Sunday May 10, 2009
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
In our day of tolerance these are fighting words. It goes against the politically correct notion that all religions are equal and none is exclusive, leading to accusations of intolerance and bigotry for those who think different. Today’s text and Jesus words in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” give us little choice in the matter. Jesus’ claim to be the only way to God and Christian desire to share the freedom found in him is the driving force behind Christian evangelisation.
Of all the religions in the world, only Christianity and Islam aggressively seek to expand their message of exclusiveness. Thus the stage is set for confrontation between these faiths, and the current visit of the Pope to the Holy Land and his apparently contradictory statements about Islam highlight this dilemma. Space does not allow for listing all the differences between Christianity and Islam, but one thing stands out: the mass migration of Muslims away from Islamic countries to the west.
From the many Muslim families Ann and I have known, it is clear that the majority seek a place of freedom and safety for their families, away from the oppressive rule of most Islamic states. Given the chance, they are good hardworking citizens glad of the opportunity of living in the west. Contrary to the fears frequently expressed of the inevitable Islamization of the western nations, and apart from the small radical elements in their midst, I believe that most western Muslims don’t want their adopted country turned into the coercive one they left. They want what most Christians want: freedom to practise their faith in peace.
So how do we square our desire to evangelize with the freedom of others to practise their faith? Is conflict between Christianity and Islam at a personal level inevitable? In considering this question, I am brought back to the story of the rich ruler who chose his wealth rather than following Christ (Luke 18:18-23). Jesus was saddened by this man’s choice but allowed him that freedom. While we may have the opportunity to share our faith with those of other beliefs, if we love them and wish to retain their friendship, we will allow them their freedom of choice also.
The current cultural idea of tolerance is one that imposes the idea of the equality of all religions. True tolerance allows for acceptance of another but without compromise of personal belief.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday May 7, 2009
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16.
Thursday already! I was sure it was only two days ago I last wrote to you! Forget the clichés about time flying; it just slips by unnoticed while we attend to the daily round. In fact, life itself can escape our grasp after “never getting around to it”—whatever “it” is—and leave nothing of value. And there’s nothing like passion for something to fill life with meaning and fervour. And there’s nothing like faith in Christ to arouse lifelong passion for the most startling act of sacrifice by our Creator himself.
You may have noticed a link to “Antinozzi Adventures” on our blogsite. Alexandra is our daughter who updates her family antics in funky and engaging prose, with pics and adornments that make her website a ‘darnsite’ prettier than mine! Today it relates the short time left for her husband Gino’s sister L. after a long fight with cancer. Please read it and pray for Gino’s family at this sad but precious short time.
It was because God took on a body like ours, walked the perilous road we all walk, and died an agonizing death, that he can relate to our suffering. That is why we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” and be sure of finding his “grace to help us in our time of need.” We need never be alone in this life and certainly never need to die alone. Most of us have been where Gino’s family is now, and we will all someday follow L. into eternity. Their suffering is ours as well, but there is grace and comfort for grief in this life, and grace and assurance for the next. Why place ourselves anywhere else but in his hands?
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16.
Thursday already! I was sure it was only two days ago I last wrote to you! Forget the clichés about time flying; it just slips by unnoticed while we attend to the daily round. In fact, life itself can escape our grasp after “never getting around to it”—whatever “it” is—and leave nothing of value. And there’s nothing like passion for something to fill life with meaning and fervour. And there’s nothing like faith in Christ to arouse lifelong passion for the most startling act of sacrifice by our Creator himself.
You may have noticed a link to “Antinozzi Adventures” on our blogsite. Alexandra is our daughter who updates her family antics in funky and engaging prose, with pics and adornments that make her website a ‘darnsite’ prettier than mine! Today it relates the short time left for her husband Gino’s sister L. after a long fight with cancer. Please read it and pray for Gino’s family at this sad but precious short time.
