Monthly Archives: March 2014

The sermon I preached yesterday morning was on Psalm 126.  Crying out.

As the afternoon progressed into evening, I was seeking to understand a bit of what that means. 

I continue to hear people wonder about my grieving process after my first wife’s death almost two years ago.  I am crying out to God to help me understand.  I have a peace that I don’t understand.  At the same time I look at others who were friends and relatives of Jill.  Some are still stuck.

One relied heavily on Jill.  They still despair at times – I am crying out that they would find new friends.  Another has seemingly lost contact with me – I am crying out that our friendship would be rekindled.  Another is still working through my remarriage – I am crying out that a warmth of relationship would return.

And for myself – I spent part of the weekend in reminiscence.  I must admit that every day things remind me of my first wife.  The heaviness of those remembrances has almost disappeared.  Now there is more joy and desire to move into the future.  I cry out for understanding – in no small part so that I can comfort others.

Not how I had imagined applying my sermon a week ago!

As I awoke early this morning, I was in a “get going” state of mind.  Throughout the week I had been working on a sermon.  I just needed to take some concentrated time to write it.

So from 6:00 – 9:00 I sat down. 

In a desire to remain concentrated, I didn’t look at my emails, check the clock or stray into other areas of thought. 

I loved it.  The sermon starter came easily.  And then the body of the sermon just followed, with a conclusion that will lead into our final song of the morning.

And just because I was having so much fun, here’s a thought from my sermon.

I have been an outdoor camper since I was a child and our parents whisked us across this country in a tent. 

I have found that there are three types of campers.  One just passes through – lightly touching down on the campsite overnight.  Other campers come for a few days with activities and things to do in mind.  And other campers come for the scenery. 

Most of us who have camped for some time, have experienced all three approaches!

I think Bible reading is the same.  The daily Bible reading schedules are a good way to get an overview of the country of the Bible.  The activity times of examining themes and systematic outlines let us pull together a picture of God in bite size chunks.  And, just camping on a short passage lets us spend time looking at the scenery of who God is in ways that we would otherwise miss.

Use all three approaches to Bible reading and you will be better for it!

The raised eyebrows did it.  Of course, pointing out that the eyebrows were raised didn’t hurt either.

I had just answered a question with a straightforward “no.”  The other person, without asking but just raising the eyebrows, wondered where that had come from. 

I proceeded to give a variety of reasons.  All of which I thought were very straightforward as well. 

Until the evening wore on and I contemplated what I had said. 

Was I being fair?  Was my answer merely one of emotion?  Was I looking back on the past and coloring the future with that brush?  What would it look like to consider how Jesus would have answered? 

By the end of the evening, I was ready to rethink my answer.  I realize that the answer may not change.  That is not the question – or the answer.  The answer is in being willing to be wrong, to own up to that, and to change.

Not an easy road.  But no one ever said the road would be easy.

Yesterday afternoon was spent in Saskatoon.  World Vision sponsored a forum on Shifting Stats – the changing face of the religious landscape in Canada.

What stood out?

Well, three areas were addressed.  The first was immigration.  The second was family and youth.  And finally the whole area of finances and technology.  A final address was given on the Gospel and reaching out.

I was reminded of much that I have seen in the last while.  Even in small town Kindersley there are a number of new immigrants.  They are looking for a place to belong – and the church can provide that.

Families are very different from the past.  The two parent, single income home is almost obsolete.  Well, not quite, but it has become less the norm!  Youth need to be given leadership. 

Finances – we have more debt than income (163 %) on average.  Technology means that our communications need to adapt.

In all, there is much change and yet much encouragement to go ahead!  God is not dead – he has great things planned.  We just need to continue to seek His Kingdom!