"How Did it Go?"

Without fail, every time I speak, people will ask me how it went. Also without fail, I never quite know how to respond.

Here is what I can say with certainty – I had my socks blessed off last night. I mean, right off! No socks. Thanks to many of my friends, last evening was the official launch for my second book entitled Alien Love. I would love to tell you that Alien Love is sweeping the nation, but to be completely forthcoming, interest in this one doesn’t seem to be as great as it was in my first work.

However, it really isn’t all about the book. I can only hope that the people there were as blessed as I was. I wish I could give you a picture of the evening as a whole, but all I can really offer is my own vantage point. As far as the message, I am confident I said the very things that I needed to say. Any more would have been overkill. Any less would have been negligent.

I FINALLY had the privilege of meeting some of the amazing people who serve on the music team at my church from St. Thomas. Which is rather ironic when I stand back to think of it. I had to go to Aylmer to meet people from my church. Weird. I hope they enjoyed their interaction with me as much as I did.

I walked away with a new CD from a young lady named Kayla Peters. Listening to her CD on the way to church this morning, I found myself wondering, “Would I have liked this CD if I had heard it when I was a teenager?”

If I could find her music online, I’d send you a link. Her style reminded me of the kind of music I listened to when I was beginning to grow facial hair, but the message is quite different. I was an earthling when I was in high school, so my taste reflected my citizenship. I guess Kayla isn’t the first female Canadian musician that I’ve enjoyed listening to. Lee Aaron would likely be the first.

During my message last evening, I made the statement saying, “This world is often really weird.” If you listened to Lee Aaron’s song, just think about it. We glorify acting like animals. Is that not bizarre? I suppose I find it strange now, but back in the day, I really couldn’t see it.

I am so encouraged to see another generation rising up to take their stand as followers of Christ. I want to name names, but I’ll forget someone and then I’ll feel really bad about it.

I believe that the evening was recorded. If I can get the recording, I’ll make it available here and likely on my Facebook page.

I am very thankful to everyone who came last evening and to everyone who played a part. Once again, I find myself deeper in your debt. If I never find a way to repay you, could you forgive me the indiscretion?

Alien Love - Coming Jan 28, 2012

Praise God! My second published book entitled, Alien Love has finally landed for good. Thanks to my friends at Aylmer’s EMMC, the official launch will be held this Saturday, January 28th at Aylmer’s Old Town Hall at 6:30pm.

Just in case you are considering attending, I want to give you a little heads up as far as what you can expect to hear from me.

Sin

I don’t know why, but whenever I speak, I always talk about sin. Don’t hate me for it. Talk to The Once who lives in me and compels me in His service. But yeah. I’ll probably talk about sin. So if you have any sins that you really want to hold on to and want to make sure that I don’t deal with your particular brand of depravity, let me know. Of course, if you’re drawn to me, you probably wouldn’t be that forthcoming. Would you?

I mean, if you really want someone to help you to feel good about your dirt, there are any number of people in the world who could help you with that. If that describes you, might I recommend Lady Gaga, 50 Cent, Nickelback or Katy Perry?

I’m not trying to scare you off, but I don’t want you to come and be all surprised or anything.

Jesus

Maybe the sin stuff might be the part that catches our attention, either for good or for bad. However, it’s really all about Christ. It’s supposed to be His show. I didn’t write my book to make a name for myself or to supplement my income. I do what I do because I believe that Jesus is the Christ; the only true hope for humanity.

No. I didn’t say that Christianity is the hope. I didn’t say that the church is the hope. I said I believe firmly that Jesus is the answer to our greatest need. He gave His life up for me and it would be remiss of me were I not to acknowledge Him as He is.

It’s Not All About Me

Sure, this is my blog and my personal space, but the evening really isn’t all about me. Local musician Kayla Peters will also be there promoting her first CD. From what I can tell by following her on Facebook, she loves Jesus too. She will be leading us in song along with a few other gifted musicians from the Aylmer area.

