Why we are saved
I came across a great podcast yesterday, which was an interview with Rob Bell who wrote
Velvet Elvis and is behind the
Nooma dvds. He was talking about some of his ideas, and one being that the church exists, and we are saved, to do good works. It's not the entirity of of why we're saved and we're not saved just because we do good works, but it seems that it should be a natural result of surrendering our lives to Jesus.
Check out Hebrews 10:23-25. It's the classic verse used when people say that they don't want to go to church. "Well, you know Hebrews says don't forsake meeting together ..." However I think there's more to what the writer is saying then that. It says:
23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Think of ways to encourage one another to
outbursts of love and good deeds. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
That portion seems to be talking about more then just gathering together. Instead it hints to the reason behind our gathering. And that is to encourage each other to do good, and love others. There is so much to this whole idea, that I feel like it's going to take me some time to put it all together. But, I find the idea refreshing. I was saved, in part, in order to do good to others. Simple. Beautiful.
A wave is coming
A heat wave that is :) I don't know anything about Farenheit, but it does make temperatures look impressive!!
The Story is being written
I came across a really great thought while reading Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the other day. Sam and Frodo are having a discussion about if anyone will remember their quest in the future, and what folks may say when they talk about the quest to destroy the Ring. Sam is talking about his memory of the stories he grew up hearing, about how a hero obtained a Simaril (think magical jewel) from a villian, and how powerful those stories were. He then realizes that the "light" that Frodo was given from Galadadriel is part of that same Simaril that he heard about in those old tales. So, the adventure that started many years ago, is continuing to unfold through the story of Sam and Frodo.
I think our lives can be viewed in the same way. There is a Story that we belong to. It started with Adam and Eve, continued with Abraham, Moses, and David. Jesus is part of the Story, in fact His presence in the Story changed everything, and took the story in a very different tangent, expanding to encompass the entire world in the same Story. Apostles, missionaries, pastors, and parents have had a role to play in the Story.
Here today, we can choose to join in, and be a part of the Story also. The Story of those who have lived revolutionary lives that do not look the culture that they're surrounded in. The Story of those who have realized that they need God, and put their entire trust in Him. The Story that there is a conclusion that we're living for which is worth putting all our effort in. There are pitfalls, and villians, heros and sidekicks, many chapters and many twists.
How amazing that the Story that God started, is still be written through the lives of seemingly normal people who say "yes" to pursuing a Kingdom that they cannot see, and won't fully realize in this life!
I'm outta prison!!!
Okay, maybe I better explain that title!! I've had an ongoing saga with Revenue Canada. I received a letter from them in March explaining that I would not be getting my GST cheque for April because I had be incarcerated in a prison or a similiar institution!!!!!!!!!!!! I was like, umm... last time I checked I'm pretty sure I've never been in prison! So I called one their agents, pleaded my case, and he said that he'd try to sort it out.
Fast forward a couple of months. I receive another letter from Revenue Canada, they say that I need to contact Corrections Canada and prove to Revenue Canada that I have never been in prison! I think that's kinda weird, I have to PROVE to them that I'm a law abiding citzen... but if that's what I had to do ....sigh. So I went down the RCMP, got a Criminal Records check, yep just like I thought ... I'm not a criminal. So I sent that away to the Surrey Tax Centre.
Finally today I received a call that they are striking from my record that I have ever been in prison, and will be sending me my GST cheques. Whew, good news! It reminds me of Lord of the Rings when Treebeard tells the hobbits that the Ents have been talking all morning and have finally decided .... "you are not Orcs". lol Well, if nothing else it makes for an interesting story, and I will no longer hear ask church members, "so... you out of prison yet?" :)
Storm Chaser
I love watching thunder storms. For two days I've spent time scrabbling around town trying to find that "perfect" spot to watch some lightning action. I don't know why I enjoy it so much, but there is a great sense of discovery when you've been watching the sky for minutes, then glimpse a spectacular lightning strike! Maybe it's because it's unpredictable? You can't tell when a strike is coming, it just comes out of no-where, sometimes catching you by suprise. It's just too bad that the storm warning tonight hasn't made for any serious storms ... as of yet :)
Weddings .... lots of weddings
I've had the privledge of "performing" three marraiges since May. Pretty crazy! It's a honouring and scary thing to have one of the most important moments in a couple's life in your hands. Either you lead them well, or it gets imfamously remembered from that moment on!
Thankfully, each one has been awesome! I think my first wedding was more nerve wracking for me then for the bride and groom! But, they were very gracious and easy going. The second one was cool since it was back in my hometown of Smithers. The weather is always changing up there, and with an outdoor wedding we weren't sure quite what to expect. It was lightly raining when the groom and I took our places, however by the time the bride came up, the rain had stopped. Eventually the sun even came out ... crazy nothern weather!!! :) This last weekend I did my cousin's wedding, which was very cool. It was a small family affair done outside in Enderby's countryside. The only drawback, the heat and mosquitos. Thankfully both were not a problem on the wedding day! However, for the rehearsal ... we were jumping out of skin trying to keep the mosquitos at bay while trying to remember what exactly we were going to do the next day!
