The Legacy of Encouragement

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

I have found that there is never a time in my life when I don’t appreciate a sincerely given word of encouragement.  I can tell you with great certainty, that I always feel the pain of a discouraging word.  On the other hand, when someone shares a word of encouragement, the Lord seems to use it as the seedbed for hope, motivation, and personal growth.

Within the last two weeks, one of my “encouragers” was called home to be with her heavenly Father.  Her name is Teresa.  She profoundly touched my life in such a positive way. Her legacy in part, to me and many others, will be her gentle voice, loving smile and an sweet spirit.  She was truly a role model of encouragement. She consistently lived out this lifestyle of positive reinforcement while fighting the cancer that finally captured her body. 

She will not be forgotten.

Will you include in your legacy the gift of encouragement to others?  Will you, with me, make it a part of your core value system to intentionally and consistently use your words to encourage rather than discourage?

Let’s, together, make this a part of the clearly seen and felt culture of Calvary Church!

Every Blessing,

Alan

Dealing with disappointment: Step 1.

We all deal with disappointment. It seems to be a necessary ingredient in the recipe of life. Sadly, learning the skills of dealing with disappointment won't be wasted effort. Maybe this will help...

Maybe you've read the story of the two men on the way to Emmaus right after Jesus' passion (Luke 24). Their disappointment with the events over the weekend was palpable. They were followers (the New Testament word is "disciples") of Jesus but he had been killed. What's more, they had heard rumours that Jesus had risen from the grave, which confused them more than excited them. I don't blame them...I think I would be in the same frame of mind.  

Anyway, they were so engrossed in their despair and confusion that they didn't recognize Jesus when he joined them along the way.

Among the many lessons to be learned in this story is that being preoccupied with our own frustrations keeps us from looking for Jesus IN them!

Hmmm...maybe the first step in dealing with disappointment is looking for Jesus in it not for a way out of it.

What do you think?

 

PS: By the way, did you notice that they were walking entirely in the wrong direction...away from the support of fellow followers. Maybe turning to your support group is step 2!

Resting for Renewal

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” 
Mark 6:31

The last couple of weeks have been simply wonderful. Kathy and I enjoyed a time away from work and official ministry responsibilities. 

It was not a vacation, but as is now the popular term, a “staycation”. We had the joy of just “staying put” and relaxing in our new home. And yes, even amongst all the new home chores, it was very restful.

All too often when we hear the term “rest” we immediately think about sleeping in for a few days in a row, or doing some fun things with the family.  Many of us could certainly use that kind of rest and relaxed connection time with our loved ones. 

However, on this time off from my usual weekly routine, I was able to enjoy more than just physical rest, summertime fun, and family get-togethers.

I was able to use the change of pace to really slow down and connect with the Lord and renew my confidence and trust in Him as the Leader and Guide for my life.  I came to realize with certainty that I need to be more intentional about setting aside regularly scheduled times throughout the year (not just at “staycation” times) to “come away … and rest awhile.”  These times renew my trust, confidence, and spiritual strength in the Lord. 

May all of you have/take/make this opportunity a reality at some time this summer. I like what F.B. Meyer said about rest: “The place where we lie down to rest is under the shadow of the Cross.”

What are your strategies for spiritual rest this summer? I’d love to hear from you.

Every Blessing,

Alan

Discontentment temptation

Half full or half empty?

One of my roles in life is that of a preacher. One of the problems with preaching is that the preacher must preach to him/herself first...even if the topic is difficult! As those who attend my church know, I was assigned the topic of contentment. The problem is it's just a little absurd to preach on contentment in a society where most of our dogs live better lives than many of the world's human beings! So I had to do some soul searching. Why do I sometimes feel discontent?

Undoubtedly, some of my moments of discontent have to do with wrongful comparisons, inflexibility on my part, and maybe having too much stuff so that rather than owning my stuff my stuff now owns me!

