Recognizing the Reality

Thoughts out of my message yesterday (April 14) at St. Andrew’s, Ajax. Audio of the message will be available at www.standrewsajax.ca.

Since there is a power that seems to try to destroy our happiness when we most have it, I decided to address the reality of evil in the wake of Easter celebration. As evidence and example of the reality of evil, I referenced the sickeningly disturbing recurrence of girls being gang-raped, subjected to further humiliation through cyber-bullying, resulting in their suicide. As I make these notes, there has been news of bombs at the finish of the Boston Marathon. We do not just have social “ills” and global “issues.” We face evil.

Arguably, the book of the Bible that most obviously (or at least most grapnically) deals with evil is the Revelation, or Apocalypse, to John. The context of the book is the brutal persecution of early Christians at the hands of the Roman Empire. As with what they faced, symbolized (chapter 13) by the beast from the sea and the beast crom the land, with the authority of the “dragon” behind them, there are forces coming together todsy, as in every age, to try to deceive us and rob us of union and peace with God. The deception today plays especially on our insecurity, and tries to convince us that we are not smart enough, pretty enough, good eough, or even worth while persons, without what the powers of influence have to offer, having instilled the “need.” It is curious today that as “brand” (think of cattle) names have come to be considered critical (who instilled this?) to our credibility, attractiveness, and success, so a “mark” was required in the vision of John for people to engage in commerce and get on in the world.

But as chapter 20 conveys, when we are joined to Christ, Satan is bound and unable to deceive us (the completeness of the 1, 000 year symbol), even while Satan is still loose in the world and wreaks havoc until all is fulfilled (the significsnce of the “little while” time period symbol). Whatever the language in chapter 20 may convey about future events, it always has this basic meaning for us, whatever the times.

Evil is real. That was underscored again today in Boston, as it is underscored every day somewhere. It has power to destroy and cause misery in this world, and we must spare no effort to limit its power and effects. But we will never destroy evil itself. We must place our trust for that in one who has already demonstrated his power over it. “Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5 nrsv).

Seeing Green

image

Right now the way along this “greenbelt” isn’t terribly green. They say there is beauty in everything, but it’s a little hard to see it here – I guess unless you get right down and marvel at the movement of awaking bugs andvthe like. But I can, at least, see in it what is to be. In the next few weeks things will get greener and greener. Some people look at their path right now and find it looks drab and dismal; in fact they might not see a path at all, at least not to anywhere good. We need to pray for them to experience Easter, and that we might find the way to share it.

He Disallows Indifference

This Sunday, March 17, at St. Andrew’s in Ajax, we’ll be looking at John 12:1-8. It tells of the outrageous pouring of perfume on Jesus. Outrageous? It was Judas, yes that Judas, who objected to this, and he may have had a point, on the surface of things. He just made his point out of the wrong motive, and did not, perhaps could not, perceive what was really happening. The whole episode shows that the very presence of Jesus brings strong reaction. His very presence disallows indifference, especially concerning who he is, as well as the things he cares about. So part of what we will explore is how is Jesus present today, and where is that kind of reaction to him?

Social Medium

image

I took this shot this afternoon near where I live in Ajax. Before very long, the snow will be gone, and the ground will be dry enough for human activity to return to this setting. Teams of various ages will be on the field, developing skills, learning teamwork, and building memories. Then there are those who will park themselves on these benches, some of whom may be reconvening from the hockey arena. In other words, what you see here is not just a baseball field, but a social medium. Maybe the social media we tend to think of–online–are best thought of as extensions and supplements to the physical spaces where we (continue to, I hope) meet and interact.

Trance

“If only.” It’s a seductive mindset. It’s also a form of unconsciousness. Its appeal is clarity but its reality is obtuseness. It reduces complexities to single issues and singular ways of dealing with those issues. It creates villains, the elimination of whom/which will solve our current problem(s). And we all say it, do it, think it: If only …

It’s the most common mindset behind interniational and inter-ethnic strife and hatred. It’s at the heart of work and family conflict. It poisons our souls. It’s a way of ethically and relationally sleep-walking through life, and it’s time for us all to wake up.

That’s what I’m addressing in this Sunday’s message. Reading: Luke 13:1-9.

He Has Nothing to Prove

This coming Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent. The Gospel lesson is the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. Jesus could have used, accepted, or displayed power to satisfy his real physical hunger, to have world power right then and there, or to demonstrate suoeriority. Any of thse would have sabotaged his real purpose, to go to Jerusalem and the cross that he knew awaited him. We might endure temptation in order to gain something good; Jesus passed this test in order to move toward even greater pain and suffering, for our sake. He passed the test, at his temptation and at the cross. He has nothing to prove.

What about us? Is there ever a time when we are not tested? Is there ever a time you do not feel you have something to prove?

Frank Conkey

I attended a funeral today for a man I had never met. I have heard much about him, however, in the past weeks at St. Andrew’s, Ajax. He had been minister there years ago. Frank died last week, just one month short of ninety years of age. It was a lovely service. The main speaker had been his friend for seventy years. Much was celebrated by way of his years and excellence in ministry. But what was most telling, moving, and important, was that he was a devoted husband and father. And most important of all–a comment I took away to be a matter for some personal, honest reflection–“He lived what he preached.”

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.