How I Met Your Mother

  Hollywood probably won’t pick up on our story, because we didn’t come together to get laid.  We came together to make a life.   We met each other 20 years ago this past September, although, maybe it would be more accurate to say that she met me. During our first encounter together, she walked away thinking of me as the exotic country boy from Tillsonburg.  After that first week at the University of Guelph, I merely remembered her as a vaguely familiar and pretty face.  

  She had never heard of Tillsonburg before, but that long haired, country boy had been spinning the tobacco town tale on his turntable.  That is where her first memories of me begin; listening to me playing Stompin Tom Connors from my small university residence room.

  I first remember seeing her standing in line at the Mountain cafeteria.  At that point, I only knew I had seen her somewhere before.  I also knew that she was standing behind me.  Besides being familiar, she was also very pretty.  I remember her smiling at me when our eyes met, and it wasn’t the kind of alluring or captivating smile that a poet would write about.  It was the kind of smile that exudes from an authentically happy heart.

   This is the scene which has set the stage for the rest of our lives.  I wasn’t in the pizza line because I was hoping to find someone.  I was waiting for pizza because I was hungry.   I couldn’t see myself standing in the very moment which would change the course of my life for the better.  I simply saw the opportunity to ask a pretty girl to have supper with me and my friends, and for the moment, that is where I left it.

  She must have read a lot of books about ‘How To Get A Guy’, because in the weeks that followed, she demonstrated both the resolve an tenacity of a skilled hunter.  Either that, or she was a natural born man killer.  I am not sure which.  Whether by training or instinct, she regularly appeared in my room, pretending to ask my roommate for help with her calculus.

  There really was no hope of escape for me.  Besides being resolved and tenacious, she was also very cunning, calculated and methodical.  She had studied her prey, knowing my schedule and eating habits.  I know this now, but at the time, I believed it merely coincidence that she happened to show up at the places I ate each day.  The thought never occurred to me that she might have been interested in me.  I was becoming acutely aware however, that I most definitely did like her.

   It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t know much about womanizing, because I probably would have found a very different kind of woman, and that is a thought I find to be completely unbearable, even tormenting.  We carried on this way for a few weeks.  Morning after morning, as I drowned my waffles in syrup, she was there.  Maybe that’s how relationships are meant to grow.  Maybe being there for, and with a person is the most fertile ground there is, since I found myself hoping, day after day that she would be there for me in the next.

   I find myself thinking the same still today, hoping, day after day that she will be there with me, and I with her in the next.  Sometimes I wonder if it’s bad to continue to ask God for more, to see her in another day, and yet again tomorrow. 

 How many tomorrows can I have?  I’ll take them all.

Labour Disputes

  I’m fine with whatever kind of world you want to build.  I truly am.  I don’t plan on staying here for much more than 40 years or so anyway.  So please don’t take this as a scathing criticism of any kind.  I don’t much care what kind of ideology or political system you support.  In my mind, they’re all flawed.  I wonder how long it will take before we realize that none of our ‘isms’ actually work.

   This year, our daughter entered the public school system, and it just so happens that it’s another year with a labour dispute.  Anymore, it seems as though there is some kind of dispute every time the contract comes to its close, whether we’re dealing with hockey players, nurses or teachers.

  As for education, it hasn’t always been this way. I grew up in a world where teachers taught, nurses nursed and hockey players played hockey without having a labour dispute every 3 years.  There have always been issues for sure.   And no.  It’s not just me and how I remember things.  I ask people older than myself, and it really hasn’t always been this way.  My take on it is this:  Without Christ, nothing works well.

   I’m not sure if you know this or not, but when people are doing something either for God or a god, they work differently than if they are simply working for money.  Some people will hijack a plane or strap on a suicide vest, blowing themselves up at a busy shopping mall.  Others surrender their own comfort and ease in order to help the poor, free the oppressed, keep the peace or heal the sick. 

  I know a guy who writes stuff.  He has written for the past 11 years, publishing two books and it has cost him thousands.  He does what he does because he senses that it is God’s calling in his life.    I know a young woman who works tirelessly at trying to raise funds to set other women free from sexual slavery.  She doesn’t get paid.  She does it because she thinks that her God cares about justice.  I know several people who teach their students without being financially compensated, merely because they are convinced that God wants them to do so, and because they love their students more than they love their own life.

  It is not the norm, but it is very common for believers to leave successful careers in the “secular” world, in order to pursue positions that pay significantly less, all because they believe that their God is calling them to do so.  It’s common in Christian circles, but I find it to be extremely rare outside of those circles.

