuinely concerned” for the welfare of the believers at Epaphroditus (Acts 16:2, Philippians 2:20).
He was a humble servant, who nearly died for the sake of the Gospel. “But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served me with the gospel,” wrote Paul (Philippians 2:22) He also understood grappling with the challenge of integrating cultures. His mom was a Jewish believer and his dad was a Greek (Acts 16:1).
Paul was aware of Timothy’s gifts, but he also knew his younger brother needed encouragement. Paul exhorted his friend not to let anyone look down on him because of his youth (4:12), not to neglect the spiritual gifts he had received (4:14), and not to be ashamed to speak the gospel boldly (2 Timothy 1:8).
Timothy had to speak truthfully because his church was being torn apart by false teachers. Indeed, Paul wanted Timothy to stay in Ephesus because of the presence of false teachers in the city (1 Timothy 1:3). Paul warned the Ephesians elders that false teachers would plague the church.
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31).
Sadly, Paul’s prediction came true. (1 Timothy 1:6).
And that brings us back to credibility because the false teachers won the trust and led astray some of the church members. To prevent further heresy, Paul encourages Timothy to scrutinize the other leaders in the church and establish clear requirements for leadership.
Paul is confident in Timothy because he sees within him an understanding that true Christian leadership always involves knowing and teaching the truth, loving God above personal gain, and a willingness to lay down one’s life for the sheep.
“True Christian leadership always involves that kind of love, because such love is the gospel,”[ii] said Mark Dever.
To that end, Paul urges Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” and “guard the deposit entrusted to you.” (1 Timothy 6:11, 20). Anything less threatens his leadership and imperils his credibility.
[i] James Kouzes, Barry Posner, Credibility How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It. San Franciso: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1993, p. 22.
[ii] Mark Dever, Promises Kept: The Message of the New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2005, p. 355.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Tolerant?
For a woman so dedicated to promoting tolerance, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church, has the unfortunate tendency to insult large chunks of the American people.
In a recent interview with the New York Times she was asked a simple question. How many members does your church have?
“About 2.2 million. It used to be larger percentagewise, but Episcopalians tend to be better-educated and tend to reproduce at lower rates than some other denominations. Roman Catholics and Mormons both have theological reasons for producing lots of children.”[i]
Perhaps.
But then she was asked: ‘Episcopalians aren’t interested in replenishing their ranks by having children?’[ii]
She replied, “No. It’s probably the opposite. We encourage people to pay attention to the stewardship of the earth and not use more than their portion.”
In other words, large Mormon and Catholic families are immoral because they impose a disproportionate burden on the environment .
Mark Steyn noted, “Even in their vigorous embrace of gay bishoprics and all the rest, I don't recall the Episcopalians formally embracing the strategy that worked out so swell for the Shakers and enshrining a disapproval of reproduction at the heart of their doctrine.”[iii]
[i] Deborah Solomon, "State of the Church." New York Times. 19 Nov. 2006. Accessed 27 Nov. 2006. Available:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/magazine/
19WWLN_Q4.html?ex=1321592400&en=75d6d152dbba
85f3&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Mark Steyn, “Quartet of ladies shows where we're headed” Sun-Times, 26 Nov. 2006. Accessed 27 Nov. 2006. Available:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/149527,CST-EDT-steyn26.articleprint
In a recent interview with the New York Times she was asked a simple question. How many members does your church have?
“About 2.2 million. It used to be larger percentagewise, but Episcopalians tend to be better-educated and tend to reproduce at lower rates than some other denominations. Roman Catholics and Mormons both have theological reasons for producing lots of children.”[i]
Perhaps.
But then she was asked: ‘Episcopalians aren’t interested in replenishing their ranks by having children?’[ii]
She replied, “No. It’s probably the opposite. We encourage people to pay attention to the stewardship of the earth and not use more than their portion.”
In other words, large Mormon and Catholic families are immoral because they impose a disproportionate burden on the environment .