It was because God took on a body like ours, walked the perilous road we all walk, and died an agonizing death, that he can relate to our suffering. That is why we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” and be sure of finding his “grace to help us in our time of need.” We need never be alone in this life and certainly never need to die alone. Most of us have been where Gino’s family is now, and we will all someday follow L. into eternity. Their suffering is ours as well, but there is grace and comfort for grief in this life, and grace and assurance for the next. Why place ourselves anywhere else but in his hands?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday May 3, 2009
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7.
The context of this passage is the gifting from Christ for various ministries in the Body of Christ. Charisma is the Greek word for gift, but the charis part means grace, for a gift is a gracious act of the giver. So as all of us committed to Christ are in ministry one way or another, he has given each of us specific gifts. In our latter years, Ann and I have discovered our joy of writing and rejoice in this gift that we are now able to exercise. We should have the first printing run of our book, Happy Together: Daily Insights for Families from Scripture, available in two weeks time, and are planning an initial launch of the book locally over the weekend of May 23rd. But more of that in a later blog.
You may recall that last weekend was a difficult time for me, not feeling so well and it seemed to be a definite setback on the road to recovery. Well, this weekend has been the reverse. It is the first time I have felt like my old self since the surgery. Not that I am out of the woods yet, and I recognize a few more weeks until I regain full strength, but It feels significant and is a great encouragement. But there are more instances of God’s grace and gifts. Those that have prayed for me; it is a gift of God’s grace—to the one who prays, and for me the recipient of those prayers. The ability of the body to heal itself is a gift of God’s grace, for he is the ultimate healer.
And especially the support and encouragement of Ann; her gifts are the grace of God for both her and me, as she herself continues to be a gift of God’s grace towards me for nearly sixty years—including our courting time! 2010 will be our fifty fifth year of marriage and will mark sixty years we have know each other—and also known the grace of God to us both.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7.
The context of this passage is the gifting from Christ for various ministries in the Body of Christ. Charisma is the Greek word for gift, but the charis part means grace, for a gift is a gracious act of the giver. So as all of us committed to Christ are in ministry one way or another, he has given each of us specific gifts. In our latter years, Ann and I have discovered our joy of writing and rejoice in this gift that we are now able to exercise. We should have the first printing run of our book, Happy Together: Daily Insights for Families from Scripture, available in two weeks time, and are planning an initial launch of the book locally over the weekend of May 23rd. But more of that in a later blog.
You may recall that last weekend was a difficult time for me, not feeling so well and it seemed to be a definite setback on the road to recovery. Well, this weekend has been the reverse. It is the first time I have felt like my old self since the surgery. Not that I am out of the woods yet, and I recognize a few more weeks until I regain full strength, but It feels significant and is a great encouragement. But there are more instances of God’s grace and gifts. Those that have prayed for me; it is a gift of God’s grace—to the one who prays, and for me the recipient of those prayers. The ability of the body to heal itself is a gift of God’s grace, for he is the ultimate healer.
And especially the support and encouragement of Ann; her gifts are the grace of God for both her and me, as she herself continues to be a gift of God’s grace towards me for nearly sixty years—including our courting time! 2010 will be our fifty fifth year of marriage and will mark sixty years we have know each other—and also known the grace of God to us both.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday May 1, 2009
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5.
I think the idea here is that a job properly done will be of far greater benefit than a quick shoddy job. A product that is reliable and lasts will net the producer better returns than a poor quality one that fails. I think back to Japan. In the 1950s, Japan was the place for inexpensive copies of western made goods and soon gained a reputation for sloppy workmanship. But Japan learnt the lesson, and when Japan manufactured cars for western markets, they were more reliable and had fewer defects than new American cars. Many of us drive Japanese cars today. China may be going through the same process today.
If there is one profession where diligent attention to detail is necessary it is in the medical field. Here it is not just a matter of inconvenience; it touches on life and death. I’m so glad I had a surgeon of that calibre; there are too many horror stories of those surgeons who did not, or could not, perform adequately. And the same is true of life generally. A successful and satisfying life is one where at least one task is completed well, rather than a dozen or more incomplete or poorly finished.
