Category: Bible

Moving Mountains

It would seem the massively tragic 7.8 earthquake that rocked Nepal in April actually moved Mount Everest 3 cm. Now, the mountain is moving a bit all the time anyway, but the earthquake moved it in the opposite direction!

We are told we are to have faith such as to move mountains. I think it is probably just as well if we do not take that up literally; we would never agree on what mountain should be moved where! And it’s probably just fine, and majestic and beautiful, and maybe even useful, right where it is. Nevertheless, we do have such power in our midst.

All the power of God resides in Christ, says John (read John 1:1-14), and, through acceptance, Christ resides in us. Some people are deluded to think they have great power of their own strength, and lord it over others, maybe even thinking they are doing a favour to those persons and the world at large. Nothing truly good can come of such ego-driven power, no matter how it is rationalized. But there is such power as to move mountains in the love Christ shares in and through  us.  We are not to think we should or can not make a difference.

A Clear Goal

I think I have figured out (not that there’s anything wrong with just enjoying it) one reason why the Olympic events ha. ve such appeal. It occurred to me right when I had switched back to Olympics coverage after hearing about the latest fudging and wavering from politicians (in this case, over a previously touted tax-sharing plan). Athletes have clear goals and do not waver from them. That’s refreshing. It’s also instructive, as well as inspiring for the rest of us. It also resonates with Biblical teaching in at least a couple of ways.

Paul the Apostle used athletic imagery in speaking of the Christian life. He spoke of pressing on toward the goal, and winning the prize (Philippians 3:12-14). There is hard work involved, but the essence of the enterprise is grace. In both spiritual and athletic life, it is a matter of making full use of what is received. Both also necessarily and happily involve teamwork. There is a team behind even individual events. And every Christian (and leaders especially need to acknowledge this actively) is part of a team (See, for example and especially, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31).

 

The Main Character

The motives may not be evangelical, but many evangelicals understandably have encouraged and applauded the development of some upcoming Hollywood productions featuring Biblical characters. Indeed, this can only be good, even if the producers and directors are seeing in it only the same sort of results they have had from making effects-laden (as the Biblical flicks will be) productions based on Bible stories.

Russell Crowe as Noah, Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah, Christian Bale as Moses, Brad Pitt as Pontius Pilate–what believer would not celebrate this kind of publicity for Biblical stories and chracters?I would not say we should not. But I also am thinking of all the young lives that have been turned from the Bible because of wretched Sunday School curricula that moralized on the lives of Biblical characters–only to be disillusioned later on. \

The films will be an opportunity for pastors to point out to people–who may thankfully have a heightened or new interest in the bible because of the movies–that the same God who worked through these seriously flawed characters works through us in our place and time to bring about his purposes of ddrawingpeople to himself and making them part of his plan.

May we all be drawn to the one Main Character.

 

Extra Ordinary

Outline of message prepared for Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Fallingbrook Presbyterian Church, Toronto (the service was cancelled due to ice storm). Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25.

One implication of Christmas is that the timeless can be born in the very timely circumstances of our life. What is extraordinary (meaning outside of the ordinary, not just unusual or special) can transform our ‘ordinary’ experience.

1. a) The circumstances of Christ’s birth were in some ways quite ordinary, even less than than ordinary. b) Other aspects of Christ’s birth were well outside of the ordinary (the meaning of his name, conceived by the Holy Spirit). c) The extra ordinary invaded the ordinary to bring about his birth.

2. a) Much our essence is “ordinary” or less: the reality of sin as descendants of Adam. b) God causes us to be extra ordinary because Christ also can be born in us through the same Holy Spirit by whom he was conceived in Mary’s womb. c) We can allow what is eternal and timelss to invade our “ordinary” experience with its needs and challenges by allowing Christ to be born in us.

 

What is the Bible?

The congregation I am serving on an interim basis decided, to their credit, to have a once-a-month worship service as a “Family Service”, in which the children would stay present instead of having their own time after the children’s time in the service.

We had, as the topic of this service this morning, “What is the Bible?”

We recognized that the Bible represents some contradictions, or at least seemingly so:

1. As a collection, or library, of books, yet telling one story, of God’s renewing creation.

2. As a variety of kinds of writing (poetry, history, letters, etc.), yet setting our God’s Word (human words, divine Word).

3. The Bible is old, yet the subject of renewal in understanding and application today.

4. The Bible is not simply a set of rules, yet does set out high expectations for us, as those who are part, already, of a new creation.

In sum, the Bible is the story of each of us, as we are being created anew through God’s Word, through our own chaos and darkness, toward new creation and life.

Making Sense of Instructions

Outline of message for Sunday, January 27, 2013, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Ajax, Ontario
Psalm 19; Luke 4:14-21
Making Sense of Instructions

Following instructions, say, to put together exercise equipment, can take a lot of patience. Most of would recognize, however, that the project would be even more difficult and frustrating without those instructions. Thinking a bit more deeply, we might even see the instructions we encounter as a sign of our interdependece–a good thing. Furthermore, you survive getting through an assemble-at-home project, remembering what the intention of it is.

God’s instructions are meant for our benefit, and for our freedom. When we give attention to God’s intentions, we will see the benefit of his instructions.

The first section of Psalm 19 celebrates that all of nature gives glory to God. His universe even communicates with humanitym and we have a special place in God’s design and plans. In the second half of the Psalm, the heavenly language is experienced more specifically and practically as God’s law. The Psalmist recognizes his life will have order and beauty if he follows thse instructions, recognizing the intentions of God. But since we can never follow God’s law perfectly and be fit for his eternal presence, Jesus has paid the price for our sins.

We now follow God’ s law in response to and in keeping with the new life Christ has made possible. We live a life of discovery, freedom, and with a whole new identity, in Christ.