Beyond that, it isn’t even about Kayla and I. The evening itself is really part of the EMMC’s regular Saturday evening worship services. They have been so kind to Kayla and myself that it would be wonderful if you would consider blessing them with your presence. If you’re looking for a church that loves the Lord and preaches the Word of God, I’d encourage you to check them out.

Whether you come or not, whether you buy a book or a CD, I pray that you know Christ personally. If you don’t, I hope you’ll consider Him as He is, for who He is.

In Christ;

Love Kevin

What's Up With Tim Tebow?

In itself, saying that you’re a Christian doesn’t actually mean very much. It’s become a title which people seem to carry, whether or not they actually have any affinity for Christ Himself. Many people who merely believe in “God” classify themselves as being Christians. Even within the realm of authentic faith, carrying the name itself gives us little indication as to the substance of the person. Personally, I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. If they tell me that they are a Christian, then I call them a Christian.

Whenever I hear someone say that they are a believer, I wonder what kind of Christian they are. Some believers are deathly serious about sin, at least on the outside; making every attempt to find and uproot it from their lives. Other Christians are rather cavalier with regards to sin. Even if it is clearly printed on the page, they chalk it up as the page having been written for another time.

Some believers are serious about evangelism. Whether they follow in The Way of The Master (TM) or whether they try to reach people via relationships, they are actively and literally trying to advocate Christ. Many Christians have little compulsion to advocate Christ Himself. They might be comfortable advocating a cause such as poverty or world hunger. They might be vocal against certain ills, such as bullying, human trafficking, abortion or gay sex. They do not however literally try to tell people about Jesus.

For many Christians, Jesus is kind of like the boyfriend that you’re too embarrassed to introduce to your friends. It feels good to have a boyfriend, but He’s not much to look at. For others, Jesus is literally the light of their life.

I give you that introduction in order to set the stage. If you’re alive and well in North America, you might have heard of Tim Tebow. He is a Christian football player. For some reason, there is a kind of hype surrounding him that I haven’t sensed in any other sports figure in my lifetime. Lately, I’ve been asking my friends and coworkers this question: “What’s so special about Tebow?” I mean, he isn’t the world’s first Christian football player.

The Kind of Christian

I have received different responses, including his unorthodox style, his luck, the way he leads and the way he lives out his faith. I have no love of the game at all, so feel free to write me off. In my opinion however, Tim is set apart, not because of his faith or his skill. He stands out because of the kind of Christian he is.

Christians having a place in professional sports is nothing new. However, they are rarely the kind of Christian that Tim Tebow represents. Of the other Christians in professional sports come to mind, they are the sort that keep more to themselves. Of them, it tends to be said, ‘You can see it more in their lifestyle, or they way they conduct themselves.’ They often contribute to or advocate admirable causes. Some might even have Bible studies in their homes or do their best to witness one on one.

For varying reasons, he embodies a vein of Christianity which we see little of in this kind of arena. It’s not unusual for people who think like him to view professional competitive sports as being rather worldly. In fact, professional sports lend themselves easily to some forms of blatant idolatry, which tends to be frowned upon in conservative Christianity. The amount of training required to compete at this level tends to take the kind of time, devotion and focus that many who share his heart, would feel were better spent towards more spiritual matters.

Tebow challenges his own kind of people, showing them that one can be deathly serious about his calling, while at the same time, putting in the blood and sweat necessary to play with the best of the best, and perhaps someday to be counted as the best.

Climate Change

Had he lived in another time, he might not have attracted the same amount of press and attention he garners today. The culture of our time has changed drastically, even in the past 20 years. The message of the good news of Jesus is becoming increasingly offensive. We can tolerate many things, but we are becoming less and less tolerant of anyone who tells us that we sin. The substance of the man is therefore much more alarming to the general public than he would have been say 30 years ago.