  For a person who views their work as their calling, they don’t do it for the contract, paid sick days, job security or benefits.  They do it because of their faith.  They do it because they want to help people.  If they were able, they would do what they do for free.  They even find ways to make their own money in order to subsidize their service to their God; taking on their role at great personal cost, sometimes at the expense of their very lives.

  There is such a thing where a person actually views their career as their calling.  There is a word which embodies such an attitude.  Instead of a career, it’s called a vocation.  (Not to be confused with a vacation)  For a person who views their work as a vocation, they don’t serve primarily for the salary or the pension plan.  They are there because they believe in a purpose which is far beyond money.  Sure, they need to provide for their family.  They do need to eat, but the reward is bigger than the contract itself.  As long as their family is provided for, they are content, because they see the meaning behind the service.

 We live in a land where there are fewer people who confess Christ as Lord as the generation before, and as such, fewer people view their careers as a personal God given mission while here on earth.  So likewise, our service depends more and more on the terms of our employment contract, which is never really enough to keep us content for long.

  I know this isn’t the complete picture.  I’m just here to bring the scenes to mind which are never brought to the forefront on the CBC.

  If you are a teacher, a nurse or a hockey player who views their career as their calling, I am very thankful for you.  You are a dying breed.  If you’re just doing it because you need a job, I’m thankful for you too.

  Consider what is said about Jesus in Colossians.

Colossians 1:17

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

  I don’t have a whole lot of hope for our nation.  I believe that Jesus is the One holding all things together, and that includes the institutions of our country.  I also believe that He is a gentleman.  As we ask Him to leave us be, He lets us be.  I think we’re just a few years behind most of Europe.

  Maybe you are of the sort that thinks we’re evolving.  As for me, when I look at the world, I wonder how far we have to fall before we realize that the course we’re charting really isn’t working out for us.

  Enjoy your world.  It’s a short stay.  If I had a concluding statement, it would be this.

It takes a huge pile of cash to compensate for a God given mission. 

I Know What's Wrong With You

For some reason, it’s much easier to be able to recognize the inconsistencies in the lives of others, and it is that fact which causes me to hesitate to write.   No doubt, this will turn out to be another one of my own inconsistencies.  I’m about to write a post which criticizes people for criticizing.   Now that is pure irony.

  About a month ago, a friend of mine was talking about a song that he objected to.  The song in question was, “What Faith Can Do”, by Kutless. 

  He took issue with the song, saying that, it isn’t about what faith can do.  It should be about what God can do.  He’s right.  Isn’t he?  Our healing, our deliverance, our right standing with God is all from God.  Saying that “YOUR” faith accomplishes anything, kind of goes against the very Gospel itself.  In all honesty, I couldn’t argue the theology of what he was saying.

  So I’m reading through Luke 8 to my kids a few nights ago, about the woman with the bleeding.  She reaches out to touch Him without being seen.  When He finds out who touched Him, He declares to her, “your faith has made you well.” Luke 8:48

   Jesus made the same kind of statement that my friend was speaking against.  The same objection to Kutless’ song would apply to the words of Christ Himself. 

  As believers, we need to be discerning as to what we take in.  There is also a place to call people out.  It’s not uncommon however for us to over scrutinize the life, work and speech of others.  I’m sure this isn’t typical for my friend, but there is a kind of Christianity which seems to exist solely for the purpose of pointing out the shortcomings of others.   We can spot heresy and false doctrine a mile away, as long as it resides in someone else.  Slander becomes acceptable, because we’re doing it for the good of the church.

  I won’t tell you who my friend is, because I think very highly of him, and if you ever meet him, I hope that you would do the same.  If you feel compelled to expose someone, please let it be for something similar to what we see addressed in scripture.  Think of blatant sexual immorality, drunken at communion or Christians suing other Christians.   You know...biblical stuff.

  Maybe the preacher, the teacher or the singer missed the context of the passage.  Do you judge your own words quite so closely as you do his or hers?  I doubt that you do.  (I don’t either.)

I Am Not the One Calling the Vampire a Tramp.

This past week, a friend of mine asked me the following question,

“When is it appropriate to approach someone else about their sin?”

  Thank you very much for those of you who ask honest questions.  I consider it a privilege to be someone who comes to mind.  As for this question, ultimately, we confront people about their sin when God wants us to.  Please keep that in the forefront of your mind as you read everything else that follows.  As for discerning when God is calling you to do so, that may not be so easy.  Beyond that, here are a few thoughts.

1.        If you authentically have the person’s best interest in mind.
2.       If you’re certain that
       a.       It is a sin.
        b.      The person is walking in it.
3.       The sin could lead to death.
 

 Do you Really Love Them?