One task that stands out is the fostering of relationships, because they affect our ability to cope in other areas and poor relationships affect the lives of others, particularly our children and coming generations. That is not to say that balancing legitimate competing demands is not a challenge, but selecting priorities is vital. For me those relationships are built on my ongoing relationship with God which teaches me so much about getting along with others. And in this case the proverbial “profit” or “poverty” is beyond what can be gained or lost with money.
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5.
I think the idea here is that a job properly done will be of far greater benefit than a quick shoddy job. A product that is reliable and lasts will net the producer better returns than a poor quality one that fails. I think back to Japan. In the 1950s, Japan was the place for inexpensive copies of western made goods and soon gained a reputation for sloppy workmanship. But Japan learnt the lesson, and when Japan manufactured cars for western markets, they were more reliable and had fewer defects than new American cars. Many of us drive Japanese cars today. China may be going through the same process today.
If there is one profession where diligent attention to detail is necessary it is in the medical field. Here it is not just a matter of inconvenience; it touches on life and death. I’m so glad I had a surgeon of that calibre; there are too many horror stories of those surgeons who did not, or could not, perform adequately. And the same is true of life generally. A successful and satisfying life is one where at least one task is completed well, rather than a dozen or more incomplete or poorly finished.
One task that stands out is the fostering of relationships, because they affect our ability to cope in other areas and poor relationships affect the lives of others, particularly our children and coming generations. That is not to say that balancing legitimate competing demands is not a challenge, but selecting priorities is vital. For me those relationships are built on my ongoing relationship with God which teaches me so much about getting along with others. And in this case the proverbial “profit” or “poverty” is beyond what can be gained or lost with money.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday April 28, 2009
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6.
Sunday was not a good day. We went to church in the morning, but I felt weak and some pain in the surgical area. Even today, I still feel less well than a week ago! We can only assume that we were getting back into routine too quickly and my body complained as a result. Healing comes both through exercise and rest; exercise to stretch the body and rest to allow it to recover. Getting this balance right between exercise and rest is the key to timely healing.
Life is all about balance. Balancing work and family; between commitments to others and boundaries for oneself; between work and play; between our spiritual and physical needs. And probably most important for those of us who are married, balance between our partner and our children. Some parents dote on their children to the neglect their partners; others see children as an obstacle to their relationships. Obviously, both extremes are wrong, but either can become the default position when difficulties occur within the family.
However, our position has always been that the marriage relationship is the first importance, for without that the children’s security is threatened. I often note airline requirements that in an emergency an adult should don an oxygen mask first before ensuring a child’s mask is in place. Should the adult attend to the child first, she may be insufficiently alert enough to look after the child properly and even less for herself. The same applies to establishing a firm marital relationship; it is the crucible to ensure the child’s well-being.
Of course, a totally well-ordered life can seem monotonous, so perhaps sometimes we also need a balance between balance and a fling—there should be opportunity for madness once in a while! We are humans, not machines!
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6.
Sunday was not a good day. We went to church in the morning, but I felt weak and some pain in the surgical area. Even today, I still feel less well than a week ago! We can only assume that we were getting back into routine too quickly and my body complained as a result. Healing comes both through exercise and rest; exercise to stretch the body and rest to allow it to recover. Getting this balance right between exercise and rest is the key to timely healing.
Life is all about balance. Balancing work and family; between commitments to others and boundaries for oneself; between work and play; between our spiritual and physical needs. And probably most important for those of us who are married, balance between our partner and our children. Some parents dote on their children to the neglect their partners; others see children as an obstacle to their relationships. Obviously, both extremes are wrong, but either can become the default position when difficulties occur within the family.
However, our position has always been that the marriage relationship is the first importance, for without that the children’s security is threatened. I often note airline requirements that in an emergency an adult should don an oxygen mask first before ensuring a child’s mask is in place. Should the adult attend to the child first, she may be insufficiently alert enough to look after the child properly and even less for herself. The same applies to establishing a firm marital relationship; it is the crucible to ensure the child’s well-being.
