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The church has been active for years in the arena of life around them.  We celebrate William Wilberforce dealing with slavery, Mother Theresa opining the state of the poor and others over the century seeking for the right.

At the same time, we have been trying to bring people into an understanding of the grace of God to right wrong.  Sin is conquered, not by our own efforts or ingenuity.  It’s not what we do that rights the wrong.  It’s what God has done.

The combination of these two is a balance we often strive to understand.  Right now, much of North American Christianity is leaning on grace and light on moral actions.  I’m trying to understand this in light of newly inducted Christians wanting direction while at the same time trying not to steer them into legalism and bondage.

That’s all nice words.  But, at what point do we set out a list of right action that must be followed and what would that look like?  The ten commandments seem fairly acceptable in this area.  At the same time, the sermon on the Mount drills further into the question of motive and not just actions.

I guess I would start with the action of worship (first commandment in the ten commandments) – not sexuality or thievery or murder.  Start with Jesus.  Get people to commit to complete allegiance.  Commit to asking Jesus what should be done minute by minute.  Commit to checking what Jesus has already laid out in the Bible.  Commit to giving God credit first and letting any credit that remains also go to God.  This is the work of the saint – to believe fully in Jesus such that our life is affected completely by Jesus.

Follow those guidelines and you will run across all sorts of instruction on same sex relations, abortion, fraud, slander, and a myriad of other daily problems.  Start with Jesus – end with Jesus.

I’m not one to enjoy the earth. 

My heritage has been a group of farmers.  My father and my father’s father both farmed within miles of where I live today.  Plows and harrows and seeders and combines were part of their vocabulary.

My father ventured from the farm in his 40’s.  The farm never ventured from him.  He loved to garden.  His chosen vocation, weather forecasting, was one way of staying close to creation.

But, I’m not one to enjoy the earth.

A few weeks ago I was confronted with a new (probably old, but new to me) reality.  A person who shuns nature may also be shunning a vital Christian truth.  This world is very much a reality that God created, and called good!!

So, I’ve been stretching, exercising once again with a new vigor the senses God has given.  Stretching to look out a window.  Stretching to consider what it would take to nurture a lawn.  Stretching to thank God for that which I touch each day, smell in the moments of waking, hear as the sun rises, taste as my meals are served and see as shadows emerge.

Our last 30 hours have been hectic.  A trip to Prince Albert and back.  A visit with our daughter, our niece and the family, and touching base with friends in the city where 11 years of our life took place.

All this to go to the provincial music festival.  Jill has been playing piano for a young lady, Vanessa Klassen.  She is a clarinetist superb – 16 years of age.  She competed in her class with 7 other provincial finalists.

She won!

Congratulations, Vanessa!

I have been seeing the day start around 4:00 in the morning.  Although the sun is not yet peeking over the horizon, the house is being filled with the first part of the light of day.

Today I did the calculation!  In the middle of winter the sun may arise at 9:00 in the morning.  That’s five hours difference.

Summer and sun help me to wake early and stay up late.  Right now, without light-darkening window curtains, I’m more likely to arise earlier in the morning.  In the middle of winter I’ll laze around in bed until 7:30 or 8:00.  In summer, I also figure bed time must not yet be on the horizon because the sun has not gone below the horizon.

I enjoy the rhythm of the seasons.  More time for sleep or more time to enjoy a little more play time – depending on the time of year.

I pity those who sit at the equator – must be dull and boring to see the sun – same time, same place, same – same – same!