Mark Steyn noted, “Even in their vigorous embrace of gay bishoprics and all the rest, I don't recall the Episcopalians formally embracing the strategy that worked out so swell for the Shakers and enshrining a disapproval of reproduction at the heart of their doctrine.”[iii]
[i] Deborah Solomon, "State of the Church." New York Times. 19 Nov. 2006. Accessed 27 Nov. 2006. Available:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/magazine/
19WWLN_Q4.html?ex=1321592400&en=75d6d152dbba
85f3&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Mark Steyn, “Quartet of ladies shows where we're headed” Sun-Times, 26 Nov. 2006. Accessed 27 Nov. 2006. Available:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/149527,CST-EDT-steyn26.articleprint
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The Obedience of Christ
The following is adapted from a Theological Note in the Reformation Study Bible.
The three Persons of the Trinity are eternal and self-existent, having equally all aspects and attributes of deity, and always acting together. But the Persons are distinct in their mutual relationships. This is revealed in the submission of Christ to the Father’s will, and also in the way that the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son to confirm the work of salvation in human hearts.
The Father’s will for Christ is sometimes called the covenant of redemption because a ‘covenant’ is an agreement between two parties. The Westminster Confession summarizes the agreement (the Father’s purpose, accepted by the Son) as follows:
‘It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only-begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophets, Priest, and King; the Head and Saviour of His Church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom He did, from all eternity, give a people to be His seed, and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified and glorified’ (Westminster Confession, VIII. 1).
Christ fulfilled this covenant through two stages called His ‘humiliation’ and His ‘exaltation.’ In his humiliation, He left behind the eternal glory that was His, taking on a perfect and complete human nature: body, soul, and spirit. Through His incarnation He lived a life of poverty and suffering. He was rejected by His nation, finally to die the shameful death of a common criminal (2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 3:13)
In His exaltation, Christ rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and reigns as King over the world and the church. Together with the Father, He has sent the Holy Spirit to complete the work of redemption that He won for us.
The three Persons of the Trinity are eternal and self-existent, having equally all aspects and attributes of deity, and always acting together. But the Persons are distinct in their mutual relationships. This is revealed in the submission of Christ to the Father’s will, and also in the way that the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son to confirm the work of salvation in human hearts.
The Father’s will for Christ is sometimes called the covenant of redemption because a ‘covenant’ is an agreement between two parties. The Westminster Confession summarizes the agreement (the Father’s purpose, accepted by the Son) as follows:
‘It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only-begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophets, Priest, and King; the Head and Saviour of His Church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom He did, from all eternity, give a people to be His seed, and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified and glorified’ (Westminster Confession, VIII. 1).
Christ fulfilled this covenant through two stages called His ‘humiliation’ and His ‘exaltation.’ In his humiliation, He left behind the eternal glory that was His, taking on a perfect and complete human nature: body, soul, and spirit. Through His incarnation He lived a life of poverty and suffering. He was rejected by His nation, finally to die the shameful death of a common criminal (2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 3:13)
In His exaltation, Christ rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and reigns as King over the world and the church. Together with the Father, He has sent the Holy Spirit to complete the work of redemption that He won for us.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Canadian Baptists
I’ve experienced a cross section of the Canadian Baptist world. I was baptized in a Southern Baptist (CCSB) congregation in the baptismal tank of a Convention Baptist Church. I attended an independent Baptist church for a year, and am now a member of a Fellowship Baptist church.
I’m reading a collection of essays on Canadian Baptist History in a book published ten years ago called Memory and Hope: Strands of Canadian Baptist History.
One of the essays looks at well-known early 19th century Baptist leaders, most of whom had their share of oddities. William Aberhart, who was premier of Alberta from 1935 to 1943, led a church that used the “Jesus only” baptismal formula. He also believed in British-Israelism, which stressed the manifest destiny of Great Britain in future world affairs.[i]
I found the history of Thomas Todhunter Shields most interesting. Rev. Shields led Toronto’s Jarvis Street Baptist Church (the pastor at the independent church I attended used to serve here). Jarvis Street was Canada’s largest Baptist church in the early 20th century. Known for his fundamentalism, and criticism of the Baptist McMaster University, he created a rift among Canadian Baptists.