But then I had reason to read of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-7). In the context of the perfect Garden of Eden they saw (more accurately; were shown) something they didn't have that "was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desireable for gaining wisdom" (Gen 3:6, NIV)...and they fell into the discontentment trap! Yes, I know there was more going on in Genesis 3 but their sense of lack was present even in the most perfect environment ever known to humankind.

I also had reason to read of the temptation of none other than Jesus! In Matthew 4, the devil tries to tempt Jesus with discontentment; with natural desire ("tell these stones to become bread"), and with self-preservation ("throw yourself down. He will command his angels...they will lift you up"), and with personal pride ("all this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me").

If Adam, Eve and Jesus--the only sinless human beings to every grace this earth--were tempted, it's simplistic and arrogant to think I won't be tempted with discontentment.

This doesn't solve my problem but it does give me some comfort that I'm not the only one tempted with discontentment. I guess I'd better prepare that sermon on contentment. Listen to it on-line and see how I do!

Clothing and Evangelism?

Golf Anyone?

I was walking my dog Seamus the other day and a man stopped me to ask for directions to a downtown golf driving range.  I noticed that there were a number of people that he passed by that he could have stopped to ask before he got to me but he didn't.  After thinking about it for a bit I figured out why he chose me in particular.  I think that he assumed I was a golfer...I was wearing plaid shorts and a 'poor boy' hat at the time.  

What I was wearing created an opportunity for conversation with a complete stranger.  

This brief interaction reminded me of something the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:12-14.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Our clothing communicates something about who we are in a physical and spiritual sense.  When we clothe ourselves with these virtues mentioned by the Apostle Paul we are saying that we are God's chosen people.  

No doubt that by asking the Holy Spirit to empower us to dress this way each day conversation opportunities with others are are bound to happen.  People whom God is calling to Himself will recognize you as someone they can approach to ask for directions.

Can you relate?  Have this ever happened to you?   

Pastor Gary

A path to the unexpected grace of God

Exodus 33:13

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people."  (NKJV)

In Exodus 33, Moses was at Mount Sinai once again but with a renewed sense of the need for the presence and knowledge of God. But what I find interesting is the order of his request: (1) grace from God, (2) to know God’s way, (3) to know God himself, (4) to receive even more grace.  Maybe there’s a pattern to follow in this verse! Recognizing that God has been gracious, leads us to know and obey his ways, which in turn results in personal knowledge of HIM, which results in even more of God’s beneficence (“grace”). It reminds me that every time I want to experience more of God’s goodness, maybe I should be working on my obedience and knowledge of him first. Then I can expect the unexpected grace of God!  

What do you think?

Stop Watching...Start Doing

Do you ever feel like a video camera operator? Let me rephrase that: do you ever feel like you're doing the job of a camera operator, just without the camera and film?

With the help of a few minutes here and there spent watching "reality" TV shows, I've realized that I am often doing the same thing as the video camera operators.  Camera guys and girls who seek to creatively film the complete chaos and dysfunction of the families and people do just that.  They film.  They don’t help the people, they don’t offer advice or guidance to the families, they don’t do anything other than record and report back to the editors, producers, etc.

I regularly do the same thing.  The only difference is that I don’t use film.  I walk down the streets of Toronto and watch the interaction between people asking for change and those who ignorantly walk by.  I see mothers preparing to carry their babies and strollers up and down the stairs at the subway.  I hear about questionable choices my friends are making.  The list doesn’t end there, by my example does. 

My point is that I watch these things happen and like the camera operators, and I don’t do anything about it.  I simply let it happen and then later tell others about what I saw.  Changes need to be made!  We need to actively engage in these everyday occurrences and not just let them pass us by.

Usually I would ask: So what are you going to do about it this week?  This time I’m not.  I’m simply urging you to pay attention to these things and to do something about them.  You know that there are needs to be met.  Meet them.

Love your neighbours.  Read Luke 10: 25-38 for some how-to instructions.

Much Love,

Dave