daily life as life goes on . . .

I am a person of more than one idea – per minute!!  After many years of various activities and involvements, the ideas seem to come even faster!

Retirement has meant that many of the usual restraints on my time have been “dismissed”.  Except that now I am busier than ever.  I tend to venture further into my explorations of possibilities.

I think a regular job is a joy – in the sense that you have a focused time of attention that allows you to get “something” done.  The focus most often comes from a boss, or a deadline, or the time clock.  Some of my best times were spent in studies at post-secondary schools.   You knew when you had accomplished what was required, and there is real satisfaction in this.

Entering Lent this year, I sought assistance from God.  A still, small voice seemed to say – just do what you are doing.  For most people that is status quo. 

For me, that is plenty.  The activities I am involved in are always turning to new ventures.  The more new ventures, the less likely I am to finish well those adventures that I began a while ago.

So, Lent for me this year is not about giving up things that I’m currently involved in, but giving up those things that I could be involved in.  Maybe that will give me a bit more time to spend with God!

The discussion has been ongoing in centres of academia.  The popular versions are now arriving with force.

Descartes said:  “You are what you think.” 

Did Jesus really say:  “You are what you love.”

The Fundamentalism of the early 20th century fought for proper thinking and doctrine.  Evangelicals were the beneficiaries of this broad ranging study and research.  Nevertheless, as WWII finished, evangelicals were wondering:  Where was the heart?  Where did mission go when all you could see was the bad – and when love was interpreted through the fire of hell?

This was a perspective thing.

Fundamentalists were saving the church from the heresy and rot of an evil generation.  Evangelicals, the children of fundamentalism, wanted a more welcoming stance.

Now evangelicals are back in the old war, as division continues to break within their ranks.  The head that seems to be most notable in terms of a return to the fundamentals is the club that gets called “neo-reformed”.   The other head that seems to be most notable in terms of a return to the heart and inclusion comes from a now fractured emerging church movement.

And now the new buzz word is “flourishing”. 

Flourishing is seen as the whole person being saved, with primary emphasis on the here and now, with eternity an extension of the flourishing begun here.  Whereas church growth proponents looked at calculated numbers (those accepted by Jesus and saved into heaven), the flourishing group looks at heart transformation (those saved by Jesus and accepted into heaven). 

I could get into such things as REVEAL and Rob Bell, and Brian McLaren and John Piper and John McArthur – which are now old news. 

Might I venture to say that too much of a stretch on either side is bringing the elastic of evangelicalism to a breaking point.

I recently had the opportunity to sit with my choral music mentor, Doug Richards.  In my days as a church choir member – while still a teen – Doug sat next to me and impressed upon me the place of vocal music. 

He still holds that the greatest instrument is the human voice.  We can mimic and imitate all sorts of sounds and graceful melodies.

So, I asked Doug:

What is one thing your have learned in your decades of singing and leading music in a church?

“If a song works, go for it.  If it doesn’t work, kill it!”

Good advice.

For the longest time I’ve struggled to understand the fear of God.  Mostly the struggle revolves around fear debilitating someone.  In the Bible, the idea is that love casts out fear. 

Very true. 

When someone loves you, you have no fear of them – in the sense that they will always be there to support you.  They will bring justice and stand up for you when an offense happens against you.

We overlook the truth that consequences will happen when we offend and step across the line. 

We are trusting that the one who says there are consequences will be able to fulfil their promises of judgment against those who offend us.

If we truly believe in justice, we will have to believe that justice works equally.  If we are negligent in our own duties, we can expect the consequences.

The flip side of loving trust is justified fear?