Because of his disruptive activities he was read out of his convention and started his own. This denomination split only a few years later, and eventually helped to form the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches. He became acting president of a Bible college in Iowa, which the state was forced to close in 1929 because of faculty controversies and student riots (!) over Shield’s leadership.[ii] It was also rumoured that Shields had an affair with the school’s secretary.
Perhaps most tragic is that TT Shields wasn’t always so eccentric. He was known to preach consistent solid Christ-centred messages before 1918. “Shield’s evangelical beliefs failed to point away from themselves to the person of Jesus Christ because he moved from a Trinitarian to a Christomonistic position in which Christ was defined in monophysitic and docetic terms. This so distanced the Redeemer from humanity that Christ’s mediatorial role was lost and a vacuum was left into which Shields placed the Scriptures, which were treated in the same manner as he once had treated the person of Christ.”[iii]
As he grew older he became obsessed with secondary doctrine and legalistic practices. It’s a wonderful reminder for believers to remain steadfast in sound doctrine.
[i] David Elliott, "Three Faces of Baptist Fundamentalism in Canada: Aberhart, Maxwell, and Shields." In David Prestley, ed. Memory and Hope: Strands of Canadian Baptist History, Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1996, pp. 171-182 (173)
[ii] Ibid, p. 179.
[iii] Mark Parent, “The Irony of Fundamentalism: T.T. Shields and the Person of Christ." In David Prestley, ed. Memory and Hope: Strands of Canadian Baptist History, Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1996, pp. 183-196 (194).
I’m reading a collection of essays on Canadian Baptist History in a book published ten years ago called Memory and Hope: Strands of Canadian Baptist History.
One of the essays looks at well-known early 19th century Baptist leaders, most of whom had their share of oddities. William Aberhart, who was premier of Alberta from 1935 to 1943, led a church that used the “Jesus only” baptismal formula. He also believed in British-Israelism, which stressed the manifest destiny of Great Britain in future world affairs.[i]
I found the history of Thomas Todhunter Shields most interesting. Rev. Shields led Toronto’s Jarvis Street Baptist Church (the pastor at the independent church I attended used to serve here). Jarvis Street was Canada’s largest Baptist church in the early 20th century. Known for his fundamentalism, and criticism of the Baptist McMaster University, he created a rift among Canadian Baptists.
Because of his disruptive activities he was read out of his convention and started his own. This denomination split only a few years later, and eventually helped to form the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches. He became acting president of a Bible college in Iowa, which the state was forced to close in 1929 because of faculty controversies and student riots (!) over Shield’s leadership.[ii] It was also rumoured that Shields had an affair with the school’s secretary.
Perhaps most tragic is that TT Shields wasn’t always so eccentric. He was known to preach consistent solid Christ-centred messages before 1918. “Shield’s evangelical beliefs failed to point away from themselves to the person of Jesus Christ because he moved from a Trinitarian to a Christomonistic position in which Christ was defined in monophysitic and docetic terms. This so distanced the Redeemer from humanity that Christ’s mediatorial role was lost and a vacuum was left into which Shields placed the Scriptures, which were treated in the same manner as he once had treated the person of Christ.”[iii]
As he grew older he became obsessed with secondary doctrine and legalistic practices. It’s a wonderful reminder for believers to remain steadfast in sound doctrine.
[i] David Elliott, "Three Faces of Baptist Fundamentalism in Canada: Aberhart, Maxwell, and Shields." In David Prestley, ed. Memory and Hope: Strands of Canadian Baptist History, Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1996, pp. 171-182 (173)
[ii] Ibid, p. 179.
[iii] Mark Parent, “The Irony of Fundamentalism: T.T. Shields and the Person of Christ." In David Prestley, ed. Memory and Hope: Strands of Canadian Baptist History, Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1996, pp. 183-196 (194).
Friday, November 24, 2006
CUSA & Abortion
Early next month the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) council will vote to amend the campus discrimination policy to state that “no CUSA resources, space, recognition or funding be allocated for anti-choice purposes.”