When I was a kid, my school teacher told me that most of the Dallas Cowboys were Christians. Due to the climate in which we live, I’m kind of surprised that the Bronco’s even gave him the chance to begin with. They must not have a decent number two. Seriously. Most of you who read this profess to live out some form of faith in Christ. How many of us really appreciate being told we sin? How much less the world in general?

Personally

I don’t much care if he wins football games. I’m pretty sure that God loves people on the teams Tim plays against as much as He cares for him. Or maybe God only loves people who wear blue jerseys. Who knows? I do hope however that he is able to keep a clean witness for his Lord and that he will have a successful career. As tolerant as our culture claims to be, they love to watch people like Tim Tebow fall. If he ever does the kinds of things that our world says are acceptable, you can bet the bank his face will be plastered across every newspaper and internet news feed across the country. And we’re the hypocrites.

...And Tim - If you’re reading this my brother, better luck next year. (Not that either of us really believe in luck)

Kevin Abell

Strength in Hiding

For those of you who follow here on Blue Collar Christianity, you probably notice that I don't review books or talk about the latest christian celebrity gossip. Today however, I am pleased to make an exception. Here is my 13 year old daughter's take on The Hiding Place. If you enjoy, let me know. Perhaps we will put her on staff....

Strength in Hiding

Everyone needs something to keep them going. Some choose people, some choose money, and some choose things, whatever seems to work. Although these may help for awhile, many end up wanting more and more, which obviously means they need something else. Also, money, clothes, or people can’t help all the time. Does money help a help a person when he is in trouble for something he did not do? Or what if a child is deadly sick; could her dad help her then? Corrie, in The Hiding Place, portrays that God is the only security that won’t let you down. He gave Corrie strength through all her hardships and stressful times. She felt His presence when she helped others, in the times of prison and camps, and even when friends and family passed away. No matter what, He was and is there. He will take you in when you are down or need help getting up again; He is your hiding place.

Ever since the first Jew came through the door asking for help, the Boom family devoted their lives to helping people who needed it. Corrie ten Boom and her family felt God urging them to do something about the cruelty swirling around them. “My job was simply to follow His leading one step at a time,” (Boom, 81) stated Corrie. God helped Corrie move Jews to safety, assist the Underground, and obey His commands. One day, the Gestapo burst into the Boom’s watch shop. They searched the house, looking for the Jews they knew were there. Commanding Corrie to tell them, they beat her and her family. Although Corrie knew what the consequences could be, she did not give in. God gave Corrie strength to help others, even through the pain and hurt.

Because of her family’s resistance, Corrie and her family were sent into prison. Corrie was ill with influenza, and her cell mates were not much help. Because of her illness, she was moved to another cell, but this cell had nobody to keep her company. Boredom, loneliness, and heartache for loved ones filled her heart during the long days of prison. If it were not for God and the gospels, she may not have had the strength to go on. She was next sent to two concentration camps. Roll call was painful, work hours long, and fleas and lice roamed the camp; but even through this, she and her sister shared the gospel with countless people, and what used to be people full of cursing turned into people full of love. Corrie commented on the change in The Hiding Place, “ Where before this had been the moment for scuffles and cursing, tonight the huge dormitory buzzed with ‘Sorry!’, ‘Excuse me!’ ,and ‘No harm done!’” (Boom, 187). Even though life was tiresome for her, she still changed lives around her. Through all this, Corrie stood strong with God, and He did not let her fall.