Of course, a totally well-ordered life can seem monotonous, so perhaps sometimes we also need a balance between balance and a fling—there should be opportunity for madness once in a while! We are humans, not machines!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Saturday April 25, 2009
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4.
Less than a year ago, George Carlin, for some the ultimate comic, died. But in fact, Carlin was the ultimate cynic. The local newspaper printed the following letter I wrote as a result of a CBC feature about him.
George Carlin died at 71 after ridiculing his fellow human beings for half a century and generally trashing anything of significance in life. CBC’s The National reported that towards the end of his life, Carlin seemed to grow nihilistic and his contempt for just about everything ripened.
He declared: “I have absolutely no sympathy for human beings whatsoever, none!” and he earnestly hoped that human problems would get worse. With his death not far off, Carlin obsessed over mortality, and declared the afterlife did not exist.
What made Carlin so cynical? Certainly the foolishness and violence of humanity is enough to make us all despair of human nature at times, yet Carlin’s depth of scorn for human behaviour went much deeper. All he had to show for seventy years was a destructive and purposeless life and his attempts to dismiss any afterlife actively highlighted his fear of it.
Hopefully, our lives have at least some redeeming feature beyond Carlin’s meaningless one, but for all we may have accomplished there is still the nagging question: is this all there is? All of us have felt the pull of a reality beyond ourselves; even the atheist’s denial is a tacit recognition of its reality.
From the earliest recorded times, almost every culture searched beyond this life in some god or gods. Greek philosophy at its height recognized a divinity beyond human earthly existence, and even noted a spark of divinity lingering in humankind that recognized, and was pulled toward, that divine reality.
The anti-God culture we live in is an aberrant time in world history leaving us by ourselves to seek meaning in ambition or hedonism. By attempting to increase satisfaction by deeper involvement, even in constructive pursuits, we may instead find ourselves following Carlin down a path of decreasing satisfaction towards emptiness.
Yet George Carlin packed every performance. Perhaps those of us who went there were hoping his bellicose irreverence would help quell our fears of something beyond us. But his descent into pessimism and hatred is a reminder that there is no final meaning in this life alone, nor can we finally silence that small still voice within calling us to Himself.
Just today, the same paper printed a letter from Craig extolling George Carlin’s approach to life. Craig commented that he felt secure to meet his maker in George Carlin’s commandment that “thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.” How distressing that all Craig sees in life is George Carlin’s despairing outlook.
Even worse, is to approach the “valley of the shadow of death” without any hope for the “rod and staff” of our creator to support us through. How foolish and tragic that an attitude of rebellious independence should reject all that our creator has for us in this life and the next. Is the life that George and his protégé Craig want really worth living?
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4.
Less than a year ago, George Carlin, for some the ultimate comic, died. But in fact, Carlin was the ultimate cynic. The local newspaper printed the following letter I wrote as a result of a CBC feature about him.
George Carlin died at 71 after ridiculing his fellow human beings for half a century and generally trashing anything of significance in life. CBC’s The National reported that towards the end of his life, Carlin seemed to grow nihilistic and his contempt for just about everything ripened.
He declared: “I have absolutely no sympathy for human beings whatsoever, none!” and he earnestly hoped that human problems would get worse. With his death not far off, Carlin obsessed over mortality, and declared the afterlife did not exist.
What made Carlin so cynical? Certainly the foolishness and violence of humanity is enough to make us all despair of human nature at times, yet Carlin’s depth of scorn for human behaviour went much deeper. All he had to show for seventy years was a destructive and purposeless life and his attempts to dismiss any afterlife actively highlighted his fear of it.
Hopefully, our lives have at least some redeeming feature beyond Carlin’s meaningless one, but for all we may have accomplished there is still the nagging question: is this all there is? All of us have felt the pull of a reality beyond ourselves; even the atheist’s denial is a tacit recognition of its reality.
From the earliest recorded times, almost every culture searched beyond this life in some god or gods. Greek philosophy at its height recognized a divinity beyond human earthly existence, and even noted a spark of divinity lingering in humankind that recognized, and was pulled toward, that divine reality.