The Charlatan article can be found here.
http://www.charlatan.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18052&Itemid=26
I sent an e-mail to the woman who tabled this motion, as well as a brief response to the editorial in the Charlatan (which also opposed this amendment).
Interestingly, I borrowed “A Christian Manifesto” by Francis Schaeffer from the Queen’s library today before I learned about the story at Carleton.
Schaeffer makes an incredibly strong argument for Christians to be engaged in public discourse on matters of moral and social implications. Writing in the early 1980s, he felt that abortion was the premier social crises facing the North American Church.
In my first year law class at Carleton, we discussed abortion – and I was the only student in the class of 50 + who spoke against the practice. Indeed, it’s become so accepted and normalized that, as the issue at Carleton demonstrates, opposing views have become incredibly unpalatable to many.
In the Manifesto, Schaeffer argues that the clash of worldviews (Christian vs Humanism) has tremendous implications for public policy. He writes, “These two world views stand as totals in complete antithesis to each other in content and also in their natural results – including sociological and governmental results, and specifically including law.”[i]
Humanism, Schaeffer argues, “is the placing of Man at the center of all things and making him the measure of all things.”[ii]
But Christians know better. For we recognize that “for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
[i] Francis Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto, Westchester, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1981, p. 18.
[ii] Ibid, p. 23.
The Charlatan article can be found here.
http://www.charlatan.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18052&Itemid=26
I sent an e-mail to the woman who tabled this motion, as well as a brief response to the editorial in the Charlatan (which also opposed this amendment).
Interestingly, I borrowed “A Christian Manifesto” by Francis Schaeffer from the Queen’s library today before I learned about the story at Carleton.
Schaeffer makes an incredibly strong argument for Christians to be engaged in public discourse on matters of moral and social implications. Writing in the early 1980s, he felt that abortion was the premier social crises facing the North American Church.
In my first year law class at Carleton, we discussed abortion – and I was the only student in the class of 50 + who spoke against the practice. Indeed, it’s become so accepted and normalized that, as the issue at Carleton demonstrates, opposing views have become incredibly unpalatable to many.
In the Manifesto, Schaeffer argues that the clash of worldviews (Christian vs Humanism) has tremendous implications for public policy. He writes, “These two world views stand as totals in complete antithesis to each other in content and also in their natural results – including sociological and governmental results, and specifically including law.”[i]
Humanism, Schaeffer argues, “is the placing of Man at the center of all things and making him the measure of all things.”[ii]
But Christians know better. For we recognize that “for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
[i] Francis Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto, Westchester, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1981, p. 18.
[ii] Ibid, p. 23.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Ebenezer & Heel Lifted Friends
I learned that Ebenezer (mentioned in 1 Samuel) means ‘stone of help’.
A few days ago I stumbled across Psalm 41:9.
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”
I sure can relate to David – even more so when I read the commentary in the Reformation Bible.
“For this idiom see Genesis 25:19-26, where the noun ‘heel’ is connected with the verb ‘to deceive’ the point is that the psalmist’s close friend has betrayed him in his moment of need. He is abandoned by everyone.”
Lord, if only this wasn’t the case. Yet it is. So, please give me the ability (and desire) to forgive, as well as the decency to avoid lifting my heel against my friends.
A few days ago I stumbled across Psalm 41:9.
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”
I sure can relate to David – even more so when I read the commentary in the Reformation Bible.
“For this idiom see Genesis 25:19-26, where the noun ‘heel’ is connected with the verb ‘to deceive’ the point is that the psalmist’s close friend has betrayed him in his moment of need. He is abandoned by everyone.”
Lord, if only this wasn’t the case. Yet it is. So, please give me the ability (and desire) to forgive, as well as the decency to avoid lifting my heel against my friends.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Psalm 39
I said, ‘I will’ guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make the scorn of the fool! I am mute; I do not open my mouth for it is you who have done it. Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand. When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is mere breath! Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!