   Throughout scripture, God warned His people over and over through various means of communication.  Sometimes He warned them personally.  At times He communicated in dreams.  Other times, He sent His prophets.  We have His written word.  God doesn’t point out our shortcomings because he hates us.  His intention is that we would experience life to the full, and ultimately be made right with Him.

   The world we live in has a very difficult time recognizing how a loving God or a loving person would confront someone with regards to their wrongs.  Our world works in the opposite direction.  We rant about people we don’t like.  We subject adulterers like Tiger Woods to public disgrace.  We refuse to buy their chicken.  If the good looking vampire girl sleeps around, we smear her name all over the internet.  (No.  I will not combine the words tramp and vampire.)  Conservatives bash liberals and liberals bash conservatives.  For my American friends, Democrats trash Republicans and Republicans trash Democrats.  We are not evolving into a more tolerant and compassionate society.  We are growing increasingly vicious, vindictive and malicious.

   That’s how this world works, but it’s not how God works.  God is not like Rush Limbaugh.  God warns and chastises his own people, the people He loves.  I believe we are to act similarly.  I might be wrong, but if you really want to see someone get burned, let them be.

  Yeah.  I understand that Jonah wanted the people of Nineveh to burn, but if you’ve read my first paragraph, you’ll understand that I did qualify the scenario.  God told Him to and He made it painfully obvious when Jonah went the other way.  Also, God, the true messenger did not want to see Nineveh burn.

Are You Sure?

  Are you sure it’s a sin?   How clear is it in scripture?  We tend to have a lot of personal convictions which we adhere to quite passionately.  There might be a place to share our convictions publicly, or with those in our lives, yet we do ourselves, our hearers and our Lord a great disservice when we raise our flag around them, making the issue our life’s mission.

   Maybe the Christians in your life love to celebrate pagan holidays, and in your mind, it seems so obvious that it’s wrong.  In their mind, they’ve Christianized it, which makes it oaky to them.  Are you sure you’re right?  Personally, I wouldn’t risk looking like a jerk or weighing down their conscience unless it’s an issue that is spelled out rather clearly in scripture.

  Are you sure they are involved with the sin anyway?  How do you know?  Mostly people try to hide the more blatant sins.  Who really wants their sin to be brought to light?  If you’re not sure, at least talk to the person first and find out.

 Could It Lead To Death?

Here is the passage I would like you to chew on:

1 John 5:16-17 (NLT)

¹⁶ If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. ¹⁷ All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

  As believers, it isn’t our job to go around pointing out everyone else’s sins.   Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit.  If we see someone sinning in a way that doesn’t lead to death, we’re called to pray for them.  Pray that their eyes would be open.  Pray for God’s mercy.  Pray for repentance and restoration.  Pray that they would find true life.  You are not the church’s morality police.

  If the sin could result in death, then it isn’t a time for prayer.  It’s probably time to address it. I’ve shared before.  We don’t let pedophiles teach Sunday School at our church.

  The issue becomes this:  What kind of sin results in death?

  Some sins really do result in death.  Sexual immorality often results in death, even when they use that little rubber thingy.  I’m sure that your life has never personally been touched by an STD, but there are some diseases that actually kill people.  Murder results in death.  Gluttony can result in someone dying before their time, although it’s tough to call when to confront someone about their eating habits.  I’ve had family members die from their use of alcohol. 

   Beyond that, I have written in the past about some parts of the law that the apostles held rather seriously.  You can read that here.  There are also parts in the Old Testament where God told His people to ‘kill those who do those kinds of things’.  Here is a short list if you want to study it on your own. There are still some religions that kill people for moral crimes, but for us, Jesus put an end to that.  What I’m saying, is that if God wanted people dead for certain sins, it shows that He was quite serious about them.

Exodus 21:14

Exodus 21:16

Exodus 21:17

Exodus 22:19

Leviticus 20:2

Leviticus 20:11

Leviticus 20:12

Leviticus 20:13

Leviticus 20:27

Numbers 25:5

Deuteronomy 13:5

  It’s not an exhaustive list, but it should get you started.

  I hope this helps you my friend.  Maybe we are hypocrites because we address some sins and not others.  I do think though that we have to pick our battles. 

 

Love Kevin

Bill Nye The Science Guy

Dear Bill Nye The Science Guy,

 

  Take heart. As time progresses, there are fewer and fewer parents who are actually teaching The Bible to their children in America. So be encouraged, if you're right in the way that you think, America will soon recapture her former glory. Your utopia may be mere decades away. I hope you live to see it.

 

   Be honest, as we abandon Christ, are things really getting better? 

 

Kevin Abell