The anti-God culture we live in is an aberrant time in world history leaving us by ourselves to seek meaning in ambition or hedonism. By attempting to increase satisfaction by deeper involvement, even in constructive pursuits, we may instead find ourselves following Carlin down a path of decreasing satisfaction towards emptiness.
Yet George Carlin packed every performance. Perhaps those of us who went there were hoping his bellicose irreverence would help quell our fears of something beyond us. But his descent into pessimism and hatred is a reminder that there is no final meaning in this life alone, nor can we finally silence that small still voice within calling us to Himself.
Just today, the same paper printed a letter from Craig extolling George Carlin’s approach to life. Craig commented that he felt secure to meet his maker in George Carlin’s commandment that “thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.” How distressing that all Craig sees in life is George Carlin’s despairing outlook.
Even worse, is to approach the “valley of the shadow of death” without any hope for the “rod and staff” of our creator to support us through. How foolish and tragic that an attitude of rebellious independence should reject all that our creator has for us in this life and the next. Is the life that George and his protégé Craig want really worth living?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday April 23, 2009
If you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? Luke 16:12.
The question arises: where are we responsible for some-one else’s property? Perhaps we can all think of times we have borrowed something and damaged it in the process. I recall Ann doing a cleaning job at a neighbour’s house, and unfortunately I went to help. I backed into a desk that had a hutch—poorly secured, mind you—full of ornaments that crashed down on my head. The ornaments fared worse than my head, and led to a very embarrassing meeting with the owner!
What is less obvious is, of course, that all we have is not really ours. We have it for a time, but we cannot take it with us when life ends. Who does it really belongs to? Generally, whoever wins the right to “own” it, as it changes hands through generations or by purchase. So nobody really “owns” our property—we simply have the loan of it for our sojourn on earth. How do we use this property, provided by a gracious Father to equip us for our earthly journey? Is it used wisely, generously and with eternity in view?
Once we realize this, then it is not only the things we have that need to be used carefully, but also the bodies we inhabit. We may not particularly like the particular body we have—bathroom closets of cosmetics and improvements for both sexes suggest we all like some improvement. The biggest argument for a healthy lifestyle is that our body is not to do as we like with, but the desired dwelling place of God. We would never trash or abuse our own homes; we want to live in comfortable and attractive surroundings. So why would we not provide the most pleasing place for him to dwell.
As I recover from my surgery, the question I have to ask is: What may I have done to bring my sickness about? Not all sickness is avoidable, but how we live can cause or prevent much of the sickness that plagues our western society. Is this something we may be called to account for?
If you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? Luke 16:12.
The question arises: where are we responsible for some-one else’s property? Perhaps we can all think of times we have borrowed something and damaged it in the process. I recall Ann doing a cleaning job at a neighbour’s house, and unfortunately I went to help. I backed into a desk that had a hutch—poorly secured, mind you—full of ornaments that crashed down on my head. The ornaments fared worse than my head, and led to a very embarrassing meeting with the owner!
What is less obvious is, of course, that all we have is not really ours. We have it for a time, but we cannot take it with us when life ends. Who does it really belongs to? Generally, whoever wins the right to “own” it, as it changes hands through generations or by purchase. So nobody really “owns” our property—we simply have the loan of it for our sojourn on earth. How do we use this property, provided by a gracious Father to equip us for our earthly journey? Is it used wisely, generously and with eternity in view?
Once we realize this, then it is not only the things we have that need to be used carefully, but also the bodies we inhabit. We may not particularly like the particular body we have—bathroom closets of cosmetics and improvements for both sexes suggest we all like some improvement. The biggest argument for a healthy lifestyle is that our body is not to do as we like with, but the desired dwelling place of God. We would never trash or abuse our own homes; we want to live in comfortable and attractive surroundings. So why would we not provide the most pleasing place for him to dwell.
As I recover from my surgery, the question I have to ask is: What may I have done to bring my sickness about? Not all sickness is avoidable, but how we live can cause or prevent much of the sickness that plagues our western society. Is this something we may be called to account for?
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