Psalm 39 1-13 (ESV)
Psalm 39 1-13 (ESV)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Northern Light
I just finished watching a CBC documentary about the history of Griese Fiord, Nunavut, Canada’s most northern community. The government moved seven families from northern Quebec in the 1950s. The poorly selected location spelt tremendous hardship for the families, and the settlement was eventually moved to another location approximately 8 km away.
The man who was profiled was among the initial settlers. His dad died shortly after they arrived. As a young adult he fell into depression and substance abuse. But that changed, when God converted him. He’s now a leader in his community and in the North.
The once-a-year supply ship arrived at the town while the reporter was in town. With little room to store frozen food, he decided to buy a refrigerator. It was delightful to watch his self-deprecating humour and his recognition of the irony in, as he put it, an "Eskimo buying a refrigerator."
Despite being treated poorly by the government as a child, he says he is a loyal Canadian. He flies the Maple leaf and helps to patrol the north.
Praise God for seeing fit to regenerate this man and for raising him up as a leader in the Inuit community!
The man who was profiled was among the initial settlers. His dad died shortly after they arrived. As a young adult he fell into depression and substance abuse. But that changed, when God converted him. He’s now a leader in his community and in the North.
The once-a-year supply ship arrived at the town while the reporter was in town. With little room to store frozen food, he decided to buy a refrigerator. It was delightful to watch his self-deprecating humour and his recognition of the irony in, as he put it, an "Eskimo buying a refrigerator."
Despite being treated poorly by the government as a child, he says he is a loyal Canadian. He flies the Maple leaf and helps to patrol the north.
Praise God for seeing fit to regenerate this man and for raising him up as a leader in the Inuit community!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Another Sunday
Another Sunday… another frustrating sermon peppered with pop culture, personal stories and light lessons. Plus, the opening 4-minute prayer included sixty (60!) utterances of ‘Lord’. Oye. I believe we are all aware of Whom is being addressed.
'Accept' Christ?
I was pleased to learn A.W. Tozer and I independently came to the same conclusion. Although the phrase ‘accept Christ” is a common phrase in the evangelical world lexicon, it’s one that is dishonest to the Scriptures. That phrase does not appear in the Bible, and instead reflects the view among some that people play an active role in their conversation. I use the term ‘received Christ’ instead.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Pharaoh’s Hard Heart
A year ago I had a conversation about Pharaoh. The person I was speaking to said that ‘he hardened his heart’ while I said that ‘God hardened his heart.’ Both of us are correct.
In fact, this is a good example of the relation between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. About half the time Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15); the rest of the time God is said to harden it (Exodus 4:21; Romans 9:17,18). God’s sovereignty does not diminish people’s responsibility for their own actions. God can punish wilful sin by taking away the power to repent. (Joshua 11:20; Romans 1:24, 26, 28).
In fact, this is a good example of the relation between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. About half the time Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15); the rest of the time God is said to harden it (Exodus 4:21; Romans 9:17,18). God’s sovereignty does not diminish people’s responsibility for their own actions. God can punish wilful sin by taking away the power to repent. (Joshua 11:20; Romans 1:24, 26, 28).
Friday, November 17, 2006
Nearer To Thee
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God . (Psalm 84:1-2).
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:15-21).
The Scripture verses above and the passage below encourage me to draw nearer to the Lord and rejoice that He has enlightened the eyes of my heart that I may know the 'riches of His glorious inheritance' and the 'the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe' so that I may 'drink of the dew of gladness.' The following is an excerpt from a book called The Vision of God written by Nicholas of Cusa in 1453.