In addition to her struggle to stay alive, Corrie had to cope with the pain of losing loved ones. Her first sorrow awaited her in prison. She received a letter notifying her of her father’s death. Although tearful, she realized that he did not have to go through any more sickness, pain, or loneliness like she did. Later, Betsie, terribly sick, died in the camp hospital. Corrie looked at where Betsie lay, and saw the most beautiful Betsie she had ever seen. Seeing the peaceful expression on Betsie’s face, she knew she did not need to be sorrowful at all. “There lay Betsie, her eyes closed as if in sleep, her face full and young. The care lines, the grief lines, the deep hollows of hunger and disease were simply gone. In front of me was the Betsie of Haarlem, happy and at peace. Stronger! Freer! This was the Betsie of heaven.” (Boom, 198) Even after Corrie was released, she learned of others who had passed away. Thankfully, she had Christ, and He helped her through the pain. If Corrie did not have Jesus in her life, she may not have made it through all the grief around her. Because she held on to Him through her troubles and griefs, she survived all the trials she faced.
As seen through Corrie’s story, her real strength was Jesus. If it were not for Him, she likely would have lost all hope. Not only did God give her strength, He spoke through Corrie to others around her. Because of Jesus living in her, many of her roommates, friends, and even a Lieutenant turned to Christ. Years after Corrie had been released from camp, she discovered she was not supposed to be released at all. The records proved there was a mistake, and that she should have been sent to the gas chambers. If God had not protected Corrie from death, we would not hear of her story today. Let this story prove to you that Jesus is our Hiding Place.

I Don't Like My Ring

This Morning On Dave And Rachel

I woke up this morning to the sound of our alarm clock radio. One of the listeners in the area had sent in a relationship question which has stayed with me for the duration of the day.

A young man has recently asked his girlfriend to marry him. As wonderful news as it is, there’s a problem with the proposal. The lady in question really doesn’t like her ring; to the point where she doesn’t even really want to wear it in public.

That’s about all of the information we’re given on the radio broadcast. Callers were invited to lend their opinions, but I really don’t believe we know enough about the situation to really comment. I found myself asking this question, “What is the heart dynamic?” What is really happening here?

When the Best Isn’t Good Enough

What if this was the best this man had to offer? We don’t know for sure, but what if? Suppose that this man saved all he could, searched and searched and found something he thought would look great on the hand of his special girl. He might have been a little shortsighted for not having asked for her input, but what if he really gave it his best effort?

Have you ever found yourself trying to please someone who can’t be pleased? It’s a horrible life to live. It happens for both genders, but the particulars tend to look differently. You hear stories about wives who work all day, cook supper at night, help the kids with the homework, pack tomorrow’s lunches, keep the house in order and do the laundry, but it’s just never good enough. That isn’t the kind of life I wish on anyone.

This young man has certainly failed to meet her expectations. This won’t be a news flash for anyone who is married, but if they join hands, this will only be the beginning to many failed expectations. What are the odds that she will respond differently next time?

What if He’s Insensitive?

What if he just didn’t care? It happens. People can be insensitive. We often make decisions for other people, really not taking into consideration how it will affect them. Have you ever known a wife who said, “He just doesn’t listen to me!”?

Perhaps the ring was on sale, he really didn’t put much thought into it, but figured it’d do the trick. If that is demonstrative of this man’s way of approaching life, what promise would it hold for their future?

The Worst Case Scenario

What I fear the most, is that it could be some combination of the two. As couples, we often bring our baggage into marriage. What if he tends to be a thoughtless young man, whose best will never be good enough for her? Could this kind of tale possibly live happily ever after?

I might sound like I’m beating up on this young couple, but I’m not. I hope the best for them. I really do.

Do or Die

I came into work this morning to find a sample of Consumer Report Canada. Maybe you’ve read and enjoyed some of their publications. Throughout the sampler, they give us many “Do’s and Don’ts”.

“Do: Get a top rated coffee-maker.

Don’t: Overpay $100 for a smart phone.”

All of the advice is apparently given by experts in their respective field. From my perspective, I found some of their automotive advice to be quite debatable, so I’m not sure why they paint it as if it’s a simple DO or DON”T. I’d speak on what I see as being questionable advice, but some of you might think that I’m the evil mechanic who is trying to steal your money.

