Faith in Focus on Mission - Sharing the Gospel

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian  eunuch is a beautiful one (Acts 8:26-40). There are two things that I would like to reflect on here.

First of all, the obedient heart of Philip is an incredible example. He is directed where to go and he goes. Then he is told which chariot to join and he runs to the chariot. He could have questioned the wisdom of these commands. He could have said that he had other things he would rather do. He could have said that he was not ready to serve God or he could have let fear prevent him from acting. But we hear of none of these things. Philip simply obeys the leading of God. With fantastic results.

God still speaks to us today. He speaks through the Bible. He whispers to our spirits. He guides through the wisdom of fellow believers. When God calls us to do something we must jump into action. Rather than make excuses for not acting, may we respond as Philip did, with the hope that God will do something incredible!

Secondly, Philip takes advantage of the situation before him. When he notices that the Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah he engages him in conversation and is allowed to share the message of Jesus. When we hear people read Scripture or speak about religious matters a door is opened for us. We can walk through that door if we are ready and willing, and can bless people with the truth of God. Or we can shy away and keep this great message to ourselves. May God give us the passion and the courage to speak the Good News!

May I provide all of us with a challenge for the coming week? It is simply this, to be ready to share the Gospel each day. To be ready in each conversation, in each interaction, to bring Christ into it if it seems that God is opening a door or if we feel a tug on our heart to do so. May we have wisdom, courage and power.

Thoughts - Matthew 3:1-6

Read Matthew 3:1-6.

Repentance is key in the sharing of the Gospel and in responding to God. He longs for people who hate sin and commit to seek righteousness. Why do I think of repentance so little? Why do we seem to reflect on it so little in churches? Why is there not regular weeping over wrongs we have done? Have I belittled sin? Do I detest it? Do I long for righteousness? Am I truly passionate to be holy?

Faith in Focus on Mission - Showing Compassion

Earlier today I left my winter hat on a bench in Hart House at the University of Toronto. I am bald, which means that without a hat, I get cold. Really cold.

Fortunately for me, someone saw that hat and brought it to the Hart House lost and found. This unknown individual could have ignored the hat. He or she could have thrown it out, kept it as a present for her dad or chosen to wear it himself (as gross as it sounds to wear a stranger’s hat). However, moved by kindness (I presume), this hero brought my head-warmer to safety – and I am so glad that they did!

Kindness to a stranger. It is a quality that we all respect and admire. We appreciate it when we experience it and certainly demonstrate it, on occasion, to others.

This past Sunday I preached on one of the most popular parables that Jesus told: The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). This story is so popular that many jurisdictions have Good Samaritan laws, which protect those who would help someone in need from being sued, should their help actually further injure the injured.

It is my desire that we at Faith in Focus have the utmost respect for Scripture, hold to orthodox theological positions, worship and seek God, experience great community and share the message of the Gospel. But I also want us to be a people who demonstrate our love, or, as Andy Stanley says, a people who put our devotion into motion.

The Samaritan gave of his time and resources to bless a man who despised him. May we always be ready to be neighbours to those in need.

Thoughts - Matthew 2:19-23

Read Matthew 2:19-23.

It is so beautiful that Joseph has such clear leading from the Lord. How can I find such direction? Is it purely God's initiative? Do I have a part to play? I have so much to learn when it comes to hearing from God, and am desperate for His guidance.

Thoughts - Matthew 2:16-18

Read Matthew 2:16-18

The evils that a human being is capable of are tremendous. In an attempt to preserve his own throne, Herod wipes out all males two-and-under in-and-around Bethlehem. Understandably this leads to great mourning.

In our day another atrocity is committed in the name of self-service: abortion. It may be impossible to get an accurate reading of how many abortions are performed in Canada today (Ontario withholding 'sensitive' statistics), but it would seem that there are somewhere around 100,000 per year (perhaps a bit less?) (Right to Life statistics). Some of these children die after being born alive (Lack of accurate numbers).

What is perhaps most disturbing when it comes to the termination of pregnancies, is that while human beings are programmed to mourn the loss of a child when she dies in utero, with abortion these children are discarded with a sigh of relief. While the mothers of Bethlehem mourned their boys, our society (regularly) expects those who have undergone an abortion to continue life as if nothing significant has happened.

What evils do I justify doing in my own life for the sake of my own protection?

Thoughts - Matthew 2:13-15

Read Matthew 2:13-15

One has to be impressed with the speed of Joseph's obedience. An angel speaks to him in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary. Joseph gets up and they leave immediately. Gone. Vanished. Quite possibly without a word to anyone.

Am I ready to jump when God tells me to jump? When He speaks to me through His Word or lays something on my heart? Am I ready to obey immediately?

Euthanasia - The Supreme Court of Canada's Recent Ruling

My beloved nation of Canada took a progressive step this past week. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that preventing doctors from helping the seriously ill end their lives violated the rights of my fellow citizens. It decided that if someone suffered from an incurable disease that led to "enduring and intolerable suffering," they should have medical personnel available who could effectively and painlessly bring an end to their pain (see http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-31170569).

In a nation which increasingly rejects the Christian worldview this decision was unavoidable. The human rights movement sees it as a great victory. It is empowering for the individual to have full control over one's body. And while I feel great distress for those suffering with horrific and painful diseases, I can't help but see this decision as a great mistake. It is a decision which demonstrates the fact that while many believe we are giving greater dignity to human beings with rulings like these, the opposite is actually true.

The book of Genesis teaches that human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). If we are made in the image of God, we inherently possess great dignity. It is unthinkable to take the life of such a valued creature. Murder is wrong. "'Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image."  (Genesis 9:6).

While it may seem compassionate to end a human being's suffering, it reduces his or her worth to that of a horse or dog that needs to be put down. We are of great worth and must be treated as such.

Us Against Them

In Pursuit of Health - Introduction

I want to lose weight.
"Why?" you ask.
For many reasons. Let me enlighten you.
First of all, I want to be healthier. Being overweight is linked to many diseases. I don't want one of these diseases to claim my life or prevent me from doing what I want. If I choose to climb Mount Everest when I'm 63, I want to be able to do it.
Secondly, I have three boys (and another child on the way) - I want to set an example for them as to how they should treat their bodies. I never want them to say (or think), "My dad lives and looks like Jabba the Hut - I can too!"
Thirdly, I have three boys (and another child on the way) - I want to be around for them. As a dad I have a responsibility to be here for them and I cannot allow my selfishness (if I'm honest that's what's causing my weight problem) to drive me to an early grave.
Next, I want to know what its like to be lighter. I have always enjoyed sports and I exercise. However, lately I've been wondering what it would be like to be able to fly across a sports field without gravity's relentless tug winning the battle.
Fifthly, I want to look better. For me. For my wife. For the world. Perhaps that's vanity. I choose to call it courtesy.
Furthermore, I might have a hernia. In order to have a hernia operation at the world's best clinic I need to be lighter. And most importantly, I need to honour God with this body, and being as overweight as I am is certainly not honouring to Him. There might be other reasons, but that's enough for now.
My plan is to post regularly on how this journey is going. Successes. Failures. Plans. Things that work for me and things that don't. Perhaps no one will ever read it. But I believe that it will be helpful for me.