Now I behold as in a mirror, in an icon, in a riddle, life eternal, for that is naught other than that blessed regard wherewith Thou never ceasest most lovingly to behold me, yea, even the secret places of my soul. With Thee, to behold is to give life; 'tis unceasingly to impart sweetest love of Thee; 'tis to inflame me to love of Thee by love's imparting, and to feed me by inflaming, and by feeding to kindle my yearnings, and by kindling to make me drink of the dew of gladness, and by drinking to infuse in me a fountain of life, and by infusing to make it increase and endure. 'Tis to cause me to share Thine immortality, to endow me with the glory imperishable of Thy heavenly and most high and most mighty kingdom, 'tis to make me partaker of that inheritance which is only of Thy Son, so stablish me in possession of eternal bliss. There is the source of all delights that can be desired; not only can naught better be thought out by men and angels, but naught better can exist in any mode of being! For it is the absolute maximum of every rational desire, than which a greater cannot be.[i]
[i] Nicholas of Cusa, The Vision of God. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1453 (1960), p. 17-18.
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:15-21).
The Scripture verses above and the passage below encourage me to draw nearer to the Lord and rejoice that He has enlightened the eyes of my heart that I may know the 'riches of His glorious inheritance' and the 'the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe' so that I may 'drink of the dew of gladness.' The following is an excerpt from a book called The Vision of God written by Nicholas of Cusa in 1453.
Now I behold as in a mirror, in an icon, in a riddle, life eternal, for that is naught other than that blessed regard wherewith Thou never ceasest most lovingly to behold me, yea, even the secret places of my soul. With Thee, to behold is to give life; 'tis unceasingly to impart sweetest love of Thee; 'tis to inflame me to love of Thee by love's imparting, and to feed me by inflaming, and by feeding to kindle my yearnings, and by kindling to make me drink of the dew of gladness, and by drinking to infuse in me a fountain of life, and by infusing to make it increase and endure. 'Tis to cause me to share Thine immortality, to endow me with the glory imperishable of Thy heavenly and most high and most mighty kingdom, 'tis to make me partaker of that inheritance which is only of Thy Son, so stablish me in possession of eternal bliss. There is the source of all delights that can be desired; not only can naught better be thought out by men and angels, but naught better can exist in any mode of being! For it is the absolute maximum of every rational desire, than which a greater cannot be.[i]
[i] Nicholas of Cusa, The Vision of God. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1453 (1960), p. 17-18.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Yew hoo! Over here!
The headline of an online Macleans article about the results of the Ontario municipal elections said it all:
"Believe it or not, Ontarians outside Toronto and Ottawa voted in municipal elections this week, too"
I spent some time trolling Canada’s national media outlets (in vain) for mention of the results in my hometown. I was struck at how Toronto-Ottawa focused all of the coverage was.
"Believe it or not, Ontarians outside Toronto and Ottawa voted in municipal elections this week, too"
I spent some time trolling Canada’s national media outlets (in vain) for mention of the results in my hometown. I was struck at how Toronto-Ottawa focused all of the coverage was.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Our God Reigns
A beautiful and chilling song by Delirious?
Our God Reigns
Forty million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,
It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace
If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?
The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.
One hundred million faces, staring at the sky,
Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.
The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,
But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.
Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.
The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.
Yes He reigns, yes you reign, yes you reign,
For there is only one true God,
But we’ve lost the reins on this world,
Forgive us all, forgive us please,
As we fight for this broken world on our knees.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Lest We Forget
Remembrance Day Prayer
Lord, as we remember today those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to secure freedom, may we honour them today with our prayers. Thank you for granting to all of the soldiers courage to defend our freedom. I pray for those serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and other volatile regions. Please protect them. For those whom are among your church, I pray that they will cleave to Christ. This is my plea. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen
Friday, November 10, 2006
‘Charity’ Trickery
Three news stories in the last half hour compelled me to think about charitable giving.
A short clip on television documented a growing problem of seniors receiving telephone calls from people pretending to be their grandchildren. The ‘grandchildren’ say they are in trouble and need money fast. Many of the seniors wire the con artists money or provide credit card information.
In Toronto a man who claimed his family desperately needed financial help bilked a man out of thousands of dollars. The man was targeted because he was a member of a church and the accused was found to have a list of phone numbers for hundreds of churches in the GTA. Even more distributing was that when the victim ran into his own financial difficulties and he was unable to give more money, the con man threatened to kill him.[i]
Peter Foster wrote a good article in today’s Financial Post about what he labels ‘aggressive corporate panhandling’; customers being guilt tripped into donating a few bucks to a charity as they pay for their purchases. He refers to a current campaign raising money for ‘hungry children.’ The store I work at is involved in this initiative.