Life is rarely black and white. If you send your kid to public school, he won’t necessarily turn out to be an effective evangelist. If you home school Johnny, he might not turn out to be the next Tim Tebow. Following the manufacturers recommended service interval isn’t always the surest way to prevent unwanted repairs. They seldom care what happens to your car after the warranty runs out. Here is my Consumer Report Do, and you probably won’t find it in their publications.

Do: Accept the consequences for your own choices.

Have a good night. Remember folks! – Sin is bad.

Guess What I've Got!

There are many parts of scripture that I really don’t get. Sometimes I understand something intellectually, but really don’t grasp it in my heart. If you are the kind of person who likes my writing, you likely find yourself in a similar spot on occasion. If you are the kind who likes to think that he has his theology down to a properly constructed system, I guess you are much smarter than me.

Here is a passage that is becoming clearer to me in many ways.

“Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honoured them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them.” James 1:9-10

Not only is the message of it counter cultural, it can be difficult to see how being rich can be in itself a humbling situation. Much of our thinking tends to lean the other way. If we get right with God, our lives should get easier. James is good enough to explain that our achievements fade away in the same way that the grass withers, and most all of us understand that.

It’s important to keep in mind that James is talking about believers. I don’t believe that the same principles apply to nonbelievers. Why on earth would a prosperous nonbeliever be humbled? James doesn’t say, ‘People who are poor have something to boast about’. He says, ‘Believers who are poor…”.

“Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honoured them.”

I had the privilege of knowing a man who was out of work for about two years. I tried to help him from time to time, but it wasn’t enough to be his personal Jesus. During those two years, one could not help notice how God brought him and his family through, how they grew in gratitude for each other, their trust in Christ and their thankfulness for many things we take for granted.

“And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them.”

Although I have never been accused of being rich, I have never seriously wanted for much either. This past Christmas season, there was an encounter that highlighted the truth found here in James. A friend of ours came over for a visit and we were having a great evening together. We talked about many things. After sharing dessert and a great conversation, the topic eventually turned to entertainment.

My oldest son told our friend saying, “Dad has so many video games.”

“Hey dad! Why don’t you take her upstairs and show her all of your games and systems?”

The kind of humiliation I experienced that evening isn’t the same as being caught in some grave offense, but I was humbled none the less. I was kind of embarrassed by my collection.

Likewise, I know a fellow believer who went to Bermuda a few years ago, but didn’t want many people knowing, out of a similar sense of humility.

I understand how this might sound weird to you. You may be thinking, “Why wouldn’t he want to show his friend his video collection?” According to the world, having a great video game library or taking a trip to Bermuda is something to post on Facebook or Twitter. As believers, our possessions and achievements aren’t things to be proud of or boast about. These are fading away, from our grasp as well as our memory.

Have you ever been humbled similarly? If you meet someone living on the street, would you be pleased as punch to show them your shiny new phone? If you’re proud of your possessions or accomplishments, I guess this doesn’t make much sense.

Who Is Your Enemy?

If you can overlook the fact that they advocate violence, widespread bloodshed and conjuring up the demons of your soul (which I am completely against), Green Day asks a very good question. Do you know your enemy?

Suppose that you are an unfaithful husband. If I called you an adulterer, how would you feel about that? What if you lie? How do you respond when people call you a liar? What is our gut response when we’re challenged about our sex life? How do we respond when people around us oppose our choices?

We rarely respond well to criticism, even if it is warranted.

Do you know your enemy?

I’ll be speaking on that on Jan 28th, either at Aylmer’s Old Town Hall or the AEMMC. When the location is confirmed, I’ll let you know.

If you want my opinion on Green Day’s song, I think they’re hypocrites. I really don’t believe they would like it if the violence they advocate were done against them. Perhaps I’ve misjudged them. Maybe they like being slaughtered.

I don’t think they know who their enemy is. Maybe they’ll come on Jan 28th to find out.