It’s not the first time I’ve been forced to evaluate my participation in such activities.
This summer I refused to obey instructions at work. I never do that. I will do almost anything; clean toilets, push carts through slush, toss leaky garbage bags into the smelly garbage chute. But I refused to convince customers to buy a ticket as part of a one-day push to generate sales of the charitable tickets.
The woman who came that day specifically to ‘encourage’ us to get the customers to buy the tickets grew frustrated with me because I sold no tickets. Indeed she was so concerned she asked another staff member whether I wasn’t feeling well because she thought I wasn’t my normal self.
When I explained I was uncomfortable flogging a gambling-related fundraiser, she understood and became less hostile. I was also weary of pressuring people into donating and figured that if they wanted to buy a ticket, they would tell me.
The current campaign, as Mr. Foster points out, in even more scandalous because it’s based on erroneous information. Namely that 1 in 5 Canadian children lives in hunger. This figure was borrowed by data provided by Campaign 2000, a coalition of activists.
It’s an estimate of “those who live below the so-called low income cutoff (LICO), a complex measure that was never intended by Statistics Canada as a ‘poverty line.’”[ii] Further, the reporter notes “activists define poverty in relative terms then equate it with absolute poverty, that is, the lack of the 'basic necessities of life.'”
According to Professor Chris Sarlo, an economist at the University of Nipissing, the child poverty rate in Canada was actually 5.8 % in 2004 (a decline from 10.9 % in 1996). But he is also quick to point out that even this figure shouldn’t be equated with living in hunger.
Christians are called to help the poor. (James 2) When James says that faith without works is dead, he is describing a faith that knows the gospel but has fallen short of trust in God.
But we must also remain on guard for those who seek to take advantage whether by tall tales told by dishonest people or figures that are high on shock value but low on accuracy.
[i] Joanna Smith, "Con artist targeted good Samaritans, police say". The Toronto Star. 10 Nov. 2006. Available
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&
pubid=968163964505&cid=1163156591601&col=968705899037&call_
page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News
[ii] Peter Foster, "Define poverty, stop poverty fraud". Financial Post. 10 Nov. 2006. Available
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/columnists/story.html?id=9b843b7b-79a3-4b01-bfcc-4c2bf8d6f214
A short clip on television documented a growing problem of seniors receiving telephone calls from people pretending to be their grandchildren. The ‘grandchildren’ say they are in trouble and need money fast. Many of the seniors wire the con artists money or provide credit card information.
In Toronto a man who claimed his family desperately needed financial help bilked a man out of thousands of dollars. The man was targeted because he was a member of a church and the accused was found to have a list of phone numbers for hundreds of churches in the GTA. Even more distributing was that when the victim ran into his own financial difficulties and he was unable to give more money, the con man threatened to kill him.[i]
Peter Foster wrote a good article in today’s Financial Post about what he labels ‘aggressive corporate panhandling’; customers being guilt tripped into donating a few bucks to a charity as they pay for their purchases. He refers to a current campaign raising money for ‘hungry children.’ The store I work at is involved in this initiative.
It’s not the first time I’ve been forced to evaluate my participation in such activities.
This summer I refused to obey instructions at work. I never do that. I will do almost anything; clean toilets, push carts through slush, toss leaky garbage bags into the smelly garbage chute. But I refused to convince customers to buy a ticket as part of a one-day push to generate sales of the charitable tickets.
The woman who came that day specifically to ‘encourage’ us to get the customers to buy the tickets grew frustrated with me because I sold no tickets. Indeed she was so concerned she asked another staff member whether I wasn’t feeling well because she thought I wasn’t my normal self.
When I explained I was uncomfortable flogging a gambling-related fundraiser, she understood and became less hostile. I was also weary of pressuring people into donating and figured that if they wanted to buy a ticket, they would tell me.
The current campaign, as Mr. Foster points out, in even more scandalous because it’s based on erroneous information. Namely that 1 in 5 Canadian children lives in hunger. This figure was borrowed by data provided by Campaign 2000, a coalition of activists.
It’s an estimate of “those who live below the so-called low income cutoff (LICO), a complex measure that was never intended by Statistics Canada as a ‘poverty line.’”[ii] Further, the reporter notes “activists define poverty in relative terms then equate it with absolute poverty, that is, the lack of the 'basic necessities of life.'”
According to Professor Chris Sarlo, an economist at the University of Nipissing, the child poverty rate in Canada was actually 5.8 % in 2004 (a decline from 10.9 % in 1996). But he is also quick to point out that even this figure shouldn’t be equated with living in hunger.
Christians are called to help the poor. (James 2) When James says that faith without works is dead, he is describing a faith that knows the gospel but has fallen short of trust in God.
But we must also remain on guard for those who seek to take advantage whether by tall tales told by dishonest people or figures that are high on shock value but low on accuracy.
[i] Joanna Smith, "Con artist targeted good Samaritans, police say". The Toronto Star. 10 Nov. 2006. Available
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&
pubid=968163964505&cid=1163156591601&col=968705899037&call_
page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News
[ii] Peter Foster, "Define poverty, stop poverty fraud". Financial Post. 10 Nov. 2006. Available
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/columnists/story.html?id=9b843b7b-79a3-4b01-bfcc-4c2bf8d6f214
Monday, November 06, 2006
Elections Excitement
I love elections. I enjoy the build-up, the pre-election commentary and pundit predictions. After elections, I comb through the results studying the numbers and read the post-election analysis. I’ve been counting down the days to tomorrow which is the mid-term election in the United States.
I’m also looking forward to the municipal election on November 13. One of the benefits of living in a smaller community is that I personally know many of the candidates.
There are four (three serious) candidates vying to earn the mayor’s chair of my town. I’ve known one of the candidates for about six years. Another is married to a former boss and is a frequent customer at the store I work at. I met the third candidate a few hours ago. He and his wife stopped by to shake hands as I was raking leaves.
I cannot understand why many Canadians (and Americans) don’t vote. It’s especially troubling that some Christians refuse to take part in elections.
John Piper wrote, “The Lord Jesus does not give us this luxury of disengagement. He says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Caesar—even pagan Caesar—has his claim on our lives. Why? Because God Almighty, whom we serve above all men, made human governments his way of running the world. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).”[i]
The Westminister Catechism of Faith puts it this way: “God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers.”
It continues, “It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute or other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted, much less hath the pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense whatsoever.”
At a time such as this, it’s good to reflect on the responsibility God has tasked His people to engage with the political process and pray for leaders of our countries and cities.
[i] John Piper, Why Vote If You Are Disillusioned? October 24, 2004. Accessed 6 November 2006. Available: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/
I’m also looking forward to the municipal election on November 13. One of the benefits of living in a smaller community is that I personally know many of the candidates.
There are four (three serious) candidates vying to earn the mayor’s chair of my town. I’ve known one of the candidates for about six years. Another is married to a former boss and is a frequent customer at the store I work at. I met the third candidate a few hours ago. He and his wife stopped by to shake hands as I was raking leaves.
I cannot understand why many Canadians (and Americans) don’t vote. It’s especially troubling that some Christians refuse to take part in elections.
John Piper wrote, “The Lord Jesus does not give us this luxury of disengagement. He says, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Caesar—even pagan Caesar—has his claim on our lives. Why? Because God Almighty, whom we serve above all men, made human governments his way of running the world. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).”[i]
The Westminister Catechism of Faith puts it this way: “God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to be, under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers.”
It continues, “It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute or other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted, much less hath the pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense whatsoever.”
At a time such as this, it’s good to reflect on the responsibility God has tasked His people to engage with the political process and pray for leaders of our countries and cities.
[i] John Piper, Why Vote If You Are Disillusioned? October 24, 2004. Accessed 6 November 2006. Available: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/
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